ckroaster Senior Member Joined: 2 Jun 2006 Posts: 11 Location: CA Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: La Marzocco GB5 Grinder: Robar Roaster: diedrich 24k
Posted Tue Jan 1, 2013, 10:29pm Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
Mike here with Klatch,
1st off, sorry you did not like the espresso. If you get something you do not like, please tell the barista and allow them to try and make things right.
Also, we normally have two different espresso beans (or blends) on bar at San Dimas so feel free to ask. House or FTO would be a bit darker with most beans in the blend at early 2nd crack (most not all as the Brazil component of House is lighter), Belle a similar roast but with hints of fruit or berry from a (lighter) natural Ethiopian. Most SO espresso are medium roast after 1st crack but prior to 2nd, as is our WBC (though it is a blend). We do not feature any real light espresso as we favor the balanced and sweet over brighter, just our personal thing.
As for single or double, we only run double portafilters with double baskets. If you order a single we run a double and you get what runs out of one side of the double portafilter. Additionally, while the volume of a double espresso might be about 2 x 25 ml, that is only an approximation. The barista actually dials in the espresso using many factors but primarily decides by taste. Various factors include grind, dose, volume, weight, ratio, color, crema, time. By weight and ratio I mean 18-22 grams of espresso with 28 to 33 grams liquid so a ratio about 55-65%. Depending on the bean, blend, days off roast and other factors these variables can change which is why we taste to dial in the shots and then use the various measurements for consistency.
I hope this answers most your questions. If you go to San Dimas, I am there most mornings around 8am before going to the roastery, you can normally see me in the customer area or ask an employee if I am there.
First, I will disclose that Klatch is my client. But I am not going to address any of the specific complaints here.
Instead, I want to talk about ordering a “ristretto” in a coffee shop. This is a request that is, by the nature of how coffee shops operate, usually doomed to failure. A ristretto is achieved by adjusting the grind and dose so that a smaller than normal amount of coffee is extracted from a normal amount of grounds in a normal amount of time.
A shop either has its grinders adjusted for ristrettos or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, the barista is not going to adjust her grinder for just one customer. It would take several test shots to get it right and several more to undo it for the next customer.
If you want little ristrettos, go to a shop that specializes in them. Vivace in Seattle and Schomer’s followers in L.A. (Profeta in Westwood and Luxxe in Santa Monica and Brentwood come to mind). Otherwise you will most likely get a shot cut short (which will be unbalanced) or one side of a double spouted pour (which will be small, but probably not what you had in mind).
I am neutral, by the way, on the subject of ristretto vs. normale. I just look for “good.”
famedalupo Senior Member Joined: 6 Jan 2013 Posts: 3 Location: Claremont, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Jan 6, 2013, 8:55pm Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
First, to balance the criticism coming, I want to say that Klatch's Ethiopian Worka was perhaps the biggest berry explosion I've ever experienced. The WBC espresso is very berry as well, a nice shot. I am also highly appreciative of the presence of Klatch in the midst of what is a coffee desert.
One problem though. First, the baristas at San Dimas all seem to be a bit juvenile and the (audio) volume of their social scene (which seems to involve them and their friends that come in the shop) tends to dominate the cafe's ambiance. The other day I sat next to a table of baristas, off-work, who were so incredibly loud that I left. One-on-one service provided by these individuals is great (cheerful), but their youthful immaturity makes the place sometimes a bit unbearable. I prefer the people over at Cucamonga.
[Edit: resolved the matter of the drink sizes. Turns out that ordering a "double" means they double everything, espresso and milk. I thought I was simply ordering an extra shot. This explains the XL-sized cappuccino]
After discovering the Cucamonga location, I've been going there because I prefer the ambiance. Generally I find the quality of the drinks to be of a high standard, and am a happy customer.
Posted Wed Jan 16, 2013, 9:28pm Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
Have not had the opportunity to visit a Klatch Cafe, but for the last year or so I have been ordering green beans from Klatch. Currently my go-to coffees, working though a second 10lb bag of Ethiopian Worka and a 10Lb of El Salvador El Rubi Honey. Thanks Mike for selecting and offering excellent coffees. I've been roasting my own for many years, and these are right with the best. They certainly have quality beans to make excellent espresso.
yakster Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 1,006 Location: San Jose, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Factory / La Peppina... Grinder: Vario / Kyocera Vac Pot: Yama 8 + Pyrex Lox-in Rod Drip: Brazen / Kalita / Chemex /... Roaster: Behmor
Posted Thu Jan 17, 2013, 2:27pm Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
I have also not made it out to Klatch as it's a bit far from the Bay Area and a bit far from my folks in Orange County, but I have made multiple orders of green and roasted coffee from them and have been very happy with the coffee. I signed up for the newsletter and get emailed with special offers such as free shipping which is an added bonus.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,716 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 4:40pm Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
Until this past Monday, it had been several years since I'd been able to visit a Klatch cafe. My past experiences began in 2007, when I was looking on Google for somewhere to get coffee in San Dimas, as I was going up there from San Diego to make some money on the side over a few weekends. I stumbled upon Klatch and was extremely impressed by the drink quality when I went there. The cappas were incredibly creamy and delicious, very well-balanced. The artwork was a nice touch too. At the time, I was using a Silvia and Rocky combo, and had been doing home espresso since Spring 2003.
In 2008 or 9? I was in Calif and was fortunate enough to get registered for one of Heather's one day barista courses. One of the other participants was an employee of theirs, who said she'd been working in their cafes for about a year, but still wasn't up to the high standards needed to serve customers. Sure enough, when I visited the Rancho and San Dimas shops on that trip the drinks were again amazing.
Having seen what happened to Peet's when they put "cafes" in the airports I was very skeptical to even try the Klatch bar in LAX terminal 7, but I thought how bad could it be...certainly better than *$$, and surely, Mike and Heather wouldn't risk their reputation on that place. So, my conversation with the barista went something like this...did Heather train you? Yes. She trained me too...and so on. The cappa I got was 1) too hot and 2) poorly frothed - not microfoam. I was a little disappointed, but at least it tasted good, as they were using Mike's House Blend Espresso. I thought about saying something, but didn't want to ruffle any feathers and figured since Mike comes here, he'll see my review and probably crack the whip anyways.
glcoffee Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 67 Location: Los Angeles, CA & Taiwan Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Izzo Alex II Grinder: Vario Drip: Hario V60
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 12:28pm Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
I really think the San Dimas shop is understated and could be a lot better with a little TLC. If you walk in here expecting it to be a straight coffee shop, one would become dismayed at its ambiance. But, if you go about it in thinking this is a sandwich shop, it is actually better than most.
Not going to name any particulars here, but I agree that Klatch's coffee beans are by far the best I have had. The actual drinks, however, are of a different story...IMO. I blame the lunch rush cafe like ambiance at the SD shop.
Like emradguy, I was one of the participants at a Klatch workshop and was also trained along with an employee of theirs. I thought it was just my session, but it bothers me that my paid time had to be shared with one of their employees on training.
Heather, if you are reading this, keep up the awesomeness as you are the goddess of coffee. :)
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C.S. Lewis, The World's Last Night ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ I am Taiwanese.
famedalupo Senior Member Joined: 6 Jan 2013 Posts: 3 Location: Claremont, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Mar 3, 2013, 11:21am Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
The baristas at the Cucamonga location are, from my experience going to each regularly in the last year, superior to those at the Dimas location. The ambiance at the former is much better as well.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,671 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Fri Mar 8, 2013, 7:34am Subject: Re: Los Angeles CG'ers - Klatch Coffee?
I have been to all 3 locations and the roastery. For the most part I am happy with them. The only blend I do not like is FTO, I have brewed it myself and at the bar and regardless of who makes it, it is not something I like at all but then not everyone likes everything so I'm not holding that against them.
As it is closest to me, I tend to go to the One closest to the airport. The baristas have come to know me and I am always warmly welcomed and they try their best with the coffee. A few times I have asked for them to try again but for the most part, it is pretty good.
Nothing is going to be like what you make at home with everything tuned to just the way you like it.
When in Seattle I had some very good coffee, from all the usual suspects and multiple locations. Was I BLOWN AWAY? no, but I did have some good coffee. I guess I am going to just go back to the above line about making it yourself.
You should get good to very good espresso at a shop, sometimes it may just blow you away, but regardless of how "third wave" they are, they can't please everyone to the Nth degree. YMMV!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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