There’s a classy new microroaster/coffeeshop in Tacoma on the corner of 10th and Pacific, one block West of the Frank Russell Building. It’s called Bernardo’s Aroma Rosteria.
It’s a nice, upscale café with a big old Probat in the back of the store. The place claims to be “Tacoma’s Oldest Coffee Roasting House”, but I’ve never noticed it before. Perhaps, what they mean is that they’ve got the oldest roaster in Tacoma, cause the Probat does look very old.
In any case, I decided to try their coffee and soup. Soup was awesome. In fact the menu is great, with a great selection of specialty salads and sandwiches. Needless to say, my expectations of the coffee were also very high. So, how was the coffee?
Not bad, if you like extremely dark roasts. This was some of the darkest espresso I’ve had in a commercial setting, as dark or darker than Starbucks. I could not have drunk this as straight espresso. Fortunately, I drank it in an iced latte and it cut through the milk…well..kinda like Starbucks.
Quality seemed to be good, but it was hard to tell, given the dominant roast flavors. The coffee was very fresh and I did not notice any of the stale flavors so common in other commercially prepared dark roasts. I actually enjoyed my drink as a change of pace from the usual.
They had a few varieties for sale that include some lighter roasts but I didn’t try them.
I’d be curious to hear if anybody has tried any of their lighter roasts.
I'm not sure what parts I need on that silly machine. It won't get hot enough to make a good shot. See my post under Krups 989, it explains it.
Ok now I'll show my reading comprehension skills or lack there of ( I have a huge head cold, thats my excuse :) ) Martin Henry, is that a coffee or a place?
pstar Senior Member Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 16 Location: Washington DC Expertise: I love coffee
Drip: cuisinart Roaster: Secret
Posted Sun May 23, 2004, 8:23am Subject: Re: Tacoma Ristretto Quest
Hey everyone! I'm a former Tacoma resident. It's good to hear the coffee culture hasn't died out there. Sad to hear that Shakabrah doesn't carry Oly's Batdorf and Bronson, who I believe is the best roaster out there. Of course I haven't been in Tacoma since 1997.
Is that little cafe next to the Spar Bar still there?
Is that Queen Anne Thriftway still Roasting?
anyway peace out and hope to hear more about Tacoma and coffee!
Sad to hear that Shakabrah doesn't carry Oly's Batdorf and Bronson, who I believe is the best roaster out there. Of course I haven't been in Tacoma since 1997.
Yeah, well, the Lavazza's not bad either. At Shakabrah, it depends more on who's behind the machine, and how the machine's behaving anyway.
Is that little cafe next to the Spar Bar still there?
Last time I looked ... but the corporate giants have dipped their toes into Old Town too.
Is that Queen Anne Thriftway still Roasting?
Yes. But it's "Metropolitan Market" now. Same folks, same ambience, new name.
Anyone found a good cup of espresso yet in Tacoma?
The Kickstand switched to Cafe Vita towards the end of last year (2003) after the Queen Anne Thriftway switched to the Metropolitian Market, and also changed owners. I was working there through the change over and had a chance to at least train a few of the Baristas and the owners towards paying attention to their shots and how to steam milk. They do good job there for the most part, but it's not an exciting espresso, and a weak americano.
A new place I recently found was the Mandolin Cafe just up a little on 12th and Union about a block or so. Nice atmosphere, but thats not really matters. They roast their own coffee, in a nice little set up. Was dissapointeted with the baristas both times I went there. If I order a short americano for here, you'd better be pulling the shots into the hot water and the cup. When I asked for a doppio, it was poured into the shot glasses and then dumped into my demitasse. Sigh, and I had such high hopes.
I've heard rumblings about a new shop opened up by a few of the ex-Kickstand employees. Not sure where it is, but I'd like to at least try them out. Any other new shops anyone's heard of or tried recently?
Glad to hear there is another coffee lover in Tacoma looking for a god shot. :) After Rich and his wife sold the Kickstand I have been looking for a place to switch to. The Mandolin is OK but the "Baristas" if you can call them that, really do not know what they are doing. They don't do justice to Aj's roasting! :( He is an amazing roaster however, all it takes is someone to pull a crapy shot and the coffee is put to shame! If you hear where the former Baristas from the kickstand are going to open a place be sure to inform me PLEASE! Until then I am still looking for great coffee in Tacoma.
The short and sweet answer to "what exactly is a ristretto" ristretto means to restrain in Italian. A method of pulling a shot of espresso resulting in less fluid.
If you hear anything in regard to the former "Kickstand" employees venture PLEASE post the info. :)
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