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CoffeeGeek gets a chance to chat with a coffee fanatic also known for singing a few songs, like “If I Had a Million Dollars”. That guy is Steven Page!

Probably one of the coolest things for me in the last little while was finding out that the lead singer (well, former lead singer) of one of my favourite bands is in fact a CoffeeGeek, and a regular visitor to this website. I’m talking about Steven Page, former lead singer of the Bare Naked Ladies and now pursuing a solo career. I had a chance recently to chat with Page about his passion for great coffee and espresso.

CG: Would you classify yourself as a true CoffeeGeek?

StevenPage: I don’t think I’m knowledgeable enough to truly be a CoffeeGeek. I’d say I’m more like a “fan”, although I do get pretty obsessive about the perfect shot sometimes.

CG: What setup do you have at home for making coffee/espresso?

StevenPage: We have a La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II and a Compak K3 Elite grinder, which I like, but I wish there was a better way to deal with some of the mess the grinder produces. My girlfriend loves Intelligentsia’s Black Cat Project, whereas I’m partial to Gimme! Coffee’s Deep Disco. For drip coffee, I have been french pressingfor some time, but recently moved to a Chemex and love it.

CG: You’re in good company on the Chemex, it happens to be one of the favourite brewing methods for some serious coffee people, including Jim Hoffmann, the 2007 World Barista Champion, just to drop a name. When you work with the Chemex, are you using the Compak grinder?

StevenPage: For the Chemex or for the press, I use a Cuisinart burr grinder. It’s a little uneven, but I’m pretty happy with the coffee I’m getting out of it. I should try the Compak with it, though – does it grind coarsely enough? I’ve so far only used it for espresso, and my grind adjustments are all relatively fine.

CG: The Compak should grind well enough, but the problem may be doing a big adjustment range – something to try though. More on the Chemex though, it has its own little rituals – especially the paper fold technique – and some believe the paper makes all the difference in the taste. What do you like best about the method of making coffee?

StevenPage: Well, I’ve read about the perceived differences between the bleached versus the unbleached filters, which I haven’t yet compared. I’ve been using the unbleached and am really happy with the flavour. Although I’ve yet to do any serious cupping, I come from a wine-tasting background and really love the learning process involved in trying different regions, roasts and the blenders’ art. Although intellectually I feel like I should object to the use of a filter, I love the clean taste of the Chemex coffee, and feel I can get a good honest picture of the coffee I’m drinking.

CG: Moving back to espresso, do you have your own ritual / technique you’ve worked on for espresso making?

StevenPage: Well, I’m lousy at latte art, or lart, as I call it. Usually it comes out looking like pornographic graffitti from a dressing room wall. My girlfriend’s the one who likes the milky drinks. I aim to perfect it one day.

As far as espresso goes, it is truly – as they say – all about the grind, the tamping and the temperatures – I monitor the Vivaldi temperatures closely. When working on tamping, I’ve stood over a scale pressing 35 pounds for longer than I care to admit – then I press in the north, south, east, west fashion, and give a quick spin of the tamper.

If you were to walk into our kitchen, you’d often catch me hunched over, staring at the naked portafilter, checking out my tiger stripes with pride. Or dumping a cup and starting again.

CG: I don’t know how you cannot call yourself a “geek” – that kind of attention to tamping and machine temperatures is rarely seen for mostpeople making espresso in the home! With your Vivaldi, it allows a lot of experimentation because of the temperature controls – is that part of the fun here, or can it be frustrating, dialing in a great shot?

StevenPage: It’s absolutely the most fun part – I used to have a super-automatic machine, which will remain nameless, but realized that I craved the variables and control that the supers don’t offer. Maybe one day I’ll graduate to a manual machine!

CG: What do you do when you’re on the road for a the quality fix?

StevenPage: Well, I do a lot of internet searching, and hope there’s something decent
that’s accessible. But remember, everyone has different tastes. There are lots of places that have lousy coffee, but people just love them regardless – I’ll leave these places nameless!

CG: Did you have your own coffee ‘epiphany moment’? A time when you had a shot or a cup where you realised coffee was more than just a wake me up?

StevenPage: Most likely it was the first time I was in Italy, back in the mid-1990s, walking into a bar and ordering a coffee. Upon coming home, every espresso I ordered was compared to coffee in Italy. In the last couple of years, however, I’ve had the great opportunity to have fantastic coffee all over the world, particularly in Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon. Always on the lookout!

CG: Sticking with Toronto and Vancouver, can you mention your favourite cafes in these cities? And do you go for ambiance and the “vibe” of the cafe as much as the taste?

StevenPage: Well, in Toronto, there has been a real explosion of quality coffee joints in the last couple of years. My personal “local” is Mercury Espresso, which really does a great job. They take the coffee seriously, but it’s relaxed and easy-going. I think some people get intimidated by the hipster vibe, but really, that’s their own issues. The baristas are nice folks, and like any other type of bar, they happen to be more familiar with the regulars.

In Vancouver, last time I was there, I had a bunch of really good americanos, you know sometimes, I like to nurse a coffee… from JJ Bean, though I’ve had lots of other great coffees there over the years. I’ve also had some mind-blowing espressos at Intelligentsia in LA, though slightly less so for some reason at the Chicago location I visited once. Also can’t forget Stumptown in Portland, Oregon.

Steven Page is on Twitter these days, if you want to give him a follow. We really appreciate him taking the time to chat about coffee. Here’s a recent song Page showcased on YouTube, with his Vivaldi in the background.

Check out the Vivaldi Machine in the background.
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