 There is always a long line spilling out of Intelligentsia, whether I'm in Silver Lake, Venice or Pasadena, I know what to expect. The good news is the lines go quickly and the end result is entirely worth the inconvenience endured. Not only are the coffee and espresso based drinks a thing a beauty, but viewing the process is both intriguing and entertaining.  Intelligentsia is set up like an open coffee laboratory, in which mad baristas concoct libations in such a way that can defy the imagination. The heavy rays of the lamps are intensely fixated on the espresso machines, so that a barista can craft a latte or cappuccino with ultimate precision. I am fascinated with the fact that they make the brewing and steaming process such a spectacle.  Every time I'm near an Intelligentsia I drag who ever is with me through the line. On Saturday my husband got to be the lucky one. He did get a free cup of coffee out of it and we had a leisurely time of chatting and people/dog watching. Once we got to the front we ordered a soy latte and a cup of coffee. I was so excited to watch the show commence. The coffee was ground and placed into a chemex filter. Water was poured over - just enough to saturate the grinds. Then the barista came back around with the boiling water and filled the filter to the top. The coffee was stirred as the gases released and the flavors bloomed.  I'm enamored with how they freshly brew every cup this way. The method they use allows them to control every aspect of the brewing process. When they handed my husband his cup of coffee they told him that he would be drinking a reserve coffee called Honeyed Pacamara from the El Ausol farm in El Salvador. There was a sense of pride in the barista's voice as she handed it to him.  I watched intently as they steamed my latte. The other barista had his hand placed firmly under the pitcher for temperature gauging as the milk stirred into a tight cyclone formation. They don't use thermometer clips and the espresso is dosed and tamped by hand. They keep it real by doing it old school!  The milk was then poured into the cup in order to merge with the freshly poured espresso. And then, with a few slides and jolts of the wrist, the latte art was created. My latte came out a masterpiece, and the heart on top of the design indicated that it had been made with love. I ditched my husband for a brief moment as he perused through the sports section of the paper and I walked around the store while sipping my latte. I thoroughly enjoy observing baristas from multiple angles. I walked to the bags of freshly roasted coffee and examined their comprehensive profile cards.  The information provided is hardcore – a very good indication that they take coffee very seriously. The producer, farm, region, altitude the coffee was grown at, and the time of harvest are all identified. The flavor profiles on the cards are reminiscent of Robert Parker ardently describing a fine wine. I took pictures at Intelligentsia like tourists at Disneyland. The baristas didn't seem to care. I think they are used to being admired by crazy coffee fans like myself.  Intelligentsia is located at: Silverlake 323.663.6173 3922 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90029 Venice 310.399.1233 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd | Venice, CA 90291 Pasadena 626.578.1270 55 E. Colorado Blvd. | Pasadena, CA 91105 There are also three locations in Chicago where the company is based. Add Comment Coffee Passion at Kean in Costa Mesa 09/06/2010
 There is an inherent passion for coffee at Kean Coffee in Costa Mesa. Next to the condiment stand light beams shed through a tall, prominent coffee tree, making it look almost unearthly and exalted. A colossal, steel roaster sits in the corner, just waiting for the opportunity to roar, shake and roast the next batch of coffee. A note from Martin Diedrich, owner of Kean and former founder of Diedrich coffee, is pervasive throughout the store. The note is a letter explaining the thought process behind Kean’s espresso to patrons. The note starts out by stating, “I much prefer the sweet, rich, syrupy, honeyed Northern Italian traditional light roast espresso over the southern dark roast style.” Diedrich goes on to explain that light roasting accentuates the quality of the coffee and evokes its complex characteristics and aromatics. Manager Mike Richardson points out that a lighter roast will produce a coffee higher in caffeine. The espresso used by Kean is a blend of five fair trade and organic coffees from all three major coffee regions (Latin America, Africa and Arabia, and Pacific). The coffee is roasted fresh everyday by master roaster Ted Vautrinot and three other roasters. The finished product is then placed on a table next to the roaster with an attached sign that both explains and touts the distinct flavor profile. A large, green sign hovers above identifying the major coffee regions, flavor profiles and coffee tasting terms. The drink menu stimulates the imagination with drinks like Turkish lattes with cardamom, lavender steamers and honey chai lattes. And it is made apparent by various photos of foam art throughout the store that Kean takes pride in the craftsmanship of their espresso based drinks along with the skills of their baristas. The store seems to function like a latte gallery. The whole place, in fact, is like a coffee museum – an homage to the brew and a hub for sharing erudite coffee knowledge with the community. Kean coffee is located in Newport Beach and Tustin 2043 Westcliff Drive, Suite 100 Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 642-5326 13681 Newport Avenue, Suite 14 Tustin, CA 92780 (714) 838-5326    |  Featured on Page 54!
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About Us
The Gourmet Coffee Guru seeks to educate and provide insight into the unique and cutting-edge gourmet coffee and espresso based drinks served at Orange County and Los Angeles coffee shops. The Orange County and Los Angeles coffee shops featured on this coffee blog display a passion for coffee and have integrity. The purpose of this coffee blog is to celebrate the exceptional gourmet coffee we have at our fingertips. Guests to this Orange County and Los Angeles coffee shop blog should feel encouraged to ask questions and to share their own knowledge and experiences with gourmet coffee and espresso based drinks. And of course, recommendations for Orange County and Los Angeles coffee shops are always welcome! CategoriesAll ArchivesNovember 2011 |
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