Organic Coffee at the Lost Bean in Orange 09/06/2010
 This photo does not depict a pristine latte freshly poured. This photo is of a latte consumed immediately by a coffee shop reviewer with a voracious appetite for good espresso. Coffee is a worldly venture, and it’s a huge responsibility participating in something that affects so many lives. Many coffee companies fail to recognize or care about the impact they have. But as I found on my visit to The Lost Bean, there is an Orange County coffee shop that takes their responsibility to the world seriously, taking each step towards a cleaner and healthier earth with great fervor and intrepidity. It was a Saturday afternoon and I entered a very calming store environment with warm tones, lots of wood and paintings of trees, branches and birds. The store evoked the image of a happy and only slightly dirty hippie. I was not greeted upon entering, and the guy that helped me – who looked like he might have just smoked something good – didn’t display the kind of smiling or enthusiasm that one might encounter at say Starbucks, but my order was taken promptly and my latte was ready within minutes. I’m not that big on formality anyways. Although organic coffee is usually distributed by companies who care about the quality of their product, there are no guarantees that because the coffee is organic the end result will taste good. Although I figured it was a good bet, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I was quite tempted to order a monkey mocha (a mocha with banana syrup), but I believe it only takes one latte to determine the product tenants and integrity of a company. A latte of a higher caliber takes quality ingredients and skill. It must have good espresso that is pulled in just the right amount of time. If it is pulled too long it will be watery and leave a lasting bitter taste on the tongue, if it is pulled too short the bitterness will make an impression immediately. The foam should have no big bubbles. The bubbles should be very tight and the foam should have a creamy consistency. The milk should taste sweet and not burnt. The espresso and milk should be well proportioned. If the company sells exceptional coffee, has a passion for their product, and trains their baristas to be latte artists, then they will produce a sensational latte every single time. Most coffee shops I go to disappoint, but not The Lost Bean. The latte I received was brilliant. The espresso and the foam formed a gorgeous swirling pattern. They were melding together in perfect harmony. I took a brochure for The Lost Bean and proceeded to the condiment stand. I grabbed a biodegradable and compostable spoon and stirred a little splenda into my latte. I opened up the brochure, which pointed out that coffee is the second largest agricultural crop and the third most heavily sprayed crop in the world. This fact spoke volumes in my mind. It helped me to remember that the people selling the coffee aren’t the only ones who have a lofty impact. My buying decision dictates what’s produced and what’s not. The brochure explained that it wasn’t just the coffee that was organic, so is their loose leaf teas and soy milk. The milk they use is produced from cows that strictly consume pesticide-free feed and are not treated with hormones, antibiotics or steroids. Interestingly enough, the prices on the menu weren’t a huge deviation from mainstream coffee shops. After spending some time sipping on my perfectly crafted latte, I went over and took a look at the whole beans for sale. Each bag was labeled with a flavor profile that gave a brief overview of the area it came from. The roast level was also identified on every bag. As I left the store I heard a barista say, “Thank you! Have a nice day!” It gave me a warm fuzzy, they really do care! The Lost Bean is located at 13011 Newport Avenue Tustin, CA 92780-3516 and may be reached by phone at (714) 544-2584. CommentsLeave a Reply |  Featured on Page 54!
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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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