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Anonymous Review of The Pearl Cup: Dallas
I saw this on the net and got permission to stick it up here.
Let me preface this by saying I hate coffee. Pearl Cup rocks.
They must be doing something right to get a simple, yet glorious, review like that. Way to go!
It probably doesn’t hurt that D Magazine voted their “Pearl Latte” the best latte of 2009.
If you’re in Dallas and in need of a decent cup of coffee, you might consider dropping in.
The Pearl Cup
1900 N. Henderson Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Espresso vs. Other Brew Methods
This is less a comparison and more of a question.
Do you find yourself preferring any specific brew method for your coffee?
If you work in the industry, consider this a question based on a morning or afternoon coffee for pure enjoyment, and leave all analysis aside.
I’ve found myself being awfully fond of macchiati lately, regardless of the coffee used (be it a blend or single origin). Of course, this falls under the Espresso category.
I still enjoy other brew methods immensely, but I find myself most satisfied with a small blast of flavor rather than taking enjoyment in the act of consumption itself. Which is something I discovered I used to enjoy as a reason to prefer larger drinks(cups of coffee, that is.. I’ve never been fond of lots of milk). It seems like a strange contrast to make, I realize.
I have seen more and more references to Toddy (and other cold-brews) on the web and more people taking an interest in French Press here in Lubbock. Some people are discovering the Abid “Clever” filter brewer.
What do YOU tend to prefer? Why? I always like reading the thoughts of others. Leave a comment.
Fioza Cafe: Houston
Some readers may already know about Fioza, but since I just found out about them via Flickr (and their ties to Catalina), I figured I’d give them a mention.
I have not been, but I get the impression that they care about the quality of their coffee.
Fioza wants the best that coffee has to offer. We are constantly learning, constantly improving, constantly creating, and constantly adjusting anything that can be improved. From fresh locally roasted coffee to well crafted espresso drinks using the best equipment we know, we strive to create a great coffee experience.
Pair that with the fact that they hosted/sponsored a latte art throwdown with Catalina Coffee, and the implied result sounds promising.
Here are a couple of pictures from their website as well:
Have you been to Fioza? How was it?
Fioza Cafe has been added to our list of Retailers.
Fioza Cafe9002 Chimney Rock Rd, Suite F
Houston, TX 77096
Saturday Night Smackdown: Austin
As taken from an email, and an announcement in the Texas Coffee People group on BaristaExchange.com:
Hey Texas Coffee People!!
We’re having yet another Saturday Night Smackdown. Caffe Medici on Guadalupe in Austin is closing down early on May 30th, we’re pulling out the keg and pulling out the steaming pitchers. It’s listed under the events page on bX, or you can find out more at www.saturdaynightsmackdown.blogspot.com.
We’ll be doing a tasting and discussion on processing methods, then getting a little tipsy and pouring some lattes. Hope to see ya’ll there.
2009 USBC Live Video Feed (and Live-Blogging)
Feed can be found here -> Click
Blog can be found here -> Click
Or, you can just sit back, and enjoy the show from the comfort of TX-Coffee.com:
The Pearl Cup: Dallas, TX
(Website)
As taken from a Facebook message:
NOW OPEN!!!
Business Hours:
Monday – Thursday 6:30am – 9pm
Friday 6:30am – 11pm
Saturday 7am – 11pm
Sunday 9am – 3pm
Come check us out!
The Pearl Cup
1900 N. Henderson Ave
(On the corner of Henderson Ave and McMillan Ave)
The Pearl Cup is running coffee from Coffee Eiland (no website.. get on that, Clay!) in Dallas, along with Mazzer grinders and a La Marzocco Linea. Allegedly, they are offering single origin espresso. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.
The setup (La Marzocco + Mazzer + Coffee Eiland) REALLY reminds me of Gachet Coffee Lounge downtown near the House of Blues. I was not impressed with the coffee at Gachet, but I’m guessing inconsistency is the fault that plagues us all (including Gachet), as what is to blame. It wasn’t bad, but I felt it could have been better.
But, this is a whole new beast, headed by a band of three friends bent on bringing better coffee to Dallas. (or so it seems)
They have a website, which can be found at http://thepearlcup.com, and a page on Facebook. (link on their website)
The Pearl Cup has been added to our List of Retailers.
1900 N. Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(On the corner of Henderson Ave and McMillan Ave)
New Tech in the World of Coffee
I was looking through some Flickr updates, when I come across this interesting looking machine that reminds me of a Clover, and some experiments I’d seen done over at Jim Seven regarding water measurment by weight, rather than volume.
Well, here it is. The Marco Uber Boiler. It’s been situated to deliver water at temperatures of .2C precision by weight into whatever vessel of your choice. Precise temperature, precise measurement, both in a neat in-counter package. This does what Clover couldn’t.(just my opinion)
It’s not in production yet, and James says, “For those interested I’d recommend e-mailing Marco, and they will keep those interested up to date on the boiler.”(via) Click Here for the full report from James Hoffmann.
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The next bit of tech for the coffee industry is an espresso machine project that I’ve been following for awhile, but was just recently finished into a functional prototype. It has since made quite a splash, and it has gotten more attention. It is the Slayer Espresso machine.
It’s low, it’s sleek, it has exposed group heads, it has steam wands and levers that remind one of Synesso, it boasts temperature control/stability, exposed paddle group heads, and… pressure profiling control?
I know that La Marzocco has released their paddle machine (which, btw, Cuvee was one of the first to have acquired), and it has made a splash, but not in the same way as this one. Maybe it’s because it is from an independent, rather than from a prestigious manufacturer with a long history. Maybe it’s because they’ve been blogging about its progress since it began. Or, maybe it’s because it was developed from the same folks who started Treuh, except for Mark Barnett, who went on to found Synesso.
Either way, this piece of espresso tech holds a lot of promising potential. Also not in production yet, I’ll be keeping an eye on this one for updates on its progress.
That’s all the news for today! I’m sure that’s more than enough to hold you over for awhile.
Double Espresso Poll (and a new feature)
On your left, you’ll see a poll that asks how many grams of coffee you would normally dose for a double espresso.
This is just to get an idea of which direction we are headed. More coffee per shot.. or less coffee.
And, if you’ll look to your right, you will see a mobile barcode. This barcode can be read by your SmartPhone, iPhone, or Picket PC (when equipped with a bar code reader.. which can be downloaded to work with your phone’s camera, if your phone does not include one from the factory). Just scan it, and it will pop up tx-coffee.com, so you can grab the URL for your phone without having to go through the hastle of typing it out on tiny keys.
And just a reminder, be sure to try out the Internet Coffee Database (also known as the internet encyclopedia of coffee(LIVE)) hosted here at TX-Coffee.com. And use the contact form if you think we are missing a website or blog that should be included in the search database.
And, the last of this tx-coffee news update, there is a new t-shirt style available in the TX-Coffee Gear store.
“Roots” E-61 T-shirt
Coffee Slingers(O.K. City) mentioned by Food & Wine
No, they are not a TX Retailer, but our stately neighbors to the north have posted a job here, and have been like a close cousin to the TX Coffee Community. I found this article from a Facebook post by Mike White of Gimme! Coffee in New York.
Where to Go Next: Best U.S. Coffee Bars
Food insiders are as excited to talk about coffee bars as they are restaurants: The quality has gotten that good. Here, the classic and new places around the country with the most fanatical devotees.
Fantastic! Maybe now we’ll start seeing coffee retailer reviews where they actually talk about the COFFEE. It seems all they can ever talk about is the food, pastries, decor, and the neighborhood it’s in. Here’s hoping this article is a sign of certain change. A movement in the right direction.
If you are too lazy to read the entire thing and see mentions of some so-called(by the article) “Old Guard” shops as well as some lesser known so-called(by the article) “New Guard” shops, here’s the important bit: The nod to our friends in Oklahoma City at Coffee Slingers.
Oklahoma City
Coffee Slingers
Melody Harwell brought serious coffee to Oklahoma City when she opened Coffee Slingers in a renovated car dealership in March. She’s such a stickler for quality that she insists all of the cappuccinos be served exactly the same way, in seven-ounce ceramic mugs, and she’ll only make coffee with a French press using single-origin beans. 1015 N. Broadway Ave.; 405-606-2763 or coffeeslingers.com.
Kudos to Melody and crew at Coffee Slingers!
(we should see them at this year’s SCRBC)
Beatnix Coffeehouse Closing: Waco, TX
As taken straight from the official Beatnix Myspace blog.
Beatnix Coffee House to Close Saturday
7/23/2008 / Waco, Texas
This Saturday, July 26th, will be the final day that Beatnix Coffee
House opens its doors to the public. A “Closing Bash” will be held,
featuring performances by local musicians.Beatnix’s owner announced on Wednesday the closing of the coffee house
and cultural venue at 1826 Lake Shore Drive, due to poor economic
conditions and lack of capital for expansion.Opened in 2005 by Penney Simpson, Todd Millerd, and Sandra Hapenney,
Beatnix quickly became known not only for its gourmet coffee and
sandwiches, but as a haven for poetry, art, and music. It was awarded
the Music Association of Central Texas’ Groovy Award for Non-Club Venue
of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.Simpson said “Beatnix has been my dream, and I had so many plans for it,
ways that it could be a gathering place and creative spark for Waco’s
culture. But it had to move and grow in order to survive, and our
attempts to find investors or purchasers for the business have all
proved to be dead ends.”Beatnix Coffee House will be open for normal business through Saturday.
On Saturday evening, it will hold a final “Closing Bash” at 6 pm, with
local musicians performing on stage for the last time.
Lack of capital for expansion? Was the business failing, or has it just been stagnant too long?
In any case, nobody ever likes to hear of a shop closing. As a coffee professional, I can’t help but be curious as to why it happens. Each case is different, and it’s often, though not always, due to failing financially. (or being marooned by the city *coughtpanthercitycough*)
What good is a Groovy Award if it can’t save your business? It must be defective!
Thanks to Badger for the tip.
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