Ask anyone, and you will find that they never forget
their first. A memory from long ago that even today is
never far from my mind. Her name was Belle
Espresso, a friend brought her to my house one
evening, knowing that we should meet. He was right.
She had a medium body and looked just my type.
With a come hither look, I picked her up and carried
her to my coffee machine. I surrendered and closed
my eyes. I could not resist her aroma… Brandy,
Chocolate and Caramel and how lovely she looked
glistening with oil. I had to have her. Steam excitedly
shot from my machine wand as I pulled myself a shot!
As I brought Belle to my lips, I wondered how many
others knew her and if they felt the same about her,
as I did... It was at that moment I knew that coffee
was not just coffee, it was so much more and I would
never forget her. That beautiful Belle is Klatch’s Belle
Espresso and her memory will never fade away. 
September 16, 2013
Medium Dark / Iced Coffee
Espresso Novo is a great and momentous discovery! With
smooth notes of caramel, banana, and a nutty finish, this is one
of the most complex and remarkable espressos ever! Herb
Brodsky and his sons Jake and Joseph are a remarkable family.
To Herb every cup is like a song… a Bob Dylan song. He’s part
hitchhiking poet, part bohemian writer. Jake, a scientist of
coffee operations, obsesses on coffee perfection, getting primo
beans from his brother Joseph, their world-traveling sourcer.
They treat coffee like fine wine, so beautifully presented, even
their packaging looks like a fancy gift. There is good crema and
Karma in every sip of this amazing and tantalizing Espresso.
January 01, 2016
Medium Dark / Sustainable, Relationship
Attention Chocoholics: looking for an espresso that is
super duper chocolatey? Then Klatch House
Espresso is for you! I have been pulling shots all
morning on my new La Marzocco GS3 and am loving
it! Not to be confused with their
FTO House Espresso…This espresso is ultra rich and
has a heavy, creamy
body. Add steamed milk to the Klatch House
Espresso and it tastes like a Mocha without adding
any chocolate and all those calories. It is really quite
amazing. On my 3rd cappuccino this morning I
decided to experiment. While I never add sugar to my
coffee, because of the over the top chocolate body of
the espresso, I wanted to see what would happen if I
added a touch of sugar and a spray of whipped cream
on top. Well, as suspected, I felt like I was drinking a
real hot cocoa! I swear I was in back Paris having an
Angelina Hot Chocolate on Rue de Rivoli. Well, not
exactly. It isn't as thick, but almost. Because of its
richness in milk drinks, it may be a bit heavy for those
of you that slam 6 double Cappuccinos or Lattes
before noon, but for most people it will hit the spot
as a great mainstay to have on hand when you want
something sweet and naughty. For many people that
is everyday and all day long!
August 29, 2016
Medium Dark / Iced Coffee
This dark roasted velvety masterpiece from Massachusetts
roaster John Mahoney’s Atomic Café is an exotic mix of beans
sourced from Papua New Guinea (PA-poo-Y nyoo GIN-ee) and
Costa Rica. The mix is quite wonderful because it produces such
a rich yet clean and refreshingly smooth cup. The smokiness
never overpowers. Dark roast lovers rejoice! Brewed hot or cold,
it can be sipped all day long. It’s an east coast/ west coast
brokerage house customer favorite and one of mine too.
March 15, 2015
Dark
Ah yes, not too long ago, I was back on my private jet
heading
to South America in my never-ending search for the
holy grail
of coffees. On a secret tip from my faithful valet
Baldrick,
somewhere in the northern region of South America,
Doma
Coffee was rumored to have a special secret blend of
immense
chocolate and tobacco notes befitting royalty. Upon
touching
down in Bogota, I was greeted at the runway by a
mysterious
woman with skin as dark and lovely as the roasted
beans I was
searching for. It was immediately obvious she knew
why I
had come and had expected me.
Once off the plane, I waved farewell to my loyal
companion
and Go-Go dancer entourage, loading my luggage
and favorite
French press into her jeep. After an hour of enduring
rough
terrain plus a rather sore bottom, we arrived at her
secluded
field. Once parked, we proceeded to hike to the top of
the hill
where her colleagues were busy sorting, blending and
roasting
the day’s harvest.
We sat down together at a small bistro table beside
the
roasting shed and locking her eyes to mine, she
finally spoke.
She said her name is Carmela and she had a coffee
that would
ensnare my senses. Her hands clapped twice and a
young boy
of 14 appeared with a wooden tray and two cups of
this
magical liquid. Scrutinizing the contents I could
immediately
smell the essence of dark chocolate and tobacco
lingering in
the air like a siren to a lonely sailor. I lifted the cup
to my lips
and upon my first sip I felt overtaken by the
chocolatey
passion, knocking me out of my chair. It was as if my
clothes
were flying everywhere, like Charlie Brown on the
receiving
end of a speeding fastball. I quickly regained my
senses,
however, like a Kennedy, I was bewildered to find my
pants
missing. Seeing me in a rather vulnerable state,
Carmela
grinned with cheeky approval. Come hither,
Carmela!
Having satisfied my scrutiny and recovering my
favorite
bespoke Kent & Haste trousers, I provided Carmela
her
payment. Now Doma is sharing Carmela’s blend with
true
coffee aficionados back home. Suffice to say this
decadent
roast is, to say the least, Peaberry Approved.
October 31, 2017
Medium / Dir. Trade, Sustainable
Clang your Tibetan singing bowl. Temple's Dharma
Espresso will transform you. You may think I am
crazy, or jacked up on caffeine but I believe man's
understanding of the dharma of inanimate things and
the universe will be clearer with each sip. Okay,
maybe that is stretching it a bit, but this is a great
espresso. It
is a perfect mix of Latin America and
Ethiopian coffees. As straight espresso, it is a more
fruit forward shot, with a bit of lively acidity. I like
lively. In
cappuccino and milk type drinks, it has a silky
creaminess. The flavor brings to mind childhood
memories. Flavor flashbacks, like those cups of
frozen
malted ice cream from the baseball game. You know
the ones that you
eat with a flat wooden spoon? Or maybe it is more
like the
soft, milky powdery soft notes, like the ones in
Whoppers Malted Milk Ball candy. Great as a shot
and comforting with cream. Don't be fooled by the
name. Dharma may sound Zen but it is sure to get a
lot of excitement.
June 28, 2019
Medium Dark / Sustainable
Bird Rock's signature,"Bird Rock Blend" has what it
takes to be a great and classic cup that I will now lean
on as a go-to favorite. I love how the chocolate tones
transform into a thick and gooey, candy-fudge-like
finish. Yum! The Sumatra and Ecuadorian beans are
wonderfully combined and orchestrated by roast
maestro Charles Patton, the 2012 Micro-Roaster of
the year. His commitment to excellence is
unwavering. He personally travels to origin,
conducting a world-wide search to select the specific
beans that will produce the flavor profile he plans to
create, then after returning home, Charles "dials it
in" through various test roasts and numerous
cuppings until he achieves that perfect balance and
harmonious tonality he sought and now has brought
to the cup. This robust, medium-dark roast is a stellar
offering! If you have not had Bird Rock yet, order this
and taste why the crew from La Jolla, California are
2012's top award winners.
January 13, 2014
Medium Dark
Every coffee has a story and Big Truck Espresso is no
exception. Inspired by his
childhood memories, roaster Oliver Stormshak learned
to drive in his Grandpa
Joe's green 1955 Chevy Truck. As he grew into a man,
Grandpa Joe was a
mainstay in his life and has remained a great role model
who has inspired him
ever since. He taught him life lessons and the
importance of hard work. This has
helped make Oliver the great roaster he is today. This
commitment to excellence
rewarded Olympia with the 2013 Roaster Of
The Year Award. Oliver
and crew created Big Truck Espresso to be Olympia's
flagship espresso and it
does not disappoint. It's a classic, just like Grandpa Joe
and that 55 Chevy. It is
always great, memorable and consistent. A solid, big
bodied espresso with sweet
chocolate notes and a dense fruity finish. Big Truck is a
mix of beautiful organic
coffees that are often washed, honeyed or natural. They
change from season to
season but it is an espresso you can always count on to
deliver. Grandpa Joe
eventually sold the truck but the memories live on in Big
Truck Espresso.
November 03, 2014
Medium Dark / Organic, Fair Trade
Everyone knows that New York does everything big.
Dallis Bros. really hit the mark creating a big city espresso
that would be worthy of the Big Apple. Yes, it's big and bold,
just like the city. It has panache! It is unapologetic and
produces crema filled espresso shots that really pack a punch.
The sweet and smoky bittersweet chocolate notes are
delivered in a heavy body. It is great! One taste of this
classic espresso and you are sure to put this on your
go-to list in a New York minute!
February 05, 2016
Medium
I am not quite sure why my choices in coffees seem to shift
with the change of the seasons. Every year around this time,
when the holidays start rolling in and the sky changes colors
and darkens, I crave warmth. I am drawn to naughty, sweet
childlike
flavors in my coffee. I think we all find rich and heavy bodied
coffees comforting. I can have a few luscious cups and feel
happy but often, as the day goes on, I tend to switch it up.
Dallis Bros Unisphere Blend has always been a yummy
cup that is light enough to drink all day and still give you the
happy sweet cup that you crave. While listed as a light roast, I
find it more of a medium-light. The milk chocolate, caramel,
plum, nougat and malt flavors could make this one of your
year round favorites. It certainly is one of mine!
November 06, 2016
Medium / Fair Trade, Organic