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
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
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
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 / 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
This Espresso is truly outstanding! As an Espresso, the
aromas of pear blossom and grilled honey crisp apple
transform into a nice silky liqueur. It's not over yet! Then tart,
but sweet notes of apricot, tamarind and cashew combine and
take you to a juicy and nice long finish. One taste and I yelled
out "Oh My God!" - I love this as a drip too. It's fruity qualities
truly make it a wonderful cup. I could drink this, all day long.
The Boss! Winter Espresso - Get it while you can -- as long as
it lasts. Another exceptional espresso from Barefoot!
November 12, 2012
Medium / Relationship, Fair Trade
Bella Finca coffee is an outstanding creation from Master
Roaster
Henry Kalebjian. Henry possesses a certain expertise that is
rare
in the coffee world. He has the unique ability of roasting bold
and incredibly flavorful dark coffees without burning the
precious beans. This comes from the experience of roasting
coffee for over 50 years, as well as fine-tuning every nuance of
his technique, having a supreme palate and knowing just when
to stop the roasting process. His San Francisco coffee shop on
foggy Noriega Street is well known to locals, as well as visitors
who stop
by from around the world to watch Henry roast. He is now well
into his
seventies and still roasts six days a week! He’s a proud
Armenian
man, who was raised in Lebanon. At age 12, he was pulled out of
school to learn roasting from his father. He has carried on this
family tradition and spent a lifetime honing his skills, passing
this knowledge onto his son Hrag, who now works alongside
him. These efforts have produced a legacy of great and unique
mainstay coffees. Henry’s coffees are not only great black but
also pack a powerful punch through milk-based drinks. Bella
Finca is a Henry’s number #1 seller and for good reason. It is
outstanding brewed black or makes one fantastic bold Italian
style espresso. I love its beautiful dark tones, richness, and full
bodied qualities along with its wonderful chocolate flavor notes!
Without a doubt, this a great choice for fans of a dark cup. This
is a must for all to brew. I recommend this with absolute
enthusiasm!
April 21, 2016
Dark / Iced Coffee, Fair Trade