Bites and Bolts

Esmeralda landed at IntelliVenice yesterday for retail sale. Today it’ll be offered up for pleasurable consumption. Brewed with the Cafe Solo, it’ll be a shareable 24ozs of coffee deliciousness for $15. That is, if you’ll even want to share it. I had my first taste of Esmeralda yesterday and I could go on and on about the aroma and the mouth feel, but I’d rather encourage you to drink it and let the coffee speak for itself.

This is a super limited lot of coffee, so don’t dilly-dally. Like Christmas, it comes but once a year.

I’ve heard phenomenal things about this coffee and have been eagerly anticipating it’s release into the wilds of Los Angeles. Looking forward to trying it out for the first time very very soon.

It’s times like these I wish coffee was hoardable like wine. It’s here just a moment in time and then gone till next season.

For more info on Esmeralda, read up here.

This just in: Equator Books on AK serving Blue Bottle Coffee.

Read up:  http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/coffee/blue-bottle-coffee-at-equator/

Well, you know where I’ll be today. Good god, I’m going to have the nastiest caffeine hangover tomorrow.

Intelli Venice

May 2009

Read it up at the LA Times.

One of my favorite coffeeshops(that you will never find me in, don’t let’s be creepy), Cafe Balcony, is being forced into coffeeshop purgatory starting tomorrow, Saturday, February 28th at midnight. Short story, the building was sold and their lease was not renewed. Long story and updates, here.

This prompted me to dig up some photos I took of the place shortly after noon last July. Thanks for the memories…

The good news is that this is a temporary situation, as the owner plans to open up a new location in the area as soon as possible(which realistically may take several months). The bad news is that for those of us who love the Balcony, we’ll be “homeless” for a bit.

So for the love of all things siphon, go visit tomorrow before midnight because it’s your last chance to attempt futile residential parking and cram yourself next to some stranger at the bar. *tear*

 

There are a few prerequisites to operating a coffeehouse in LA County:

1. Location = Trendy neighborhood. It should be located in an “up and coming” neighborhood or on the fringes of mainstream neighborhoods so as not to appear too commercial.

2. No parking. The ideal spot is in a complex with no parking lot. Street parking should be the only option. Bonus if you’re close to a neighborhood with permit parking only.

3. Prepare exceptional drinks. Brew fresh coffee only utilizing top notch methods(siphon or Clover machine). Pour rosettas nonchalantly.

4. Have any of the following combinations for success: moderate seating and free wi-fi OR plentiful seating, but 90% outdoors curbside to a major busy street OR very scarce seating.

If I had a teleporter I would transport myself to Swork a couple days a week, and skip the drive. Swork is a hip coffee shop with an attitude that croons, “Sure, stay awhile. I’m in no hurry.”

Their drinks are creative and yummy. At the time I visited, the barista made pretty decent foam on my latte. Although sugar heart attacks aren’t my thing, their originally named Sworkuccinos look scrumptious. I met three friends at Swork for a mini study session. Although you wouldn’t think Swork’s small tables and crowded atmosphere were very conducive to studying, we accomplished a lot. Three out of four of us were Sworkuvirgins, and we enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and drinks.

Aside from their easy to navigate, enjoyable menu, they also have a kids corner, internet stations, and a helluva cool name. I wish there was a Swork on my neighborhood corner. But then it’d probably turn corporate and my latte would consist of scalding flat milk with burnt tasting espresso. Nah. I love Swork just the way it is.

2160 Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 258-5600