I don't have very many coffee related DVDs on my shelf except for Black Gold, which I have previously blogged about, and Paul Bassett's 13 part TV series called Living Coffee, which has helped me in the preparation of my coffee at home - including my choice of cups! I suppose some DVDs in my collection feature coffee/cafés in someway, like Rik's Café in Casablanca or the railway station tea room in Brief Encounter (plus the strangest looking coffee contraption towards the end of the film that I later discovered was called a vacuum pot), but now I'm getting off track...
This morning a new addition to my collection arrived: The Perfect Cappuccino. I've just finished watching it this evening and really enjoyed it. The film is an hour and a half documentary following the journey of the film maker in search of a decent cup of coffee while asking the question of why people settle for a mediocre cup. While the film speaks from an American viewpoint it is quite easy to relate to what is being said by anyone whose life is surrounded by brands, mass marketing and consumption. That said, the movie does bounce back and forth a bit from the U.S. to Italy - the home of espresso and the cappuccino.
A large part of the film examines the ubiquitous nature and goings-on of Starbucks as aposed to small coffee chains or independent unique coffee houses. And while the film doesn't totally slam the mermaid it does set up space in your head for you to do that yourself. That said, the public have a lot to answer for in the fact that they continue to feed the animal - or do they not realise the animal is feeding them?? I digress again. Much of the documentary features the predicament of a small cafe (that seemed to be creating the reality of community and not just the experience of it) as it faced legal action from the bux over the café's name: DoubleShot.
The film will give the average coffee drinker a good introduction to the wider world of coffee without getting bogged down in the stuff that coffee geeks love. What I also liked is that it was filmed, scripted, directed, edited, etc by one person! The only thing that I don't think Amy Ferraris did was actually make any of the coffee - though she did recieve a grant to live in Italy for a year to study the cappuccino!!!
Because it is an independent film it made the price of it a little higher (plus shipping to Ireland almost doubled that!), but that is a price I am willing to pay to support a project like this - plus because it is independent it can say what it likes about globalized coffee companies.
The film has been playing in a number of places across North America and elsewhere. It hasn't been shown publicly here in Ireland yet, but I'm in the process of figuring out with the film maker as to how to do that!
Here's the trailer to whet your appetite.
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Almost Famous
It's been a couple of weeks since I've been able to get down to the Bald Barista, but I made it this evening. As usual, with not much time to spare before they closed, I ordered a couple of drinks.
I watched my espresso pour like dark honey into the cup then immediately took a sip as I stood at the counter. The beans were just roasted six days ago. I'm really getting into quality, fresh espresso. Delicious.
While I was waiting on my latte the barista (one of Buzz's co-conspirators in the campaign to bring quality coffee to Dublin) said to me, 'Do you by any chance write a blog about going to coffeehouses?'
I was stunned! On two accounts: first that my cover had been blown (the give away was that I mentioned racing down to the cafe after putting the kids to bed - I guess I must have put that in a previous post). I was also stunned and quite flattered that a coffee expert read my blog.
I said to the barista that I'd blog about this, but in all my giddy excitement I forgot to ask his name - you know who you are, the guy behind the counter from NZ who does have hair.
All this goes to prove that you should really think about what you write in a blog as you don't know who is reading...and when you might meet them. Fortunately I've got nothing but good words for the Bald Barista cafe and all the staff.
I watched my espresso pour like dark honey into the cup then immediately took a sip as I stood at the counter. The beans were just roasted six days ago. I'm really getting into quality, fresh espresso. Delicious.
While I was waiting on my latte the barista (one of Buzz's co-conspirators in the campaign to bring quality coffee to Dublin) said to me, 'Do you by any chance write a blog about going to coffeehouses?'
I was stunned! On two accounts: first that my cover had been blown (the give away was that I mentioned racing down to the cafe after putting the kids to bed - I guess I must have put that in a previous post). I was also stunned and quite flattered that a coffee expert read my blog.
I said to the barista that I'd blog about this, but in all my giddy excitement I forgot to ask his name - you know who you are, the guy behind the counter from NZ who does have hair.
All this goes to prove that you should really think about what you write in a blog as you don't know who is reading...and when you might meet them. Fortunately I've got nothing but good words for the Bald Barista cafe and all the staff.
Talking about going public...
Sometimes people seem more than willing to make a public declaration of what they believe (or don't believe). Sometimes this is achieved by being unwittingly invited into one end of a phone conversation.
As I sat reading my book, enjoying my latte, another customer in the cafe who was sitting a couple of tables away answered his phone. His end of the call went something like this:
"Hello....yes, that's right.....sorry, who is this?.....No, I'm not interested.....No, I've tried this stuff before and it doesn't work for me......Well the whole idea of spirituality and.....no, it's kind of like one of those pyramid schemes....No, I don't need to..............."
I was intrigued and very curious as to who was on the other end of the phone call. Religious groups and pyramid schemes??? Could this be some sort of indulgences for the 21st century?
Anyway, the phone call ended with the guy giving a brief summary of his feelings towards religion which amounted to "hating organized religion because it was so closed minded."
Obviously that's not a new statement. It's been said thousands of times before. But as a person of faith with a few minutes to spare I decided to ask myself the question as to why so many people think and feel that way.
Firstly, lets get out of the way the notion of appealing to the fact that the church you or I might belong to is pretty disorganized anyway. I don't think this would help. But I can't help wondering in an ironic way how much thought and open minded analysis is actually put into making a blanket statement about such a huge, historical movement?
However, I think I understand what he was probably saying between the lines. It would be quite easy to list a handful of issues that many people would accuse "organized religion" of being closed minded about - although they probably mostly revolve around sex: who can have sex with whom; when can you have sex; what happens after you have had sex; and so on. But I can't help thinking that these and other topics are, at best, secondary issues in matters of religion and faith. If we were to take a moment to look at the primary issues I think the perception of closed mindedness could be dramatically brought into question.
Speaking from my religion - Christianity - at the heart of my faith is an ascent to these beliefs: that somehow out of complete and utter nothingness a supernatural personality, that we have come to name as God, spoke, and life and all that it means to be alive came into existence. Then several milenia latter following numerous attempts to figure out life (to varying degrees of success), this same divine power in some incredible way (God only knows how) was enfleshed and stood on the dirt that he had created. Many of us came to know him as Jesus the Christ. Then after a few years of preaching, teaching and just being, many influential people thought of this Jesus as espousing a far too liberal view of faith and had him killed. But that's not where the heart of my faith ends. (Get ready, folks. This is the point at which it turns mind blowing.) Within a short weekend that dead god-man was resurrected - not like some sort of ghostly apparition, but full on flesh and blood! And not only that, but this resurrection was a sign of a future event guaranteeing that we too would one day, somehow (there's that word again) also be resurrected from the dead!!!
I can't help thinking, how much more of an open mind do you need to believe something like that?
As I sat reading my book, enjoying my latte, another customer in the cafe who was sitting a couple of tables away answered his phone. His end of the call went something like this:
"Hello....yes, that's right.....sorry, who is this?.....No, I'm not interested.....No, I've tried this stuff before and it doesn't work for me......Well the whole idea of spirituality and.....no, it's kind of like one of those pyramid schemes....No, I don't need to..............."
I was intrigued and very curious as to who was on the other end of the phone call. Religious groups and pyramid schemes??? Could this be some sort of indulgences for the 21st century?
Anyway, the phone call ended with the guy giving a brief summary of his feelings towards religion which amounted to "hating organized religion because it was so closed minded."
Obviously that's not a new statement. It's been said thousands of times before. But as a person of faith with a few minutes to spare I decided to ask myself the question as to why so many people think and feel that way.
Firstly, lets get out of the way the notion of appealing to the fact that the church you or I might belong to is pretty disorganized anyway. I don't think this would help. But I can't help wondering in an ironic way how much thought and open minded analysis is actually put into making a blanket statement about such a huge, historical movement?
However, I think I understand what he was probably saying between the lines. It would be quite easy to list a handful of issues that many people would accuse "organized religion" of being closed minded about - although they probably mostly revolve around sex: who can have sex with whom; when can you have sex; what happens after you have had sex; and so on. But I can't help thinking that these and other topics are, at best, secondary issues in matters of religion and faith. If we were to take a moment to look at the primary issues I think the perception of closed mindedness could be dramatically brought into question.
Speaking from my religion - Christianity - at the heart of my faith is an ascent to these beliefs: that somehow out of complete and utter nothingness a supernatural personality, that we have come to name as God, spoke, and life and all that it means to be alive came into existence. Then several milenia latter following numerous attempts to figure out life (to varying degrees of success), this same divine power in some incredible way (God only knows how) was enfleshed and stood on the dirt that he had created. Many of us came to know him as Jesus the Christ. Then after a few years of preaching, teaching and just being, many influential people thought of this Jesus as espousing a far too liberal view of faith and had him killed. But that's not where the heart of my faith ends. (Get ready, folks. This is the point at which it turns mind blowing.) Within a short weekend that dead god-man was resurrected - not like some sort of ghostly apparition, but full on flesh and blood! And not only that, but this resurrection was a sign of a future event guaranteeing that we too would one day, somehow (there's that word again) also be resurrected from the dead!!!
I can't help thinking, how much more of an open mind do you need to believe something like that?
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Does anyone else think this..?
I walked past an Insomnia cafe yesterday and noticed a big poster in their window advertising their new "recession busting menu" which included a muffin and any coffee for only €3. So called great deals like this are springing up all over the place. Not just at cafes, but for cars, TVs, furniture, whatever!
While I assume that I'm meant to feel some sense of appreciation and excitement at being able to get a coffee and muffin for only €3, that's not my first thought. The first thing that come into my mind is: 'Now only €3! I knew you had been ripping me off this whole time. And I can't help thinking you are still making a good profit.'
While I assume that I'm meant to feel some sense of appreciation and excitement at being able to get a coffee and muffin for only €3, that's not my first thought. The first thing that come into my mind is: 'Now only €3! I knew you had been ripping me off this whole time. And I can't help thinking you are still making a good profit.'
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Don't try this at home, kids
When a professional barista enters a championship the three drinks they present to the judges include their most excellent straight espresso, an exquisite cappuccino, and a signature drink which is an espresso based creation of their own.
This evening my wife asked me what signature drink I would make to represent our kids. As it happened the children were watching one of their favourite shows - Charlie and Lola (probably the best children's animated show around at the moment. And it has an brilliant theme tune that just seems to make you feel nostalgic for childhood). Lola is particularly keen on strawberry flavoured milk so it seemed obvious and easy enough to make a pink milk latte. So I mixed together a little Nesquick and gave it a go.
I have to say that aesthetically it looked quite good. I managed to pour the steamed milk to create a pink heart on the top of the dark coffee. But oh my goodness, it did not work as a drink! Even the tentative half-sip was enough to make me gag.
If you're curious as to what the real guys do you can check out the 2009 World Barista Champion, a Welshman who works for a small coffee outlet in London.
This evening my wife asked me what signature drink I would make to represent our kids. As it happened the children were watching one of their favourite shows - Charlie and Lola (probably the best children's animated show around at the moment. And it has an brilliant theme tune that just seems to make you feel nostalgic for childhood). Lola is particularly keen on strawberry flavoured milk so it seemed obvious and easy enough to make a pink milk latte. So I mixed together a little Nesquick and gave it a go.
I have to say that aesthetically it looked quite good. I managed to pour the steamed milk to create a pink heart on the top of the dark coffee. But oh my goodness, it did not work as a drink! Even the tentative half-sip was enough to make me gag.
If you're curious as to what the real guys do you can check out the 2009 World Barista Champion, a Welshman who works for a small coffee outlet in London.
Monday, 15 June 2009
McCafé vs Starbucks
There is a war going on, particularly in North America, and it is over coffee. (Actually there are probably several real conflicts going on in the world over coffee - but that's for another day.)
It would seem that Goliath is taking on Goliath for the title of most popular (ie. most sales) of espresso based drinks. Business analysts seem to suggest that the Hamburgler is stealing market share from the mermaid, but there is rarely mention of taste. So the good folks at Coffee Review decided to simply test a few drinks from both establishments - McDonald's McCafé and Starbucks.
Four drink types were tested: Cappuccino; Latte; Mocha; Caramel Latte.
You can read the full article here. Or if you can't be bothered I'll tell you the results.
When it came to price McCafé was always cheaper. But it would seem that you get what you pay for and Starbucks had the edge for quality. That said, the regular latte was rated as pretty much equal.
The research didn't take into account that compared to the "speciality coffee" sector neither of these companies produce excellent coffee. It was simply a test between brands.
You might like to have a go at this research yourself!
For what it's worth though, I'd take a Whopper with cheese over a Big Mac any day.
It would seem that Goliath is taking on Goliath for the title of most popular (ie. most sales) of espresso based drinks. Business analysts seem to suggest that the Hamburgler is stealing market share from the mermaid, but there is rarely mention of taste. So the good folks at Coffee Review decided to simply test a few drinks from both establishments - McDonald's McCafé and Starbucks.
Four drink types were tested: Cappuccino; Latte; Mocha; Caramel Latte.
You can read the full article here. Or if you can't be bothered I'll tell you the results.
When it came to price McCafé was always cheaper. But it would seem that you get what you pay for and Starbucks had the edge for quality. That said, the regular latte was rated as pretty much equal.
The research didn't take into account that compared to the "speciality coffee" sector neither of these companies produce excellent coffee. It was simply a test between brands.
You might like to have a go at this research yourself!
For what it's worth though, I'd take a Whopper with cheese over a Big Mac any day.
Flat White Cafe
This past week I was in London for a meeting. I managed to get over a little ahead of time (while the wife and kids were at home with a virus - oops) and decided to use those moments of solitude wisely...drinking coffee.
God bless the Interweb. A quick search for great coffee in London brought up a few choices which I was able to narrow down and plan a route from one to the next. I managed to have a couple of really good coffees, but the one that stood out for me was Flat White cafe. Run by some Aussies and named after a classic Oz style of coffee, the small cafe is located on Berwick Street in London's Soho district. The walk along the street takes you past such establishments as the Gourmet Hot Dog, Pastry Pilgrimage, and a collection of XXX clubs with peep shows for a fiver - do yourself a favour and spend the money on thrilling yourself with a couple of Flat White espressos.
Ah, the espresso. I placed my order and then asked them if they minded me watching them pull the shot. They were more than happy to and willingly answered my questions while doing so. The results were amazing (and I told them so). This short drink was the best espresso I've had - like the latte equivalent at Intelligentsia.
Many people would balk at the idea of drinking a double shot of espresso - too bitter. Not this one. It was smooth and bright, had a great crema and an incredible sweetness - almost too sweet. Delicious.
Of course, I also ordered a flat white. Also very good.
I'm back in London again this week with my (now healthy) family. If I can talk my wife into a visit...
By the way, a flat white is a bit like a latte, but with less foam on the top.
God bless the Interweb. A quick search for great coffee in London brought up a few choices which I was able to narrow down and plan a route from one to the next. I managed to have a couple of really good coffees, but the one that stood out for me was Flat White cafe. Run by some Aussies and named after a classic Oz style of coffee, the small cafe is located on Berwick Street in London's Soho district. The walk along the street takes you past such establishments as the Gourmet Hot Dog, Pastry Pilgrimage, and a collection of XXX clubs with peep shows for a fiver - do yourself a favour and spend the money on thrilling yourself with a couple of Flat White espressos.
Ah, the espresso. I placed my order and then asked them if they minded me watching them pull the shot. They were more than happy to and willingly answered my questions while doing so. The results were amazing (and I told them so). This short drink was the best espresso I've had - like the latte equivalent at Intelligentsia.
Many people would balk at the idea of drinking a double shot of espresso - too bitter. Not this one. It was smooth and bright, had a great crema and an incredible sweetness - almost too sweet. Delicious.
Of course, I also ordered a flat white. Also very good.
I'm back in London again this week with my (now healthy) family. If I can talk my wife into a visit...
By the way, a flat white is a bit like a latte, but with less foam on the top.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Bald Barista wins best espresso again!
I managed to get down to the Bald Barista again this evening - I've been a few times since I originally blogged about it. When I got there the man himself was particularly upbeat, and for good reason. The cafe has just today been voted as serving Dublin's best espresso according to The Dubliner magazine. The cafe won the same accolade last year from the Irish Times. However, this time the survey was done by a secret espresso drinker (can I have that job next year???) who discovered that attention to detail and quality is presented in every cup.
I have to say that the blend used does produce a flavour that I haven't yet experienced elsewhere in Dublin and after a few visits now it is growing on me more and more. Tonight's shot actually seemed that little bit extra special.
The article will appear in the special summer issue of The Dubliner - so I'd like to think that I might be blogging an exclusive breaking news story!
Anyway, congratulations to the Bald Barista. If readers are ever in the south inner city area of Dublin go check out the cafe on Aungier Street. It's about a five minute walk from St Stephen's Green.
I have to say that the blend used does produce a flavour that I haven't yet experienced elsewhere in Dublin and after a few visits now it is growing on me more and more. Tonight's shot actually seemed that little bit extra special.
The article will appear in the special summer issue of The Dubliner - so I'd like to think that I might be blogging an exclusive breaking news story!
Anyway, congratulations to the Bald Barista. If readers are ever in the south inner city area of Dublin go check out the cafe on Aungier Street. It's about a five minute walk from St Stephen's Green.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
An Apologetic for God
Sometimes when I take a book with me for coffee I hope to find something inspirational and thought provoking, but end up coming away disappointed. At other times I take a book or a magazine with no real expectations and come away with new insights or ideas. The espresso must have been good because the latter is what happened to me this evening. Reading a few remarks about suffering caused my mind to wander and think, ending in me formulating an apologetic for God (as if God needed someone like me to defend him - which is what an apologetic is, rather than apologising for God).
It went something like this.
When people experience suffering (in whatever circumstances it may be) there will always be some who blame God. Fair enough.
However, many people would cite suffering as proof that God does not exist:
"How can there possibly be a god when I see this child suffering from cancer?" Also understandable.
So I started thinking to myself, what if that same person imagined that God did exist? Would they resort to the same response as the first person above - namely to blame God for suffering? Quite possibly.
However, by their own admission God could not exist because of suffering, therefore who do you blame for the misery that envelopes so many people? Clearly not God because he doesn't exist. Yet suffering continues. It would just seem that bad things happen to some people (while others experience good).
So I began to wonder, would it be possible to bring God back into the equation despite the suffering in the world. Now God exists, but this time does not become the target of blame because stuff just happens. Suffering in the world can't be proof of a world without God.
Ah, but if there is suffering in the world and God exists, then why doesn't he do something about it? Why doesn't he cure that sick child? I suppose my honest answer is that I don't know, but that is wholly unsatisfactory. So perhaps I should answer that maybe God will do something about it.
St Paul wrote some famous words suggesting that despite what happens in life three things should remain: faith, hope and love. I like the idea of faith and hope. It has a particular optimism that says things could be different.
There was once a man in an ancient land who, for whatever reason, was sentenced to death. His pleas to the king for mercy where to no avail until he came up with an idea. "Your majesty," groveled the man, "if you spare my life for one year I will teach your horse to fly". Intrigued, the king granted a 365 day extension to the man's life. When questioned later by one of the servants as to why the man made such a ridiculous promise, the man replied, "In one year I may die anyway. Or the king may die! Or, who knows, I may even be able to teach that horse to fly."
To me this simple illustration speaks in someway about faith and hope in times of adversity. But what do we do in the meantime for those who suffer as we wait in faith and hope for a change of circumstances? What can we do? We love.
But is loving through suffering something God can relate to?
It went something like this.
When people experience suffering (in whatever circumstances it may be) there will always be some who blame God. Fair enough.
However, many people would cite suffering as proof that God does not exist:
"How can there possibly be a god when I see this child suffering from cancer?" Also understandable.
So I started thinking to myself, what if that same person imagined that God did exist? Would they resort to the same response as the first person above - namely to blame God for suffering? Quite possibly.
However, by their own admission God could not exist because of suffering, therefore who do you blame for the misery that envelopes so many people? Clearly not God because he doesn't exist. Yet suffering continues. It would just seem that bad things happen to some people (while others experience good).
So I began to wonder, would it be possible to bring God back into the equation despite the suffering in the world. Now God exists, but this time does not become the target of blame because stuff just happens. Suffering in the world can't be proof of a world without God.
Ah, but if there is suffering in the world and God exists, then why doesn't he do something about it? Why doesn't he cure that sick child? I suppose my honest answer is that I don't know, but that is wholly unsatisfactory. So perhaps I should answer that maybe God will do something about it.
St Paul wrote some famous words suggesting that despite what happens in life three things should remain: faith, hope and love. I like the idea of faith and hope. It has a particular optimism that says things could be different.
There was once a man in an ancient land who, for whatever reason, was sentenced to death. His pleas to the king for mercy where to no avail until he came up with an idea. "Your majesty," groveled the man, "if you spare my life for one year I will teach your horse to fly". Intrigued, the king granted a 365 day extension to the man's life. When questioned later by one of the servants as to why the man made such a ridiculous promise, the man replied, "In one year I may die anyway. Or the king may die! Or, who knows, I may even be able to teach that horse to fly."
To me this simple illustration speaks in someway about faith and hope in times of adversity. But what do we do in the meantime for those who suffer as we wait in faith and hope for a change of circumstances? What can we do? We love.
But is loving through suffering something God can relate to?
Not everything lucky is good for you
I sat at a table by the window this evening so I could occasionally watch the world go past my latte. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a cyclist seemingly toss a packet of cigarettes on to the roadside. I found this quite annoying and couldn't understand why he didn't just find a bin to throw them away.
A few minutes later a man came walking down the street, saw the packet and gave it a good kick a little further down the road. Now I was getting cross! How could someone take an interest in a piece of rubbish only up to the point of kicking it, but not disposing of it?
Soon enough another cyclist came across the packet, but this time he stopped and picked it up. Hooray! Someone with a social conscience for the well-being of our planet. Then this cyclist flipped open the lid, looked inside and smiled. He pulled out a cigarette, popped it in his mouth and cycled off.
I wondered, who was the victim of a negative outcome in that interchange?
A few minutes later a man came walking down the street, saw the packet and gave it a good kick a little further down the road. Now I was getting cross! How could someone take an interest in a piece of rubbish only up to the point of kicking it, but not disposing of it?
Soon enough another cyclist came across the packet, but this time he stopped and picked it up. Hooray! Someone with a social conscience for the well-being of our planet. Then this cyclist flipped open the lid, looked inside and smiled. He pulled out a cigarette, popped it in his mouth and cycled off.
I wondered, who was the victim of a negative outcome in that interchange?
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