Blue Bottle Coffee – San Franciso, CA
I found myself down in San Francisco looking for a good cup of coffee. Andrew, of Element Coffee, suggested I head on down to Blue Bottle Coffee. It took me a bit of searching with my iPhone GPS but I finally managed to find myself at 66 Mint Street looking at a small cafe and a big line. The place was packed, but the line moved at a steady pace. The first thing you notice is the smell of warm breakfast food. They had a great selection of food items packaged in small, homemade looking containers. It gave a great feel and a real small shop personality.
I was in a hurry so I went with the tried and true cappuccino. They had the same gorgeous La Marzocco that The French Press uses and it made one awesome cappuccino. It was hands down one of the better cappuccinos I've ever had. Rich and creamy, a light espresso that didn't leave a bitter aftertaste. They used clover milk and their own brand of espresso.
The staff was very friendly too considering the crowd. My drink was made with great care, it looked fantastic, and the barista working the register was more than willing to suggest a coffee for me to bring home as a souvenir.
If you find yourself in San Fransciso, make sure you hunt down Blue Bottle and treat yourself to a great cup of coffee!
The French Press – Santa Barbra, CA
By: Dave
Now pay attention, coffee fans, and see if you can’t spot the hidden lesson. One day, the crew was walking around in downtown Santa Barbara, near Figueroa. We came across a shop, Coffee Cat, which was brightly painted, packed full of happy looking customers, and seemed to exude delicious coffee aroma. A cursory glance at the menu shows a wide variety of options, ranging from various kinds of sandwiches to breakfast items.