Gratitude

Sharing my hairbender shot from LIT on college.

"If you can pull a great shot on college, you can conquer the world"

Excitement is building up for changes in 2012.

List of top cafe in Toronto in the works.
Keep it locked

Cup'd

Spotted: LIT on college
Roasters: stumptown
Origin: kilmanjaro, El Salvador

Verdict: Holy shit!!

Thanks LIT for setting up an impromptu cupping with some of the top coffees of this year.

Espresso Adventures is spoiled.

Ma Gosh its Monday

Replacing M^4: this week is a special notice that.....

Fahrenheit Coffee is back in action!
120 Lombard Street. (Jarvis in between Richmond and Adelaide)
GO! NOW!!!

Tasty Tuesday

NEW DESIGNS!!
Spotted: CRAFTED by Te Aro Roasted

Lovely East-enders have redesigned their packaging for their products; Coffee and Tea.

As the coffee industry pushes for better green sources and customer experience, its only a part of business practice to design appealing packaging.

Espresso Adventures gives Te Aro their stamp of approval.

QOTD: Coffee Poll

Hey EA readers,

QOTD: Do you have a favourite coffee?

Currently: Kochere - from Yirgacheffe is still ringing #1 for me in 2011.

HBD

Happy Belated Birthday Dark Horse!

5 years in Leslieville, bringing the communal table movement and ever elevating coffee in a market which keeps on growing!

Kudos!

Saw some action last night over at DH, neighbours Mercury... Keeping it down in the hood!

Wicked

Fan Friday: Barista Comps

I've been a Flake (cf: lazy, forgetful, pre-occupied, unattentive, or overextended)....


That  being said*, Sprudge.com just leaked us the US Regional Barista Champs schedule...

January 27–29
Northwest Regional Barista Competition, hosted by Dillanos Coffee Roasters
Tacoma, Washington
Open to baristas in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Judges’ certification takes place all day on January 26.

February 10–11
Southeast Regional Barista Competition, host TBD
Atlanta, Georgia
Open to baristas in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida
Judges’ certification takes place all day February 9.

February 25–26
Northeast Regional Barista Competition, hosted by Dallis Bros. Coffee Roasters
New York, New York
Open to baristas in Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania
Judges’ certification class takes place all day on February 24.

March 9–11
Southwest Regional Barista Competition, hosted by Verve Coffee Roasters
Santa Cruz, California
Open to baristas in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico
Judges’ certification takes place all day on March 8.

TBC (end of March -- 23-25, and early April 6-8)  for North Central and South Central Regional Barista Competition


Leading up to Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) 24th Annual Conference and Expo in Portland, Oregon April 19–22, 2012 for the United States Barista Championship.


I Can talk about the USBC, because the CBC has already been crowned!! 




*My Lovely Friend "L" famous lead-up phrase

Timmie Ho's

From the desk of TL:

Looks like they beat me to the punch - or - more like, they decided to dive in full force.
With the help of Bulldog's Ross... they went right into testing the new products.

When will Espresso Adventure taste this new drink... when I get around to it.

For now: read the reviews over at TL.
I'll give it a chance - but probably not until the new year, when I happen to be somewhere that only serves Tim's... but no stuck up nose here - I've just been bogged down with other lovely news!

Clover, Crema

Spotted: Crema (Bloor location)
Origin: El-Octillo, Honduras
Roaster: 49th Parallel
Notes: Bursts of lip smacking sweetness in the form of Gushers Candies, the red ones we all love...and made with 100% fruit juice.
Hints of soft chewy caramel, and freshly ground cocoa.
Verdict: delicious times from the Clover Machine

Coffee cups + sets

Faithful readers!!!

Here's something I invite my readers to share with Espresso adventures!

Submit your coffee cups/mugs and brewing devices with comment and link below. Or email me: cindy@espressoadventures.com

The photo above is from loyal reader Alexia, who inspired me to share her love for coffee and colour.

Get those cameras/sketches/ smart phones out and capture your fav coffee set this weekend.

Happy Espresso Adventures

Fun Friday

Don't you enjoy the weekend?

I think this shirt sums up my thoughts right now.

My anticipation of Tim Horton'' espresso machine?! Monday! I'm really excited!!!

Going to enjoy the sun

Morning break

Not necessary Coffee specific...

But its delicious and its full of butter. Seems to be going well with my Kenyan Coffee!! That's it. Last of Handsome!

Original butter cookie....yum

Matalapa Love

Spotted: Mercury Espresso Bar
Roasters: Terrior/George Howell Coffee
Farm: Matalapa
Origin: La Libertad, El Salvador
Altitude: 4100 feet
Varietals: Pacas and Bourbon Peaberry (70/30)
Method: Washed

Winning the CoE in 2003, Matalapa keeps impressing us. Terroir (George Howell) has great partnerships with amazing farmers - and this is no exception to the rule.

Verdict: Licking your lips sweetness of tropical guava with buttery smoothness as it lingers on your tongue just makes EA go CRAZY!!!!

Gosh Mercury, you make Espresso Adventures want more!!
Plus, visit the shop for their amazing Movember 'stache...(photo tmr)

M^4: Computer crash!!!

Looks like I spoke tooo soon about my MBP.

Weekend resulted in recovery of files... oh gosh - how I wished I pushed everything to the Cloud.
Lesson learned.

Fun Friday: Brew Guide

Looks like Wundercafe: TeAro have been busy busy busy.

Here's the latest Brew guide that they've put up.

Really enjoying the visuals and typeface of these prints...

Go straight to their site for more guides and to order some really great coffee. (here)

Randoms: Hanging in

Loyal readers!

Missing your regular posts - yeah, so am I.
Fulfulling your dreams is a constant thought running around my head.
Through Coffee - it's been easier to slow the down the anxious pace. A cornerstone in my inspiration that gives a sense of comfort.

I'm hanging on, there have been some capital projects that have been quite time-intensive chopping on Espresso Adventures time over the last 3 months. But all is well, it's exciting to see this economy flip-flop every day. Coffee futures have been crazy! New educational series, and many barista events have occurred - and yet there is this calming feeling every time I open up my *gasp* Macbook Pro.....

Yes I know, remember my observations of the MBP pose that congregate at "coffices" and start the buzz of entrepreneurial typing, designing with Illustrator, Rhino... etc.... I've fallen into this APPLE trap. Loving every second of it's platform, just need to grasp the shortcuts faster.

Be patient as I merge some ideas over different platforms - and launching new looks - doesn't bode well with my execution plan, but for now it'll have to do. I'm not settling, just keeping the engine warm for a VTech blast of speed. (no I am not a car expert)

Leave me a message, post on my Facebook wall, or send me tweets @esproadventures.

Even show some love through paypal =P.
Gearing up for American Thanksgiving... it'll be a fun ride!

Timmie's goes espresso?

According to the Toronto Star this morning, looks like our favourite double-double will soon be adding espresso to their line-up.

At $2 a cup, will begin to roll out in Ontario Nov 14th and eventually to all chains.

Not to be outdone by Starbux, Tim's will be using automated machine using 100% Arabica beans - reaching even more of the population with a cheaper price point.

Can this be good for the coffee industry as another big boy enters the ring?
Can our local shoppe sustain the explosive growth we've experienced over the last 3 years?
Only time will tell.
All the best Tims
Espresso Adventures strives to create a knowledge of espresso enjoyment thru different brewing styles introduced in seminars and lectures series.

For more information visit: http://espresso-adventures.blogspot.com

Movember

Join the Cause

Visit fav Cafe TeAro and check out the boys of Leslieville as they donate their faces!

Can't really contribute other than my donations, so that's what I shall do.

Here at Espresso Adventures we support all efforts in this glorious month of mustache growing fun.