We’ve featured the 1st, 4th, and 14th place Golden Cup coffees, but now we are introducing something new. Now brewing at 21st Street Coffee and Tea… the 2008 Direct Trade Rwanda. Zirikana means “show your commitment”- these Rwandan farmers have been working alongside Intelligentsia doing just that for several years now, and the results are here for you to taste. We had the “preview” coffee this past summer, but I must say that this is a much more vibrant, flavorful and unique coffee than what we experienced last time. Rwanda is certainly an up and coming star in the specialty coffee world.
Check out the latest brew bar menu if you’re so inclined. El Cuervo, Direct Trade Guatemala is also back on our menu for a limited run.
Belle Battista of Mt. Lebanon’s Aldo Coffee Co. put Pittsburgh baristas on the map this week by snagging the top spot at this year’s Mid Atlantic Barista Competition. We weren’t able to attend this years festivities but from what we’ve heard/read there was a strong showing from both Aldo and Enrico’s Tazza D’Oro. These competitions are great for raising awareness of quality coffee and quality establishments. Congrats to all the participants and especially to Belle who we know has worked very hard over the past few years to obtain this great achievement. Way to go!
Our shop in the Strip also features the Clover, and our prices for a 12oz cup range from right around $2 up to, well… $22. We price our coffees much like wine by the glass at a restaurant- the more the coffee costs us, the more we charge the customer. The funny thing is that most restaurants charge at least $3 or more for a cup of “coffee” that really bears more resemblance to hot brown water than it does to the beverage we serve.
The clip also talks about kopi-luwak (aka civet eats and then defecates the coffee cherries yada yada)- so just try to ignore that part as it’s more hype than quality. I don’t want to get into a lengthy post about my feelings on this subject, but I’ll try to explain briefly. Some coffees are expensive because they taste great in the cup, and some coffees are expensive because they have very exotic processing defects that people will pay an exorbitant amount just to say that they’ve tried it (poop coffee).
Here’s a piece on latte art competition from CBS News. While I knew they were competing- Andi Szep and her 15 year old daughter Alexandra of Indiana PA’s Caffe Amadeus were featured in the spot. I’d have to say that Andi is one of the best “artists” I’ve ever seen, and she gave me a couple of tips about a year ago that helped me reach the next level. I’d have to say that most of the drinks shown in the clip probably weren’t winners, but performing under pressure like that isn’t easy.
Need another reason to come visit the Strip District? Check out this new video from Pop City Media featuring the Strip. We’re featured alongside Enrico Biscotti, Jimmy & Nino’s, Klavon’s, Pamela’s Diner, and some other well known Strip businesses.
Highlights from the video include:
Several shots of our pastry case- featuring some of the wonderful muffins and cupcakes we get every day from Priory Fine Pastries.
A couple of words from me, about why you should visit the Strip and 21st Street Coffee and Tea in particular.
Close up of a pretty nice latte pour in progress, although you don’t get to see the finished product (Please visit the flickr page)
Cameo by our very own Mary Packett, who chimes in with her two cents on the Strip.
Celebrity endorsement by none other than Kevin Smith, who happened to be in the shop the day they were filming and was responsible for one of the funniest moments in our history.
Kevin also mentioned some sweet-ass pancakes that he had next door at Pamela’s P&G Diner- and we’d have to agree. Love the Pamela’s crepe pancakes- with whipped cream, bananas, and syrup. He said some other things that were quite humorous but not really fit for mass consumption. I’m hoping to get my hands on the unrated version.
All in all a very cool video. Thanks to Pop City for including us! Also thanks to all our new friends from “Zack and Miri Make a Porno“. Everybody’s been really cool and we also appreciate all the business you bring our way.
Kevin also mentioned some sweet-ass pancakes that he had next door at Pamela’s P&G Diner- and we’d have to agree. Love the Pamela’s crepe pancakes- with whipped cream, bananas, and syrup. He said some other things that were quite humorous but not really fit for mass consumption. I’m hoping to get my hands on the unrated version.