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Open for Business Labor Day

Published
by
Luke
on August 31, 2008
in Coffee
. 1 Comment

It’s called Labor Day… so we’ll be open and laboring over the Synesso and Clover in the Strip District making those drinks.  Holiday hours tomorrow in the Strip- 8am to noon.

The Frick Building coffee bar will be closed 9/1.

Featured in Pittsburgh Magazine: Best of Pittsburgh 2008

Published
by
Luke
on August 26, 2008
in Coffee
. 6 Comments

This is cool.  If you’re a subscriber you already have in your possession the September Pittsburgh Magazine- their annual “Best of Pittsburgh” issue… and we’re in it!

Best Place to Get Custom Coffee: 21st St. Coffee and Tea’s Strip District location was the first place in town to get the famed high-tech $10,000-plus Clover coffee maker. (Now that Starbucks has bought Clover, the gadget may become more ubiquitous.) As at any good farmers’ market, you won’t find the same thing all year - the coffee choices change with the seasons (in September, look for newly arrived beans from Central and South America). Your barista can adjust the grind, water temperature and brewing time to coax the best flavor from the bean of your choice. Now: Caffeinate! 50 21st St., Strip District; 412/281-0809, 21streetcoffee.com. - K.C.

And by custom coffee we don’t mean sugar free vanilla syrup- a’ight?  And IF SBUX does drop a Clover in Pittsburgh I’ll go head to head with them in Pittsburgh’s first ever Clover throwdown.  Bring. It. On.

Since we own a newsstand next door (that’s Smallman News @ 2018 Smallman Street- open Tue-Fri 8a-3p, Sat 8a-12p), we don’t subscribe to magazines. We’re waiting for it to hit the shelves so we can see what (if any) photos they used.  DJ and Drew were working bar the day the photographers brought in all their gear, so we’ll see what comes of it.  It may be precious and/or hilarious.

There weren’t too many coffee mentions, but local micro-roaster Jakes Java gets a shout for “Best Zippy Delivery”, fellow Strip District business Leaf and Bean in the reader’s poll for their extensive cigar bar, and Kiva Han for their “hippy breakfast” (they probably don’t call it that).  JoJo’s got the nod for “Best After-Bar Eats”.  Pamela’s won the reader’s poll for “Best Breakfast”.  The Strip also got a “worst of” for most dangerous bus stop- at 16th and Penn… so keep your heads up kids.

I would like to call attention to this year’s “Best Selection of Beer”- D’s Six Pax & Dogs.  The dogs are really good, but the beer cave is sweet as hell.  I had a Bornem Tripel to wash down a three cheese dog, a Chicago dog, and their 1919 Draft Root Beer.  Total food coma the rest of the night.

Anyway, we have really good coffee.  Come on dahn the strip and try it.

AP: Pittsburgh’s Market Area Tickles Visitors’ Senses

Published
by
Luke
on August 26, 2008
in Coffee
. 1 Comment

More press…

I think the original title of this article was probably something like “Strip Tickles Vistors’ Senses” but this article, featured in the Tribune Review a few weeks back, has now been picked up by ABC News and Yahoo News, among many other news outlets.  It’s great press for Pittsburgh’s “Market Area”.

There are a couple of photos online (we’re in three of them) as well that did not accompany the article the first go around- including this nice one of Alexis and I hard at work.

Also mentioned in the article was the ‘Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tour, which we are now proud to be a part of.  The whirlwind 21st Street portion of the tour includes:

  • a high level discussion of fair trade and direct trade
  • tasty coffees sampled off our Clover (currently sampling Kenya)
  • a latte art demo and some coffee Q&A (if time/customer traffic permits)
  • finally the tour concludes in our loft area where Sylvia tells visitors about the historic Pennsylvania Railroad Fruit Auction & Sales Building and the beautiful St. Stanislaus Church.  Two buildings we look at every day.

    To learn more about the Strip- click on over to Neighbors in the Strip daht cahm.

    Marzocco Steamwand Mania at Tazza D’Oro

    Published
    by
    Luke
    on August 21, 2008
    in Coffee
    . 5 Comments

    Amy Enrico and the crew of Tazza D’Oro in Highland Park were kind enough to invite us and some other local coffee folks over last night for beers, pizza, and a latte art throwdown.

    The last time I attempted to participate I didn’t really warm up, didn’t really pay attention to the equipment differences, especially the steam wands (both TdO and Aldo use La Marzocco espresso machines).  I’ve been making drinks on our two Synessos for over two years, so I feel pretty comfortable with our machines, but last time out my milk texture was a little too thin and I didn’t really give myself anything to work with.  My drink was just a bit off so I was a little wary of Tazza D’Oro’s 2 group GB5.

    Last night I felt really uncomfortable- the steam operation was different, the flow rate of the steam was different, and the geometry of the nozzle was different than what I was used to.  As we walked in the door Rich from Aldo tells me that I’m the favorite (no pressure), and as we were a few minutes late I was #11 out of 12 I think to compete, and having a dozen pretty qualified folks standing around watching you do your thing can be a little nerve wracking.  This could end very badly, I thought.

    The steam was waaay different, but after a little warmup I got the hang of it.  I made a couple of practice drinks and then made the real one.  The nice thing is that this time I didn’t have anyone screaming in my ear as I tried to pour.  I had a couple of good pours (had to use skim in round two), and won the pot at the end of the night.  I didn’t expect that to happen so it was pretty cool.  I’m glad I didn’t choke.

    I didn’t take any photos but Rich did and he already posted it on the Aldo blog.  Good times, nice people, and thanks again Tazza D’Oro for having us.

    Definitely get up there and try their Esmeralda.  Amy made a press of it at the end of the night and it was delicious.  Batdorf and Bronson did a great job with their lot.  We’ll have ours in a few weeks but I definitely could tell it was the real deal having enjoyed last year’s incarnation.

    Micro Lot Madness

    Published
    by
    Luke
    on August 20, 2008
    in Coffee
    . 1 Comment

    For a limited time, we are offering 12oz cups of two micro-lot coffees.  Think of the micro lots as the creme de la creme- the best coffee to come from a particular harvest.  So far the reviews have been outstanding.

    First up, GALAPAGITO, a micro-lot from the La Tortuga Project in Honduras.

    Second, LIMONCILLO, the 2nd place coffee from the Nicaragua Cup of Excellence.

    These two will not last long.