Zoka - Kirkland

Zoka Coffee Kirkland!  Check out the FIVE roburs, and a Slayer!  I kinda felt like I was in a museum, but it was pretty cool.  Even farther left of this pic was a giant flat screen displaying some sort coffee parafanalia.

Zoka with A and L

Stumptown on 12th

Andrew, Laila and I went to a cupping at Stumptown the other day.  As far as I know they have cuppings every day.  We cupped about six coffees.  Now, this was the 12th St. Stumptown - where their roasting and training takes place.  It was fun to see them roast a bit.  The training room is lined with huge windows facing the roaster so we got to see some training going on.

Urban Coffee Lounge

This is Urban Coffee Lounge, my new job.  It's a pretty great place, lots of light with a warm atmosphere even though it's somewhat of an industrial scene.  The wood, fireplace and color give it warmth I think.  I like it a lot.  They're a Stumptown account, the largest account in the Seattle area.  The owner has a great passion for coffee, well ... quality in general.  You should really stop by, if not to see me and Andrew Milstead - and Laila, you should enjoy yourself with they're pastries and coffee.  I'm not really an advertisement, just new to the area.

Slayer Time

Slayer Time

Andrew, Laila and I went to Slayer to play on this very versitel machine.  It was fun to try and pull a shot of espresso but the whole process will take a lot of getting used to.  It feels and is a very different way to make espresso - by having variable preinfusion time and pressure, also variable pump pressure.  One of the guys there was discribing a great shot that he had that had been pulled like this: 30 seconds of preinfusion at 3 bars, a few seconds at 15 bars and then shut the pump off and let it taper naturally back down ending with an ounce and a half of espresso (in 53 seconds) that was balanced, medium bodied and chocolaty.  WHAT?!