Thursday, January 31, 2019
Beaufort Landing at Hampton Cove
Beaufort Landing by Polygon Homes is a new townhouse development located at Hampton Cove in Delta. This project will offer a special waterfront collection of 124 executive 3 & 4 Bedroom Townhomes in the Charming Town of Ladner. These three and four bedroom homes offer charming seaside-inspired architecture and a variety of floorplan options. Every detail is thoughtfully designed to give you places to gather and share, and spaces for everyone to enjoy peace and quiet.Nestled between a marina and a golf course, walking and biking trails surround the neighbourhood, and a beautiful new riverside linear park will give residents a natural place to explore their own backyard.
The post Beaufort Landing at Hampton Cove appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.
from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2Uzb8ol
Houston: Get Skilled At Lift And Learn
It is the great catch 22 of finding employment in the coffee industry (any industry really). In order to get a job you need experience, but you can’t get that experience without having a job. But the climb isn’t over yet. Baristas who want to transition to other areas of the coffee industry can find themselves facing the same conundrum. But in a new event, the Houston Coffee Collective is helping to close the gap between experience needed and experience possessed. Happening Tuesday, February 5th, Lift and Learn is a free event teaching tech, barista, and brewing skills to coffee professionals and would-be professionals alike.
Taking place at GEVA Coffee, Lift and Learn is a collaborative effort between the HCC, Urnex, and Counter Culture that will give attendees a chance to learn “tech building preventative maintenance skills” and “barista brewing and espresso skills.” Led by Pit Crew’s Allen Leibowitz, Counter Culture’s Eli Ramirez, and Blacksmith’s Antoine Franklin, folks can sign up for classes on steam wand rebuilds, grinder preventative maintenance, basic hand skills, and espresso fundamentals.
It’s not all learning (and lifting) though, food trucks will be on-site for anyone who works up an appetite, and beer is being sponsored by Slow Pour Supply. A hard day’s works deserves a coldie, y’know.
The event gets started at 6:00pm at GEVA Coffee on Tuesday, February 5th. Attendance is free, but an RSVP is required via Eventbrite, which can be done here. For more information, visit the Houston Coffee Collective’s official website.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image via the Houston Coffee Collective
Disclosure: Counter Culture and Urnex are advertising partners with the Sprudge Media Network
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from Sprudge http://bit.ly/2So3D6l
Happy Birthday Becky
Wishing our middle kid, the caretaker who watches over all of us, a wonderful day. I know it's kinda hard to do when you are super-duper sick, but I hope you will try to have a good one.
Love you!
from Northview Diary http://bit.ly/2GbBIzP
In Melbourne, Debunking The African Gang “Crisis” Over Coffee
The social and political climates of every economy in our world are undergoing widespread change. Whether or not it’s realized, the laws of our lands and the commentary that comes with them affect every facet of our lives. Coffee isn’t immune to this—as a global industry, it depends on the exploitation of black and brown farmers and international laws of trade to thrive.
We look to coffee professionals in Iran, who are currently barred from participating in SCA events and WCE competitions thanks to the Trump administration, and Guatemalans leaving coffee behind in search for a better, safer life. Not only are these examples of the close relationship coffee has with politics, but the way our media portrays these people and events often demonizes them instead of informing the general public. As a result, portions of this public sometimes feel emboldened to react in dangerous ways.
In the state of Victoria in Australia, similar things are happening. Over the last year, unfair, racist media and political persecution has heavily affected Sudanese-Australians. Apparently, Melbourne is experiencing a rise in violence due to “African gangs,” but this is a myth. The sensationalism by Australian media outlets is doing more harm to these communities than good.
In the world of coffee, stepping in to stand up for the underserved and wrongly persecuted has become a new norm. It’s an acknowledgement of the very communities that produce the fruit an entire industry is built off of. From Sprudge’s multiple national fundraisers for refugees and asylum seekers to Department of Brewology’s Filter Coffee, Not People campaign—both helped send a message in strong support of people banned at US borders.
1951 Coffee Company in Berkeley, California offers employment to refugees also. Across the world in Singapore, Bettr Barista puts its focus on at-risk youth and marginalised women within their own community.
Despite the industry as a whole often toeing the line of humanitarianism and White savior complexes, it’s needless to say: the world of coffee has a heart to act for the social good of people because people are its core.
But in Melbourne—a city globally known and highly revered for its cafe culture—there rings a silence toward mobilizing for this cause in the coffee scene.
This isn’t true for every cause—there was an outpouring of community support for Australia’s vote to legalize gay marriage, and cafes have worked together nationally to raise money for the homeless. Richmond cafe Long Street Coffee also joins the list of places that employ refugees and recent migrants to Australia. Since we are in the age of coffee businesses utilizing their place in society as social third spaces to take strong stances for marginalized people everywhere, this could be an opportunity for Melbourne to join in. But as time passes, the current silence is beginning to speak volumes.
i.O.G.
In North Melbourne at Auction Rooms Cafe, three Sudanese-Australian artists—members of the collective Burn City Movement: Wantu Tha One, i.O.G, and Prince Leo—gather over coffee. They speak openly with Sprudge about their experience being seen as outsiders in a society they grew up in, and how the coffee community could play a role in fighting back against the political and media circus.
“Growing up in Australia was a wild experience,” i.O.G begins. He’s lived here almost half his life, having moved to Melbourne from South Sudan in 2006. “I grew up in the suburbs, where it was safer than most. Over the years, it’d been peaceful. But now it’s getting serious.”
I.O.G is referring to the recent rise in race-related incidents since the media’s reporting on the “African gang crisis” in the state of Victoria. This sensationalism has lingered in the media all year. Isolated incidents of South Sudanese youth committing crime have been exaggerated, so much so the Prime Minister himself spoke out against the so-called issue.
Wantu Tha One
“The Prime Minister of Australia is blurting out nonsense about African gangs and Sudanese-specific communities, while the police commissioner says this is far from a crisis; just a group of young people getting together now and again committing petty crimes,” says Wantu Tha One. “The statistics don’t add up to what they’re saying.”
And he’s right—crimes committed by Sudanese people in Victoria accounted for 1% of all crime in 2017. While many Victorians know and understand the demonization of South Sudanese people in Australia is to cause unwarranted fear for political party votes, Sudanese-Australians question why it comes at the expense of their own communities. At the same time, some are trying to find creative ways to address these problems while bringing everyone together.
This is where coffee can come in.
Wantu says, “The first thing—[Melbourne] coffee culture would have to find a way to welcome people of all backgrounds. And from there, we can feel more comfortable utilizing these spaces to come together.” Although they’re not the only black people in the cafe on this particular Sunday afternoon, they stand out. The stares from patrons of the cafe are glaringly apparent, but the vibe isn’t inherently unwelcoming.
“[Coffee shops] are more friendly in the city,” Wantu continues. “You find more open minds, and you’re greeted with a friendly smile. There are other areas where you walk into the shop and you feel out of place automatically.”
In the decades following the White Australia Policy ending in 1973, Australia promoted multiculturalism. The City of Melbourne proudly calls itself home to “one of the world’s most harmonious and culturally diverse communities,” reflected heavily in the city’s culinary spread, including coffee. But when you walk into one of the numerous cafes residents and tourists alike have to choose from, folks on both sides of the bar look mostly the same.
There’s a chance for Melbourne cafes to not only open their space to have these conversations and mobilize for the community, but offer jobs, as well. After all, being a barista is considered a serious profession in Australia—often viewed as a trade.
Certain politicians have suggested Sudanese people aren’t adjusting quickly enough to Australian culture. This is an interesting point to make considering the lack of support received overall after migration from a war-torn country to a society much different than their own. But maybe it’s here—at the coffee shop—where the lines that have clearly been drawn to divide Australians can begin to blur.
Prince Leo
Prince Leo asserts, “I don’t drink coffee on a daily basis, but I do respect the culture. Over here, it’s more than coffee. It’s social. It’s a vibe. We can use that to bring more awareness to what’s happening right now.”
The idea of spending time behind the espresso machine riles up the conversation as the group sips on cappuccinos and gazes at the baristas working. Wantu says, “Being a barista, you get to meet and connect with a lot of different people. And the idea of having coffee meet-ups to have a space for these connections could make a change.”
In a city where coffee is woven into the fabric of society, the amount of influence the coffee community has is immense. The community can take a stand for its fellow Australians and help change the narrative hurting Sudanese communities. If diversity is truly something we should champion and celebrate instead, standing by silently while certain groups of people are demonized is a step in the wrong direction.
Very recently, Victoria voted to re-elect Labor Party leader Daniel Andrews to office in the state elections. Similar to the American Democratic party, Victorians rejected “a campaign based on fear and division“ in overwhelming numbers. If this is truly the case, there’s no better time for the people of Victoria to band together and slow the ripple effects of this year’s political and media storm.
As Melbourne-based lawyer, activist, and Sudanese-Australian Nyadol Nyuon put it in the Saturday Paper:
“When the voting is done, and political careers are secured or lost, when the journalists put down their ‘pens’ and head to their families or bed, and when the publishers are onto the next story, the resultant scars from this episode of moral panic will still be carved into our lives. And they will still be there, weakening the ties that bind us into a shared identity as Victorians.”
Perhaps these ties can be strengthened again, if at the very least, over a cup of coffee.
Michelle Johnson (@thechocbarista) is the publisher of The Chocolate Barista. Read more Michelle Johnson on Sprudge.
The post In Melbourne, Debunking The African Gang “Crisis” Over Coffee appeared first on Sprudge.
from Sprudge http://bit.ly/2SnaUDq
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
The Polar Vortex Has Cancelled Coffee In Chicago
The Polar Vortex is here, and IT. IS. COLD. Despite supplications from the simple-minded, more global warming isn’t going to save us or make it warmer. In fact, some would argue (read: scientists and people who believe scientists) that this dangerous cold snap is actually caused by global warming. It sounds odd, I know. If it makes the earth hot, then why is it so cold, huh science? It’s all just some ivory tower conspiracy to make me putter around in a car powered by rubber bands instead of rolling coal the way God intended.
Winter storms don't prove that global warming isn't happening. https://t.co/LDqfq4JH9n pic.twitter.com/ndmLD637Cb
— NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) January 29, 2019
But no matter which side of the global warming hoax you fall on, we can all agree on one thing: it’s really, really cold outside. And this is especially true in Chicago, where an entire city’s coffee habit threatened by historically low temperatures. Shops all around the Windy City are closing or operating with limited hours.
And because we love you and want to make sure you’re safe and not chasing a caffeine fix in vain, dear citizens of the Second City, we’ve compiled a list of Chicago cafes that maybe you shouldn’t visit today, Wednesday, January 30th, if you’re trying to find a warm cup of coffee.
CLOSED:
Ipsento
Caffe Umbria
Wormhole
Cup & Spoon
Metric
Werewolf Coffee Bar
Purple Llama
LIMITED HOURS:
Caffe Streets: open 7:00am–1:00pm
Colectivo Coffee: open 8:30am–3:00pm
If you absolutely must get out to get coffee, 4 Letter Word and all Intelligentsia locations are open, with the latter offering $2 off any drink with purchase of a pastry.
Be safe out there, y’all.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image via Law.com
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from Sprudge http://bit.ly/2Wv9uWA
Sarah Gill Of Mama Mocha’s: The Sprudge Interview
The Barista Championship Qualifiers in Nashville in January was characterized by cool, collected baristas delivering academic routines and meaningful conversations (revisit all the action on Sprudge Live here and here). But in an afternoon of weighty work, a barista named Sarah Gill—owner of Mama Mocha’s in Auburn, Alabama—stepped up to the stage and delivered a perfomance full of life and self.
“Most people call me Mama Mocha,” she started, then delivered a performance so full of infectious laughter and Southern charm that the crowd erupted into delighted cheers every time she addressed them. When the lid to her ice cream popped off and unexpectedly hit a judge, she turned to make a joke out of it with the crowd, encouraging everyone (including the judge) to laugh about it with her. If you missed her performance, you really owe it to yourself to go back and watch—it’s available here. (Start at 6:44:19 for Gill.
Gill ended up officially disqualified from the competition due to time, but did so with such grace, humor, and charm that she walked away a deserving crowd favorite. There is no “People’s Choice” honorarium in the USBC circuit; perhaps there should be.
I caught up Sarah Gill by phone a week later to talk about all things Southern, being a mama and entrepreneur, and what competing in Nashville meant to her.
This interview has been condensed for clarity.
Introduce us to your work as Mama Mocha.
I’m a mama to one rambunctious son. Our family is the most important thing, and that means doing business the old fashioned way. He comes with me to work, and someday he’ll help out in the shop. I started Mama Mocha’s Coffee Emporium about 10 years ago. We were born in a tiny 11 ft x 16 ft room in the back of Newsroom, a used book store where all the baristas went to hang out in Auburn, Alabama. The store was doing a tiny espresso bar with pour-overs, no batch brewing at all. Everyone was like, “What is this?” It was very new for people then.
When I bought the bar and started Mama Mocha’s, I wanted to do it without the trendiness, which I think has been to my benefit. I was able to make my own flavor, my own style of how I roast and brew. We aren’t the million-dollar white box that is trendy other places. Where I am it’s a bunch of thrift store velvet couches with classic darker roasts in mismatched cups. Our location in Opelika has a covered front porch and a bodega where people walk up. It’s the South: We still love biscuits and Lynyrd Skynyrd, but we’re drinking specialty coffee.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Gill.
How did you get into coffee in Alabama? How did you get into roasting?
I was working at a Starbucks, and they wanted to make me a GM at 19. But I saw the hard lines on all of the managers faces around me, saw my future in that, and thought, “Hell no.” So I moved to Auburn and started working in independent coffee. In 2009, I went to the SCAA conference and realized, “Oh, I can open a roasting company.”
I learned roasting all my dang self. Auburn was very much an island. I didn’t have anywhere to go to learn coffee. I talked to people in Atlanta, I went to SCAA conferences, I read everything I could online, I got books. When I bought a tiny three kilo roaster, I didn’t know anything about anything. I roasted 14 hours a day over and over again until I liked what I was making. It was hard, but I didn’t have any choice but to make it work. It was bootstrapping times 10.
What is it like running an independent specialty shop in a small town?
Today, we have a full roastery in the Lebanon Art District of Opelika, Alabama. Opelika doesn’t allow corporations in; there’s only small businesses, families supporting families. So we bootstrapped again and opened in an old warehouse there, where the streets are rough and it’s just gritty enough to be cool. My husband (Taylor Gill, but everyone calls him Papa Mocha) did all the construction to make it work for us. Now there’s a bodega in the front, and a sensory lab in the back where we cup all our coffee. We use language that mimics the Sensory Lexicon. Our baristas are all career baristas, they’re the shining light of Mama Mocha’s.
We’re not in a giant metropolis. I’m happy in my small community, roasting for shops close enough to personally deliver to. We love supporting local, and supporting women-owned businesses. I am all about community over competition and supporting other cafes in my neighborhood. I feel sad that I have to say this, but we’re a safe space. I’m a cisgendered straight married white woman, but I’m progressive and an LGBTQ ally. I’m a Christian but Mama Mocha’s is not a Christian company. Christianity and coffee are real close in the South, but one of our only rules is no proselytization in the cafe. I want anyone to come in and not feel like there’s an agenda against them.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Gill.
How did competing in Nashville feel to you?
The other people in this competition are totally unlike me, a different breed of barista. They are like mixologists and I’m not doing that. When I was training, it was on a $1,000 espresso machine and a KitchenAid burr grinder. When I got there, I thought I was going to be nervous, but it was really easy to hold my head up high because I’ve already built my legacy. I’m not trying to prove myself. Even though it was the most glorious display of crash and burn I’ve ever done [Gill went more than a minute over time and didn’t finish her signature beverage] it felt awesome to tell my story and let go of the point system.
As soon as I let go, I could feel the audience’s sense of relief. It was an energy shift that erupted into laughter and cheers. They knew I didn’t give a shit, that I wasn’t restricted by the same scripts and cadence that’s been done in the past. I wasn’t trying to make a mockery of the point system and everything US Coffee Champs has built—but there’s more to being a barista than just those parameters. The process was so good for me. Developing the routine got me back to my roots, it developed a fire behind me that I haven’t had for a while. I left Nashville with such a great feeling of accomplishment.
Talk us through the signature beverage you made.
I was originally going to do a play on the beverage-that-shall-not-be-named, a dark brown sugar quad latte over tapioca pearls, but was told I couldn’t because it had to be drinkable. I watched videos of people smoking stuff and adding two grams of God-knows-what and thought, “This is so extra.” I wanted to honor what Mama Mocha’s coffee style and come up with a compromise between what I know and love as Southern coffee culture and what I saw in the videos, so I came up with something similar to a classic espresso affogato.
But I can’t make ice cream! My ice cream would be awful. I love Häagen-Dazs, so I used their vanilla. I muddled it because when you just pour espresso over ice cream it doesn’t drink well. So it was essentially a hand-muddled espresso milkshake. Monin makes this dope line of concentrated flavors, so I added their basil concentrate, as well as a wreath of rosemary around the bottom of the glass for extra olfactory herbal play. I smoked the glasses using a pecan log. On stage in Nashville I was behind, so I cut this out, but the drink was supposed to include smoking satsuma peels with the log, then I was going to rim the glass with the peel and use dragonfruit as an accoutrement to mimic the juiciness of the espresso. I call it The Bougie Bouquet, and it’s delicious.
Sara Frinak cheering on Gill.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Sara Frinak, who manages Brewers Cup, was one of the starting baristas at Newsroom. She grew up in Auburn, she was a roaster and manager for me for a long time, and now she works for Ally, one of my importers. She was the one who came to me and said, “Mama, you need to be a competitor.” She encouraged me to go to preliminaries, and then she came and helped me piece together a routine and play mad scientist.
And of course I have to thank my sweet husband Papa Gill, my entire staff who are the heart beat of Mama Mocha’s, my mom and dad who always have my back, and God.
Valorie Clark (@TheValorieClark) is a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles. Read more Valorie Clark on Sprudge.
All photos by Charlie Burt for the Sprudge Media Network unless otherwise noted.
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from Sprudge http://bit.ly/2sWj335
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
W63 Mansion On Vancouver’s Westside
W63 Mansion by Hansen Pacific is a new condo development located one block from Winona Park, on Vancouver’s westside. This project will offer a boutique collection of thoughtfully designed 1, 2 and 3-bedroom homes. W63 Mansion provides a tranquil westside lifestyle on South Cambie’s most beautiful block.
The post W63 Mansion On Vancouver’s Westside appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.
from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2sSBjuf
Howard Schultz Is “Seriously Considering” Running For President
Hate to say we told ya so, but we definitely don’t hate it at all, so here goes… WE TOLD YOU SO. The Howard Schultz 2020 campaign has just been upgraded from “possibly maybe” to “definitely maybe” thanks to a tweet from the former Starbucks CEO. The Twitter announcement about the potential for Schultz to possible consider maybe running for president came out two days ago, January 27th, and well, it’s never a good sign when your announcement about maybe there being an announcement gets ratioed to high hell.
I love our country, and I am seriously considering running for president as a centrist independent.
— Howard Schultz (@HowardSchultz) January 28, 2019
Schultz states that were he to run, it would be as a “centrist independent,” which has left many on Twitter to worry that this would split the Democratic vote, allowing for four more years of what the hell it is we currently have going on in the White House.
I’m an American political historian and I can assure you that the only thing you’ll accomplish by running for president as a centrist independent is helping re-elect Donald Trump.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) January 28, 2019
Howard, I like your coffee, but please don’t do this. You’re not going to win. You’re just going to make it easier for @realDonaldTrump to win.
— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) January 28, 2019
Others have offered Schultz, who stated in the original article that serving his country didn’t necessarily mean a run for office, alternative ways to help.
Or how about tackling a problem like clean water in Flint? Or helping to rebuild Puerto Rico? Do something that has a tangible effect instead of spending however long your campaign lasts to muck up the process. You still have time to redirect here.
— Charlotte Clymer
(@cmclymer) January 28, 2019
Literally just get up tomorrow morning and match Bill Gates contributions to vaccines and you'll do more for the world than this entire vanity project.
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) January 28, 2019
Then this nitwit had an opinion on a thing.
Howard Schultz doesn’t have the “guts” to run for President! Watched him on @60Minutes last night and I agree with him that he is not the “smartest person.” Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2019
And there’s American Treasure Michale McKean.
Sir, this is a Peet's.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) January 28, 2019
Bless you, Doug Forcett. You just earned so many points.
Schultz has made no official announcement, but assuming he takes the time to glance at how well this whole “maybe I’ll run” thing has been going thus far, he may reconsider. And who knows, maybe he would be a good president? We have literally never had a successful businessperson in charge of the country before.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
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from Sprudge http://bit.ly/2RX8Xhh
Get Lost In The Elegance At New York City’s Felix Roasting Co.
Step into the posh, pastel entry to Felix Roasting Co. and you might forget for a moment (or for several moments, what’s the hurry for?) you’re on New York City’s Park Avenue South. You might be in New Orleans, Paris, Miami Beach, or perhaps some strange hybrid of the three.
Felix—which comprises three spacious rooms at street level and will soon boast a large coffee lab and tasting room in the basement—is decidedly unique for its environs. Beyond the decor, it’s a place that evokes a slower pace than the bustling streets outside. In fact, says Reagan Petrehn, Felix’s head of brand and “coffee stuff” guy, the goal is to pull you off the streets of Manhattan both figuratively and literally.
Reagan Petrehn
Kansas City native Petrehn plays the classic coffee-wunderkind-amidst-splashy-investment role here, and his hospitality and warmth are as infectious as his talking points are down pat. As he guides me through the front of the cafe—which he says they call “The Hall”—towards a stunning round coffee bar beneath a domed ceiling (which the team earnestly calls “The Sanctuary”), he points out the intention behind each element of the space. The Park Avenue South facing side of the curved copper-topped bar serves as the fast bar, Petrehn explains, with a “G&B-style pre-dosing experience” for speed. Service is anchored by a La Marzocco Linea PB and twin Malkhönig EK43s, alongside a suite of opulent copper-plated toys like a Mazzer Kold grinder, Modbar AV-ABR modules, and Marco MIX water boiler. The fast bar focus is primarily on espresso service, and no pour-over is offered.
In an expression of expansive interstate commerce, the beans themselves, while roasted under the Felix banner, are done so with remote consultation in faraway Houston, Texas. “Our logistics are so efficient with the roastery being located in Houston that it’s hard to justify the rent in NYC for the small gain in convenience,” explains Petrehn as we advance towards the back of the space, known as “The Lounge.” The Lounge is similar to “The Hall” but with less natural light, and I’m assured laptop use and hanging out is encouraged. It’s here I meet founder Matt Moinian, hotelier-investor who is in fact, using his laptop and hanging out. Along with Moinian, the operation is steered by design partner Ken Fulk and a handful of other busy crew, ever milling about behind the bar making sure everything seems perfect, and supervising the build-out of a downstairs tasting lab geared towards wholesale, education, and events. (I’m told it will look like an Italian wine cellar, and I don’t doubt this.)
Tea and pastries are currently the only outsourced elements here. The former comes from Spirit Tea, while the latter come from the Lower East Side’s Supermoon Bakehouse, with doughy selections ranging from classics to vibrantly colored croissants. Alternative milks, such as oat and almond, are produced in-house.
It’s hard to call out any one favorite element of Fulk’s eye-catching interior concept: the starburst blush-and-teal terrazzo floor radiating enthusiastically outward from the bar, the basketweave detailing on the sanctuary ceiling, the variations of Arabica blossom wallpaper throughout the space. Indeed, clever touches—whether coffee-focused or design-focused—dominate here, from the condiment bar with chilled lines drawing the house-milked almond milk and its friends up from the basement, to the four different designs of to-go cups, to the coffee-botanical-design-adorned custom hand towels (yes) in the bathroom. It’s all a part of what Petrehn says is drawn from “many different time periods and aesthetics”—a goal of making you a little lost in space and time, not sure of where you might be at all, except for here, very specifically inside Felix.
And of course, a place with such aspirations of grandeur would be remiss without a performative slow bar. Seasonal drinks rotate here, like a campfire-experience-inspired s’mores latte, or a deconstructed espresso tonic served up in a snifter with fresh basil, Campari reduction, and a rosewater spritz. “We have a few people that come back every day for one,” says Petrehn of the signature drinks with prices well above $10.
We are, after all—as much as the owners might like you to forget it—still in Midtown Manhattan.
Liz Clayton is the associate editor at Sprudge Media Network and the co-author of Where to Drink Coffee. Read more Liz Clayton on Sprudge.
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from Sprudge http://bit.ly/2DGCWBi
Monday, January 28, 2019
So We’re Shooting Coffee Into Space To Roast It Now, Huh
Coffee is the next frontier for entrepreneurial technologists looking to make an impact on a budding industry. Just have a look around Kickstarter and you’ll find all manner of coffee inventions, re-inventions, and re-inventions that are actually no different than the original product they are supposedly revolutionizing; not all ideas are good ones (or new ones). But now, the next frontier is heading to the final frontier: space, as two entrepreneurs are going to roast coffee in space “to produce perfectly roasted coffee beans.”
According to The Guardian, Space Roasters is the brainchild of Anders Cavallini and Hatem Alkhafaji. The Dubai pair’s plan is to shoot a pressurized tank filled with 300kg of green coffee into space—around 200km, or 124 miles, in height (for reference, the ozone is around 30km from the earth)—and then let the heat from re-entry do all the roasting. Their theory is essentially that gravity accounts for the flaws in coffee roasting: “beans tumble around, break apart, and are scorched by contact with the hot surfaces of the roaster,” per the article. But in space, where no one can hear your beans go to first crack, “if gravity is removed, the beans float around in a heated oven, giving them 360 degrees of evenly distributed heat and roasting to near perfection.”
According to The Guardian, the temperature inside the capsule will be held at around 200°C (392°F) for the entirety of the 20-minute plummet back to earth. Cavallini and Alkhafaji are unsure yet how much they will charge per cup of their space coffee, but seeing how it will be sold in Dubai, it’s safe to say it will fall in the “fuckton of dirhams” range. According to their website, a pre-sale starts in four weeks, where the price will presumably be revealed.
The real question is—other than the very obvious, “Why?! Why are you doing this!?!—will the coffee be any good? 20 minutes is a pretty long roast time, at least by terrestrial standards, but 200°C is a very low temperature. Like, “may not make it to first crack” low. I’m no roaster or anything, but that doesn’t quite sound like a recipe for success. Or good coffee. Though, Cavallini has “over five years experience, roasting, brewing, tasting coffee from around the world,” according to a very ambiguous statement on the company’s about the duo’s coffee bona fides, so maybe they know what they’re doing?
But what is progress and innovation without a few over-engineered misfires? And who knows, maybe this one isn’t a stinker. Maybe this sous-vide free fall through space is how all coffee will be roasted in the future. I have my doubts, but I’m willing to be proven wrong if Cavallini and Alkhafaji want to send me some coffee to try, ideally by not targeting a plummeting coffee rocket ship at my house.
Hopefully the coffee won’t collide with the La Colombe Draft Latte Todd Carmichael shot into space (if he did in fact send one to space, though we have our doubts).
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
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Where To Drink Coffee In Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, or more simply referred to by locals as KL, is a vibrant city with an eclectic mix of cultures. The city’s diversity is magnified quickly after the sun sets, when the pasar malams, or night markets, emerge and showcase a convergence of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines. At the end of the day, you can feel as if you’ve visited multiple countries within the city.
And in a city where the new, old, modern, and traditional blend into a cohesive colorful mosaic, you can expect a coffee experience well worth exploring. The coffee movement in KL is thriving, emerging beyond the traditional kopitiam mornings consisting of the usual mug of dark-roasted jet black coffee (still a treat while in the city!) into a stage run by folks eager to create and perfect the coffee experience. From a cafe that takes you back in time to cozy quirky nooks, Kuala Lumpur is sure to overdose you with caffeine.
Piu Piu Piu
Just the name is enough to evoke nostalgia of childhood—of the summer days when the battle with heat came in the form of colorful plastic water pistols. Piu Piu Piu is probably one of KL’s most hidden coffee shops, tucked away on the second level of a newly renovated arts center not too far from the heart of Chinatown. If you find yourself at the end of a street with plenty of obscure shophouses, don’t be alarmed. You’ve come to the right place.
Piu Piu Piu is cozy, playful, and full of quirky knick knacks. Unagi, the barista-owner, runs a one-man show behind the counter, offering a limited but carefully crafted espresso-based menu with beans sourced from local Malaysian roasters such as Aim Coffee. Choose a latte with coconut oil for a unique taste and wash it down with his house-made signature lemon sour, a refreshing blend of preserved lemons steeped in homemade soda. Pair your drink with a homemade pastry—the burnt cheesecake is a must. Seating is limited but you’ll want to hang by the counter, where Unagi is sure to chat you up on KL’s coffee scene.
Artelier Coffee x Kitchen
Kuala Lumpur is full of malls. While I don’t consider myself much of a shopping fanatic, I inevitably found myself at Pavilion KL, one of the biggest in the city. Little did I know that tucked inside the array of high-end boutiques was a place with a big heart for coffee. Located on the 2nd floor is Artelier Coffee x Kitchen.
Masahiro Aoki, or Masa-san, is a master barista trainer who brings Japanese influences to this open cafe and coffee bar. He sources single-origin beans from local roasters such as The Hub and highlights occasional guest roasters, with a focus on Japanese roasters such as Tokyo-based Glitch Coffee and Unlimited Coffee. On the black countertop is a sleek silver Victoria Arduino Black Eagle, almost dull in comparison to the two trophies displayed proudly by its side. Staffed with a knowledgeable and friendly crew of baristas including dynamic sibling duo, Rain and Alan Lee, two finalists at the 2017 Malaysia Barista Championships, Artelier is set to impress with precise pour-overs and beautifully poured latte art. An ample selection of cakes include options such as kuro goma, tofu yogurt, matcha, and sweet potato—consider it a challenge to choose just one.
PULP by Papa Palheta
Located in Bangsar, PULP by Papa Palheta is the Malaysian flagship store of Singaporean specialty coffee roaster Papa Palheta. The shop resides in the repurposed Art Printing Works (APW) factory complex and its name PULP is a tribute to the origins of its former paper-cutting space.
Inside is a coffee playground and exploratorium. The mostly-glass walls provide beautiful natural light and highlight the industrial dark wooden panels that cover the interior. Upon approaching the counter, you pass by a modular bar where you can see baristas in action preparing coffee with a variety of brew methods, from v60 to Chemex to French press. A rotating selection of beans is available to choose from with seasonal specials ranging between 18-55 MR. The hand brews come with a card of coffee facts detailing origin, process, and expected tasting notes. While there is certainly a focus on single-origin beans, drinks such as a nitro-infused coffee named “Black Matter” and bottled cold brew are also available.
The space comes equipped with a cupping room and workshop and with a variety of whole bean bags ready to be brought home, PULP covers all bases for your coffee needs.
Jao Tim
Just a hop and skip away from Chinatown’s iconic lively Petaling Street is Jao Tim. I’ll be honest—finding Jao Tim was more difficult than I had expected. After all, this cafe is nestled on a busy road jam-packed with businesses and no obvious sign. If you find yourself lost looking down on your phone, you’ll likely miss it. You’ll need to look up, because this cafe is housed on the top floor.
Through the golden doors and up a flight of stairs, you’ll find yourself taken back in time. The first thing you see is a walnut concierge desk with brass accents, indicative of its previous existence as a hotel in the early 19th century (Jao Tim in Cantonese means “hotel”). The exposed brick walls and art deco furniture add to its pre-war era charm. Jao Tim offers your standard beverage menu alongside more creative drinks such as “Joe Roots,” a double-shot espresso drink mixed with root beer. Though the combination sounds odd, you’ll have to take my word. No drink could have been more refreshing to unwind during a humid afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. Tea, beer, and food options are also available.
Bean Brothers
As one of KL’s most uniquely designed coffee shops, Bean Brothers is worth the drive from the city center. Originating in Korea, Bean Brothers brings the trendy industrialized look to a secluded street in the Sunway Damansara neighborhood in the outskirts of the city. With cement floors, high ceilings, hanging lights, and a spacious second floor seating area that overlooks the coffee station, this former warehouse space is indeed turned into a visual stunner. Bean Brothers offers a wide selection of single origin coffee roasted at their Seoul locations as well as the classics. With offerings such as salted egg pasta and avocado croissant, be prepared to unknowingly let the hours pass by inside the cafe.
Jessica Hernandez is a freelance journalist. This is Jessica Hernandez’s first feature for Sprudge.
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Sunday, January 27, 2019
Gift of the Woods
Sunday mornings are quiet here in the valley. Less traffic and all. As I stood in the creaking, crispy, cold-as-all-get-out snow this morning, Mack quivering with excitement over something over the mulberry trees, I was able to hear it.
A single Great-horned Owl hooting from the cherry woods in the heifer pasture. Lovely to have something make your day so early.
Don't know what something was. Probably a bunny, but it was awful loud for one. See above though. Sounds are ever so much more audible when the cars and trucks are still. Maybe there will be tracks in the fresh fallen snow once the sun comes up.
For now I'll be thankful for the distant song....
from Northview Diary http://bit.ly/2WlotCa
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Friday, January 25, 2019
Tribute at Parc Central in Langley
Tribute at Parc Central by Essence Properties is a new townhouse development located in Central Gordon in Willoughby, Langley. This project will offer a stunning collection of 80 luxury four bedroom townhomes. An elegant balance of thoughtfully designed details and luxurious finishings, Tribute townhomes will delight families wanting to live in style.
The post Tribute at Parc Central in Langley appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.
from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2B3WRZf
Gala at Parc Central in Langley
Gala at Parc Central by Essence Properties is a new condo development located in the neighborhood of Central Gordon in Willoughby, steps away from Langley Event Centre. This project will offer 75 units consisting of one & two-bedroom spacious homes. With no compromise to functionality and design, homes at Gala create a new standard of living in Langley.
The post Gala at Parc Central in Langley appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.
from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2S9yoLZ
There Will Be An Ad At The Super Bowl For CBD Coffee
The spectacle known as the Super Bowl will soon find its way onto every working television set in the United States. This year’s clash of the titans boldly pits the team with the worst fans against a team with no fans. It is the event around which all other TV viewing during that three-to-four hour time slot revolves: you’re either watching the game—some for the sport and some for the $5 million-a-pop 30-second ads taking place in between the times when there are sport—or you’re watching the Puppy/Kitten Bowl as a not-so-quiet protestation to the game.
As it has done in the past, coffee is getting in on the football action. Only this time, it’s bringing its good friend CBD along for the ride. According to Forbes, the brand Baristas Coffee Company will place ads inside the stadium at Super Bowl LII for EnrichaRoast CBD Coffee.
CBD coffee is pretty much everywhere these days (mostly in my inbox with every PR blurb about someone “disrupting” the industry by combining the two), and though Baristas Coffee Company’s big activation is not actually a TV commerical, the adverts will be visible to attendees at the big game. It should be noted that while some CBD is cannabis-adjacent, it is a perfectly legal substance that lacks the psychoactive THC found in marijuana, and can be made from a wide variety of plants, including tree bark etc. Neither the coffee nor the ads will get you feeling all wavy gravy.
But what the ads will do is allow you to send any message you want to Maroon 5, so long as it fits within the 120 character limit. That’s a weird sentence, I know. As per Forbes, each ad “includes a special offer to send a 120-character message to Maroon 5, the halftime show headliner, via a digital platform attendees can access on their phones.”
ANY MESSAGE YOU WANT. If you’d like to tell them to give James Blunt his sound back, you can. If you want to let them know that there may be five maroons, there is only one James Blunt, that’s also totally fine. If you want to ask the band why this CBD coffee schtick is the only coffee ad we’re seeing at the Super Bowl, that too would be a legitimate question. Literally any comment—be it coffee or James Blunt-based—is allowed and indeed encouraged, so long as they are only 120 characters in length.
So keep an eye out for those Baristas’ EnrichaRoast CBD Coffee ads floating around and behind the 300+ lb men colliding into one another at 20 miles per hour. Maroon 5 depends on it. They’ll be bored and lonely without your messages.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image via YouTube
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