As Friday marks perhaps the first 80+ degree day, it may well mark the beginning of iced coffee season in Milwaukee. I'll make it a point to investigate. (Sorry for the short post--I'm really too tired to write, but can't go to bed yet due to the thunderstorm!)
The Guatemala Pampojila was butter in the barista's hands (sorry, lousy metaphor) as she pulled a beautiful doppio. The trick, if you want to call it that, is that it's beautiful in the same way as the standard Espresso Toro. I couldn't tell the difference, and would no doubt need to do a side-by-side test to do so. I'm guessing that they're calibrating our palates, so to speak, and that future single-origin selections will be further afield.
Like much of the rest of humanity, I headed down to the lakefront today at the first opportunity. When I logged into the Wi-Fi and landed on Alterra's site, I saw that they are now offering single-origin espresso shots of the Guatemala Pampojilla. I think I'll have to head up the hill now.
I received my free samples of Starbucks VIA Ready-Brew and, like most others, found it surprisingly good, particularly the Italian Roast.
I'm at Alterra on Prospect, having just tried Scott Lucey's signature drink, Liquid Swords. While waiting in line, I had the opportunity to hear Scott's presentation a couple of times before my turn came. The drink consists of a shot of Nelson Melo espresso, sweetened heavy cream with a ring of honey acting as "caulk", and pink grapefruit juice. Simply incredible! Hurry over to try it yourself before 3 p.m. today.
I follow Pittsburgh's Aldo Coffee on Twitter, and I've frequently seen the word "bicerin" and not understood what it could possibly mean. I thought perhaps it was some alcoholic beverage with hallucinogenic properties, like absinthe or something. Turns out the drink is in the hot chocolate family, though much more elaborate (and delicious-sounding!).
Really liking this stuff. It also happens to cup really well.
Starbucks' Whitefish Bay store has been outfitted with the new superautomatic Mastrena espresso machines. As far as I know, they're the only local location to have it. I'll try to make it up there in the next couple days to try the espresso.
I hear the Juan Valdez Cafes are in some major American cities, with expansion plans over the next two years.
As of 1 o'clock this afternoon or so, Alterra still had at least one pound of this otherwise sold-out coffee available at their Grafton location. In fact, they were running it as one of the coffees of the day, which should mean that they have a bin of bulk beans from which they could fill bags if need be. Act quickly, since even if the coffee hadn't been flying off shelves anyway, tomorrow is the last day for the weekly special.
