I’ve been to Cognoscenti Coffee probably a hundred times.  I had always thought of them as a coffee curation café.  They find some different, new, desirable bean.  Then they serve it to their customers as a taster of what that coffee roaster has to offer.  It’s a fun way to enjoy different beans from around the world.  However, apparently over the past year or so, they’ve started to roast their own bean right here in Los Angeles.

Typically, I bought a bag just to try it out.  It’s a light roast, and it sits right on top of your tongue. It reminds me a lot of a Ritual Coffee roast, which isn’t necessarily my favorite, but it’d do the trick.  I’m just glad to have another Los Angeles coffee roaster.  Take Flight, Cognoscenti Coffee, and a few others.  I’m going to do my best to seek out more Los Angeles local coffee roasters.

Cognoscenti Coffee
6114 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232

If you read this blog you’re probably also aware that the family and I spent some time in Los Cabos Mexico this Summer.  While we were visiting we took a day drive up the coast to Todos Santos which was probably our best experience the whole trip.  We found a little 3rd-Wave spot in Todos Santos and had a cup of coffee and I couldn’t pass up a bag of beans.  

These are “Santos Beans” which is roasted by a slightly larger café in the area called Cafelix.  We had a cup at both Taller 17 (in Todos Santos art district) and the Cafelix on the way home.  The coffee was great!  It could’ve been that we’d been drinking resort coffee all week, but I genuinely think that it was a good bean.  Luckily because I bought a bag I could bring it home and try it in my home brew methods.  Not to anyone’s surprise, but it was a good bean, and not just because we were on a resort.  It genuinely was wonderful.  The thing is, I’m not sure I’d buy it and have it shipped.  But if you ever find yourself in Cabo San Lucas angry at the world because the coffee on your resort is so subpar.  Make sure you do yourself a favor, take the day trip up the coast, and enjoy yourself some Taller 17, or Cafelix who roasts the Santos Bean.

 

This is a new bean that I hadn’t really known about.  I believe I bought this box of coffee at a placed called Go Get ‘Em Tiger in Los Angeles.

I looked up the company and got a bit more of a backstory which really intrigued me.  At this point in my life I’m captured by small brands that have a story.  That have an experience they want to share and Take Flight is one of those kinds of brands.

Take Flight’s about page contains a story about a barista from Australia.  He traveled and roasted coffee all over Europe, and helped launch many 3rd-wave coffee companies.  Through these experiences he built a network through East Africa, South America, and Central America. Then took the best of the three great contemporary roasting traditions from Australia, The Nordic’s and America and created Take Flight Coffee.

Yeah… This kind of story basically wins with me.  The story continues on to the shop where the consumer can take the journey and experience all of the best that Take Flight has to offer.  For me? It specifically was this bean from Burundi called Aproco Kavuganagoma.  No, I’m not sure I can say that out loud.  The coffee is packaged beautifully, and the flavor description matches perfectly.

I used this bean in pour over and cold brewing methods so that I could experience the bean in both iced and hot varieties.  This is a great bean, this is something I seek for when experiencing a bean.  It may be described as a light roast, but I experienced it as a medium.  It has the bright notes and beautiful flavors of a light roast, but it did not have the strong bite and almost bitter quality that can sometimes accompany a lighter roast.  For me, this kind of thing was perfect for a hot morning brew, or an afternoon iced pick-me up.  Versatile like I need my home brew to be.

Take Flight Coffee
www.takeflightcoffee.com

112 Westminster Ave,
Alhambra, CA, 91803

 

I can’t remember where we were sitting, but from over my tiny cappuccino this giant “F” caught my eye.  On closer inspection I realized it was by a brand I’d heard of before called St. Frank.  In fact, I’m pretty sure this company is owned or run by someone I know personally, though honestly I’m not quite sure anymore.

The packaging is “Wow” and jumps off the shelf.  I was excited to brew a batch of St. Frank out of San Francisco at home.

 

 

A few things to note about the roast as realized from the label on the front.  This roast was called the “Las Nubes” from Honduras.  Even more intimate information tells me that it was grown by Alexi Moreno in El Cedral, Santa Barbara Honduras.  How awesome is that?  It truly brings a face to the farmer that created the first thing you drink in the morning.

 

 

This roast is “YEOWZA”.  A very light roast that almost hits you like a ton of bricks.   Usually I’m slightly offended by flavor like this, but for some reason in St. Frank’s capacity, it was wonderful.  Sure it had me bouncing off the walls making my 3 year old say “whats up with papa?”  But he wasn’t complaining when I was ready to play with him all day.

This thing is great, and hopefully some day I’d like to enjoy St. Frank in it’s natural habitat.  The city by the bay.

Saint Frank Coffee
2340 Polk Street,
San Francisco, CA 94109

I picked up this 49th Parallel “just add creme” blend during my staycation out in the central/eastern side of Los Angeles at a Coffee spot called “Go Gett’em Tiger”.

I’d seen this brand around from time to time.  They’re based out of the Great White North in Vancouver B.C.

This specific blend was roasted exclusively for Go Gett’em Tiger, and a spot in the Los Angeles Grand Central Market called G&B.   While I’ve never been a HUGE fan of G&B for a variety of reasons.  Brewing this blend at home yielded excellent results.

It was a calm light roast that didn’t offend, and worked well with cream and agave which is my go-to right now.  The price tag isn’t terrible, but it’s on the high end.

Tasted great!

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters
2902 Main Street
Vancouver BC Canada V5T 3G3

Yesterday I was browsing the cold drink section at my local grocery store, just trying to peep on the cold brew scene, and this packaging caught my eye.  Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee.  I’d never had it.  Well designed, and a slightly gimmicky “flask” style bottle but I couldn’t pass up giving it a try.

To my delight the brew was smooth, easy to drink and had an almost nutty flavor.  It was a little pricey for the amount of beverage.  You get more out of the grenade style bottles.  However, if you see it in your store.  It’s worth giving it a try.  Especially because you get to keep the odd shaped bottle for future uses.

https://www.facebook.com/joescoldbrew/
Pasadena, CA

I’ve disappeared for a few weeks, and I want to apologize for that.  There have been many factors contributing to my lack of creative production over the past few weeks.  Some of which had to do with a work schedule that was off the chain.  Changes in our family schedule which includes our little man going to preschool now.  Then lastly some health issues I’ve had to deal with.  I’ve had a bad back for about a year, and about 3-4 weeks ago the flare up was unbelievably agonizing.  That doesn’t mean I haven’t been drinking my fair share of coffee though, so let me get to it.

This is LUCKY JACK coffee…  Here in Los Angeles, we have stints of fall and winter punctuating what commonly is referred to as “perpetual Summer”.  Which means that almost year round you can find a few days to enjoy iced coffee and this is one of my favorites.

The last two of my major professional jobs have been fueled by this stuff, and whether or not my clients appreciate my bursts of enthusiasm that come from me consuming this beverage is yet to be determined.  However, this stuff is wonderful.  The top perks include that it is pre-sweetened.  Meaning you can open the bottle and it has the right amount of sweetener to make this the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.  The best part about it, is that the small co-op across from my current work place keeps these things stocked.  I just have to be careful about how many I drink so I don’t get that dreaded caffeine migraine.

I prefer this drink poured over ice with a little bit of half and half, but that’s my personal preference.  I think you should give it a try and let me know how you like.

 

Lucky Jack Iced Coffee
http://luckyjackcoffee.com

A while back my wife took me down to San Diego for a little getaway weekend over my birthday.  While down there we tried to stay somewhere fancy, eat some good food, and drink some great coffee.  I had heard of Dark Horse Coffee roasters from some friends.  It was a great location, and the tiny little shop had a really special feel.  Not to mention that they roast a pretty solid dark decaf Kenyan.  If in San Diego, make sure you stop in an have a sip.