forloveofcoffee

Cafe Snapshot: The Divine Cupcake Cafe

2010-03-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

On West 11th Avenue just shy of Chambers Street behind a little lime green storefront you'll find Eugene's first gourmet cupccakery, "The Divine Cupcake Cafe." You may have Seen Divine Cupcake owners; Thaddeus and Emily Moore and their delicious vegan treats at any number of special events over the past few years. When the retail space in front of Thaddeus' professional music recording studio, "Sprout City Studios" opened up the couple decided to expand their wildly popular cupcake catering and wholesale business by creating a unique little neighborhood style cafe for their growing fan base.

Thaddeus Moore, wanting to give his friends, family and neighbors a coffee experience that would compliment the high quality of their cupcake offerings, has employed a couple of unique ideas at the cafe. First, after a blind taste test by barista & baking staff and assorted friends & family Moore chose to carry organic coffees from the two blind tasting winners. Wandering Goat Coffee Roasters is a popular little local roaster that produces some of the best coffee I've ever tasted. Caffe Pacori is another small local roaster and unique to Pacori is their traditional Italian wood roasted coffees. A unique choice of flavors await the coffee lover behind the bar at this cafe.
Next, Moore decided to skip the automatic, electric big-batch coffee brewer used by most cafes, espresso bars and coffee houses. Instead all brewed coffees are brewed manually (by hand) which gives the barista the greatest control over the brewing process resulting in a better cup of coffee. Brewing the coffee directly into preheated thermal pump pots keeps the coffee hot without cooking it as it sits like most electric coffee brewers tend to do. The use of reusable cloth coffee filters reduces paper waste.

This was the scene inside the cafe from 10am until we had to close the doors at 10pm. The turnout was amazing. I think free organic vegan cupcakes with flavors like Red Velvet, Lemon Heaven, Peanut Butter Cup and Coconut Lime probably had something to do with it.

Vegan Cupcake? What Does That Mean?

The fact that it's a vegan cupcake simply means that it's the most delicious cupcake you've ever had. And it means that no animals were harmed... or milked in the making of these cupcakes! All cupcake ingredients are organic and no expense was spared bringing the guests organic local coffees, local organic milk and a great assortment of dairy alternatives including soy, rice milk, almond milk, hazelnut milk, coconut milk & hemp milk.

Along with a full espresso menu and latte art in the mornings, the Divine Cupcake Cafe is also Eugene's own artisan coffee brew bar! Yes you can get the more common brewed on-demand custom cups of coffee here like an Americano (cup of black coffee brewed from espresso) and everyones favorite; the French press but you can also get brewed fresh to order pour-over drip decaf coffee, cold water extract coffee (hot or cold), or try a cup of brewed with our gold filtered dripper. Ask your friendly barista for an Aeropress coffee or you might want to experiment with a Cafe Au Lait (latte made with brewed coffee instead of espresso) using an americano or Aeropress coffee, instead of drip! And if that's not enough to indulge your every coffee whim, the Divine Cupcake cafe is the first place in the world to get "shaker" brewed coffee, a new brewing method developed by one of the cafe's own baristas! Let me give you a hint...

Cafe Borgia. Chocolate and espresso, orange peel rubbed cup rim & dropped in the chocolate, textured(steamed) milk,
a dollop of whipped cream, orange zest and fresh grated dark chocolate.

Divine Cupcakes

All of the cupcakes at The Divine Cupcake are vegan and made with all organic ingredients. There is usually a selection of gluten free cupcakes at the cafe as well and sugar free and gluten free cupcakes available by special order. Lots of love go into making these truly divine cupcakes! Since the cafe opened March fifth to a packed house of cupcake lovers, the cafe and it's delicious fare is quickly becoming a favorite treat for meetings, for birthdays and as gifts for clients, co-workers, hairdressers and chiropractors. Gourmet cupcakes are also proving to be a popular choice for weddings.

Espresso and coffee pairs perfectly with gourmet cupcakes!

The tea station at the cafe.

In addition to all organic cupcake ingredients, organic coffees and organic milk, the cafe features local organic teas by "J Tea" and "Sip-T"! Each tea is hand measured and brewed to proper tea-to-water ratio and for the proper steep time for the optimum cup of tea!

The line from the door ran from 10am until the doors shut at 10pm!

Some of the awesome people at the Divine Cupcake.

I invite you, my fellow coffee lovers to come visit us at The Divine Cupcake Cafe. I'll be your host and barista from 7am until 11am Tuesday through Saturday. The Cafe is open 7 days a week from 7am until 9pm with extended hours until 11pm on Friday and Saturday. Free Wifi too! - Cash c(_) [_]o

The Divine Cupcake Cafe

1680 W.11th Ave.

Eugene, Oregon

www.divinecupcake.com

541-543-5757

Coming Soon...

2010-03-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

What Happens when you hook up a Flux Capacitor to your Astoria Argenta?

We'll be traveling back in time, ten - twenty years to collect new footage and photos of Eugene and the coffee industry past!

Great Scott!

Coming Soon.

Coffee Corner: Aroma Infusion!

2010-03-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

Brewing Caffe Pacori coffee infused with aroma of fresh chopped Cinnamon.

Back in my days as barista at Coffee Corner, Eugene's first local coffeehouse chain, I would experiment with direct contact flavor infusion by sprinkling sugar, cocoa powder , cinnamon or nutmeg directly onto the packed espresso grounds before extraction. More recently it dawned on me that because of coffee's odor absorbing properties, like that of baking soda, I may be able to introduce new aromas for the coffee to absorb without covering up or destroying the coffee's own flavor.
For my first experiment I put a Punch label cigar in a giant Ziploc bag with whole bean coffees. My reasoning was, "well since a good smoke pairs well with a good black cup of coffee..." I let the two sit for about 24 hours. When I ground the beans and brewed them up the coffee had a hint of spicy tobacco leaf aftertaste that I could almost feel on my tongue. It was an interesting, unusual and fun cup to brew and taste and I could distinctly taste the characteristics of the coffee and at the same time the spicy cigar tobacco flavor was unmistakable. So in that respect my aroma infusion experiment was a success. However the combination in the cup of coffee was less than desirable, a pairing better left to the traditional puffing from the one hand and slurping your coffee from the other.

I chose Caffe Pacori coffees for my aroma infusion experiment.

My second experiment involved fresh chopped cinnamon and ground coffee as shown in the above slide show. After about 12 hours of exposing the ground coffee to the cinnamon I could barely detect any hint of cinnamon in the cup that I brewed. I brewed another cup after letting the two sit in the same container for several day, never making direct contact with each other. This time the cinnamon aroma and hint of flavor was apparent and very pleasant without covering up or distracting from the cup of coffee like a cinnamon flavored syrup or creamer would tend to do. Fun! c[__]

Cafe Snapshot: Bedrocks Organic Coffee!

2010-02-22T22:22:00.000-08:00

We coffee lovers here in the beautiful city of Eugene are already spoiled. And it's only getting better! Bedrocks Organic Coffee is located in the new Coburg Station shopping center on Coburg road barely two blocks from Oakway Center. Bedrocks boasts a drive through window for your convenience and at the time of this writing they're giving away $2 lattes and $1 cups of house coffee in the drive through as a special promotion this week only.

Some of the beautiful modern interior of Bedrocks.

My first surprise as I walked into the shop was the unique beauty of the interior design, a mix of modern/retro and attention to detail which made it as pleasant to look around at the shop as it was to sit in one of the comfy hydraulic cushioned chairs and sip my latte.

Enjoying a cup of coffee and a chocolate orange scone.

My next surprise was the wonderful service I got from my friendly baristas; Kiira and Stephanie. Friendly, attentive service isn't the easiest thing to come by these days but that's exactly what I've received each time I've visited Bedrocks. It's refreshing to find knowledgeable staff that can answer my questions and even make product recommendations to help me find what I'll really enjoy.

Beautiful latte art by Kiira and a scrumptious drink.

If you haven't been into Bedrocks yet, this is one shop you won't want to pass by. If you're a tea lover they have you covered there too. Brew coffee at home? No problem, Bedrocks roasts their own Fair Trade organic coffees. I took home some of their Honduran coffee beans and they brewed up very nicely with my Aeropress coffee maker. Follow Bedrocks on facebook and twitter to keep up on special offers and some fun events at Bedrocks. I've heard rumors of a coffee cupping and maybe a wine and/or beer tasting event as well. See you at Bedrocks! [_]o

www.bedrocksorganic.com

Coffee Snapshot: Cold Water Extract from Caffe Pacori!

2010-02-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

"Caffe Freddo" African roast is Caffe Pacori's cold water extract coffee. The cold water brewing process produces a dream of a cup of coffee. A much less acidic cup of coffee, cold water extraction creates a super-smooth and full bodied cup. With hints of toasted nuts, malty cocoa notes seem to dominate this brew and without the typical coffee acidity to distract, all the little flavor nuances in this rich, complex coffee are easy to pick up and a pleasure to enjoy.

You can find a cold water extract brewer at any number of local kitchenware stores or you can find them just a

Google search away online. "Toddy" is a long standing and trusted brand of cold water brewers and using a Toddy coffee maker is a pretty straight forward process. Cold water extract coffee is typically brewed with a full pound of ground coffee beans at a time. The coffee is ground course and put in the cylindrical Toddy with its cloth filter where it is left to steep in room temperature water as it slowly brews and drips into a second container over a twelve hour brew cycle. The coffee concentrate produced is then stored in an airtight bottle or jug and kept refrigerated until ready to cut with water to taste (roughly 1/3 concentrate-to-2/3 water), served and enjoyed.

Although I prefer my extract coffee hot it does make for the best iced coffees. The cold water extract won't melt your ice cubes and dilute your favorite iced coffee which makes for a more full flavored and enjoyable iced coffee drink. I whole heartedly recommend trying your hand at brewing cold water extract. Check out Caffe Pacori online for a list of local cafe's and groceries where you can find some of Pacori's wood roasted coffee.

Enjoy! (_)o

www.caffepacori.com

www.toddycafe.com

Coffee Corner: Free Online!

2010-02-11T23:35:00.000-08:00

Good News for Coffee Professionals and coffee enthusiasts, "Specialty Coffee Retailer", "Fresh Cup" and "barista Magazine" are now all available free online!

Are you a barista, coffee shop owner or manager? Are you thinking about getting into the business or just a coffee lover curious about the goings-on behind the scenes in the exciting industry of specialty coffee? Check out these popular and trusted industry publications for more useful coffee and business info than one person could fully assimilate. Very informative articles and often times beautiful photography can hold the interest of any coffee lover and all three publications are jam-packed with useful insights for the specialty coffee retailer and the professional barista. Check out each of these magazines in their original printed format online for free via the following orange links. Enjoy! [_]D

http://freshcup.epubxpress.com/

specialtycoffeeretailer

baristamagazine

Cafe Snapshot: Espresso Roma Cafe

2010-02-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

Espresso Roma cafe on East 13th avenue, just half a block from the University of Oregon campus, is a long time fixture here in Eugene. Though the cafe has been a favorite of some of us "townies" (locals) for years, it's the university students that keep the place buzzing throughout the school year. With it's proximity to campus and sprawling interior with seemingly unlimited seating, Espresso Roma makes an ideal spot for either people watching or getting some homework done.

This was the view from my table in one of the back seating areas.

Looking towards 13th Ave. from the outdoor seating area in the back of the cafe.

Very nice outdoor seating areas with an entrance from the rear alley.

At first I was disappointed that there was no wifi available at the cafe but after subsequent visits I realized that this actually gives Espresso Roma its own unique atmosphere and feel, one that seems somehow more social.. more personable. Espresso Roma serves up their own brand of coffee and I enjoyed both their drip brewed coffee and the latte they made for me. And though you can get a good cup of coffee at the cafe they are a high-volume type of operation so I probably wouldn't go in expecting any hearts, rosettas or any other artistically presented lattes.

The service was prompt and they had a great food selection too. I also picked up some large burlap coffee bags that they have for sale at the shop which I used to decorate with at home. If you haven't been to Espresso Roma yet or if it's been a while since the last time you've had one of their drinks I highly recommend that you visit for yourself while the weather's nice and school is in full swing. Enjoy! [_]D

One of many seating rooms and nooks @ Espresso Roma.

Espresso Roma

825 East 13th Ave.

www.espressoroma.com

Coffee Corner: Coffee Fueled Creativity!

2010-02-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

Over the centuries coffee has fueled countless a creative mind,

inspired artistic expression and greased the gears of invention.

Here are a couple of the artsy projects I've undertaken recently,

both borne out of my enjoyment of the world of coffee.

When communicating through my keyboard I often use

an emoticon such as this smiley face :_)

Since so much of my focus is on coffee these days

I guess it was just a matter of time that I came up with the

coffee equivalent of an emoticon. A coffee cup of course!

There are a number of coffee cup emoticons you can check

out by scrolling down the left and right hand columns of

this page.

I decided to take my coffee cup emoticon idea to its

logical conclusion and set out to design a business logo

from the idea. Below is the finished product.

I set out to see if I could make a cool looking logo

from a coffee stain left by a coffee mug.

Below is a slide showing how I went about creating

the coffee stain. This is the finished product.

I took this photo using a makeshift camera lighting studio

I threw together at home and then put the finishing touches

on it using photobucket.com's awesome photo editor!

Have any coffee inspired or coffee related art or ideas? Consider sharing them with others on either of these social media sites; look for the group "Coffee and the Arts" at baristaexchange.com and the group; "Eugene, Worlds Greates City of Coffee and Espresso" at facebook.com

Coffee Corner: Coffee Cupping at Gary's Coffee

2010-02-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

A coffee "cupping" at Gary's Coffee, just one of the classes and events hosted at the shop.

"Cupping" is the technique for tasting coffees used by coffee industry professionals like raw coffee quality graders, coffee buyers and coffee roasters. Jennifer Prince from Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Portland made the trek to Eugene's own "Gary's Coffee" to introduce some of us local coffee enthusiasts to the art of cupping. Cupping provides a uniform method, a standard for experiencing and communicating flavor components and other characteristics of this complex concoction. To give us some frame of reference we can look to the world of wines. While wine connoisseurs enjoy any combination of a thousand flavor components found in the fermented grape, coffee boasts three times the flavor components just waiting to be detected, extracted and enjoyed!

Brenda Cervantes of Gary's Coffee sets up for the cupping

It was a real treat getting to taste a variety of single origin coffees from around the world. Unlike some coffee roasters that boast "fair trade" practices with third world coffee farmers, Stumptown buys their coffee directly from the farmers themselves, eliminating middlemen and ensuring that the farmers that toil and labor to produce the coffee are the ones that reap the financial rewards also.

Cupping focuses us in on the five areas of coffee tasting; aroma, flavor, body, acidity and the overall impression you get from the cup.

Below: Jennifer from Stumptown Coffee Roasters prepares coffee for cupping.

I was so impressed with Stumptown's coffees I decided to special order some of their Ethiopia Michelle to brew at home.

The coffee cupping was fun and it was nice meeting Jennifer, her passion for coffee was contagious! Along with the people I got to meet and spend time with, the most exciting thing I came away with was the beginnings of a coffee vocabulary to be able to put the aromas, flavors and textures of coffee I'm experiencing into words. Here's a link to a site where you can find a coffee "flavor wheel"- http://www.atdcusa.com/flavor.html

Gary's coffee has some more fun events planned and I encourage you to stop by for a drink and see what's coming up next at Gary's. Thanks again to Brenda at Gary's Coffee for hosting the cupping!

If you can't wait until Gary's Coffee's next cupping, here's a video that will step you through the process.

Gary's Coffee is located on High Street directly across from the 5th St. Public Market.

Cafe Snapshot: Caffe Gourmet

2010-01-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

Enjoying my "Americano" coffee.

On Springfield's Harlow Road, just a stones throw from both the Gateway Mall and Sacred Heart's River Bend medical center sits Caffe Gourmet. Dan, a local businessman told me about Caffe Gourmet and encouraged me to check it out for myself. I don't make it over into Springfield that often and when I finally had the opportunity to stop by Caffe Gourmet Dan happened to be there too! I also had the pleasure of meeting the caffe's proprietor, Dave Curtis and one of his friendly staff members, Jamie.

Ever seeking that delicious, custom brewed cup of coffee I ordered an Americano (a cup of "American" style black coffee brewed from espresso diluted with hot water to the perfect ratio) and my barista did it right! My Americano was awesome, very yummy and satisfying.

I was surprised by Caffe Goumet's extensive food menu including a pastry/breakfast menu, two sandwich menus gourmet "wraps", salads, soups and even a pizza menu. And maybe the best part of all for those of you who work or live in the area, you can call in your food order ahead of time to have it delivered to you!

And if you drink espresso and have a sweet-tooth, they have a menu of mouth watering signature specialty Mochas and flavored lattes as well. (__)o

Caffe Gourmet features art by local artists.

Dan & I at Caffe Gourmet.

www.caffe-gourmet.com

2010-01-26T10:40:00.000-08:00

A Visit To Off The Waffle

The "Off The Waffle- Authentic Leige Waffles" facebook fan page reads, "Liège waffles are made from a yeast-based dough containing imported Belgian pearled sugar, which caramelizes throughout the waffle due to its high melting point. This caramelization effect is the secret that gives our waffles the unique flavor and essence that may flatter, impress, delight, empower, and maybe even confuse you."

My waffle lasted barely long enough to get a couple photos!

I love trying new foods, textures and flavor combinations. And after hearing all the buzz about these waffles and reading the description above, how could I resist? I visited Off The Waffle's old location, a house on Van Buren just down the sidewalk from New Frontier market. Just reading the waffle menu made my mouth water and all the unique flavor combinations available didn't make it very easy for me to decide just which waffle I was going to try first. First off I could smell the herbs garnishing my waffle and then my first bite was a delightful mix of flavors from the cheese & bacon topping. Then it hit me... that unique super-sweetness in the waffle that contrasted deliciously with the toppings and brought the whole flavor experience together!

I was glad to see that they served good, locally roasted coffee by Caffe Pacori. These sweet and flavorful waffles pair perfectly with a good, hearty cup of coffee and the people at Off The Waffle serve their coffee in paper cups made from renewable resources and that are commercially compostable.

I can tell you how much I enjoyed my waffle and coffee but you really have to try it for yourself! Off The Waffle's new location is 2540 Willamette Street in Eugene and you can check out their website at http://offthewaffle.com/ [_]o

Snapshot: Seattle's Best... In Eugene!

2010-01-23T15:53:00.000-08:00

Borders Books inside Oakway Center Mall.

My Mother received a Borders Books gift card from a co-worker and when she invited me to go along with her to the book store I jumped at the chance to visit the Seattle's Best Coffee cafe inside the store. I ordered a flavorful holiday latte complete with whipped cream toped with chocolate sauce and crushed candy cane.
What was even better than the drink itself was the attentive, helpful and friendly service I got from all the baristas behind the counter. A breath of fresh air in a day and age when it's more and more difficult to find good and friendly service. By the time I had my drink in hand all four of the baristas on duty had acknowledged me (and smiled!) and were quick to make suggestions and answer questions about their drinks and coffees.
The cafe has a very comfortable seating area with a mix of wood tables & chairs and cushioned armchairs. I also noticed a sign in the cafe touting free wifi, a change from the T-Mobile pay-as-you-go service they offered last time I visited.

Henry's blend by Seattle's Best Coffee

I needed some whole bean coffee for my roommates and I to brew in the mornings at home and one of my friendly baristas at the cafe gave me a sample of their holiday blend coffee that they had brewed up that day. It didn't impress me right away so I decided to take home some other blend of beans to brew. Then I saw "Henry's" blend listed on the menu and I remembered back to my early years in coffee and the story behind the name. Henry was the cat that lived at their coffee roasting warehouse and the blend was named after him.

And the blend brewed up a delicious, rich and satisfying cup of coffee. You don't have to dig deep to taste the chocolaty and nutty characteristics of this full-bodied coffee. Very enjoyable. (__)o

Seattle's Best Coffee is located inside Borders Books at the Oakway Center Mall on Coburg Rd. in Eugene.

2010-01-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

Downtown Loses a Unique Coffee Spot

I finally made it in to say "hi" to my facebook friend Jon, a barista at the recently closed Coffee For Canines inside the "District" nightclub and lounge downtown. Jon wasn't working that particular day but my friendly barista, Sol took good care of me. Coffee For Canines served coffee and espresso from local roasting company Cafe Pacori Coffee Roasters and my cup of coffee was as enjoyable as the eclectic interior with its retro style furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows providing a front row seat to all the downtown action at the intersection of 13th & Oak.

My friendly barista, "Sol".

My barista, Sol was knowledgeable about coffee and engaging. Sol offered to pull a shot of espresso for me to taste and I must say it was the most unique tasting espresso I've had thus far in my coffee and espresso adventures. The espresso's saltiness was just one of the unique characteristics I tasted in my double shot. Very good.

People watching @ Coffee For Canines.

The idea behind Coffee For Canines was as unique as the shot of espresso I enjoyed there. All of the profits generated from Coffee For Canines went directly to helping local dog owners in need of financial help with costs of emergency and life-saving medical procedures for their beloved dogs. The baristas even donated their tips to the fund, showing their commitment to the cause of helping others.
Unfortunately for coffee lovers and dog lovers alike Coffee For Canines has closed up shop, though the District nightclub and lounge that housed Coffee For Canines lives on. I'm glad I made it in. I enjoyed the coffee, the conversation, the view and making new coffee memories.

Enjoying a cup of Caffe Pacori coffee.

With Coffee... Homemade Cream Scones!

2010-01-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

This holiday season I ventured into unfamiliar territory. Baking. I missed the delicious cream scones I used to get from one of my favorite local coffee shops. A quick google search led me to a recipe for "the worlds best cream scones". The recipe was surprisingly simple and my first batch was a success! They were a big hit with my roommates and were great to have around the house to go along with our morning coffee.

Click the play button below to see some photos and the recipe that I followed for great cream scones. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox recipe

With Coffee: Visit to Metropol

2009-11-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

Metropol Bakery on Willamette street.

(click on image to enlarge)

I used to have a routine when I would visit the 5th St market; order my lamb shawerma plate from Casablanca downstairs. And then I'd turn around behind me and get a french hard-roll from Metropol Bakery which I would use for dipping and eating my lamb, hummus and baba ganoush, instead of the pita flat bread that came with the meal. Perfection! I still love Metropol's french hard roll and was recently thinking how wonderful it would be to have one with my morning coffee. So I made the trek from my home in the Barger/Bethel area to Metropol Bakery's retail shop on south Willamette street. Metropol has done a great job taking a strip-mall storefront and making it into something special. textured greek columns stand to each side of the all glass shop-front and inside: a warm, cozy and beautifully designed & decorated cafe-style bakery. I got my cup of locally roasted Cafeto coffee and, of course, a french hard roll from the friendly ladies behind the counter. There were newspapers provided for reading but I never got that far. Between the photographs and art displayed on the walls, the pastry display case (conveniently located directly behind my seat), the breads displayed in baskets along the bakery wall and the view of all the action out on Willamette street, I had finished my coffee before getting to any reading.
I had a pleasant visit. The coffee was good and the french hard roll was soft and delicious as always! It was tough getting out of there without any of the eclairs, tarts, torts or cake that kept calling to me from the pastry case but I did take an extra french roll home. I noticed that Metropol has a great selection of Thanksgiving offerings including; Pumpkin Hazelnut Torte, Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake and Cranberry Topped Vanilla Cheesecake! I won't give away everything though, you'll have stop in and check out for yourself all their seasonal specials. Have a cup of coffee and a roll at the shop or take home some bread and a dessert to enjoy with whatever coffee you're brewing at home. c[_]

Coffee Corner: Starbucks' Love Project

2009-11-19T17:34:00.000-08:00

The love drawing I made at starbucksloveproject.com

Right now Starbucks, through their "Love Project" will donate 5 cents to the global fund to help fight aids in Africa! And it's fun to do too. Just go to http://www.starbucksloveproject.com and follow the instructions to create a love drawing with their super easy-to-use drawing generator. Believe me, I'm no artist (unless you consider stick figures art) but it only took a minute to figure the tools out and I was on my way. Check it out, it's a fun way to help others. [_]o

Coffee snapshot: Wandering Goat's Sidamo Natural

2009-11-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

Caught on film: Got this shot of a goat wandering across

my counter top just hours before a room mate reported seeing our dog

chase a small chuck wagon through the kitchen. Very strange.

(click on image to enlarge)

I was lying in bed the other morning, it was early and still dark out. That's when it came from the kitchen, through the dinning room- down the hall, underneath my door and woke me. This wonderful, strong aroma was sweet and unmistakable! My newest room mate, in a rare display of I-woke-up-and-got-to-the-coffee-first-ness, was brewing a cup of Wandering Goat Coffee Roasters' Sidamo Natural, a coffee bean varietal from Ethiopia. I'll admit it- I was genuinely surprised and absolutely delighted with how incredible this coffee was. It was absolutely delicious! When my friend and I got to the counter at Wandering Goat I looked over the whole-bean coffee menu and decided on an espresso blend. Fortunately for me they were low enough on their current supply of espresso that they had to save the rest for making drinks at the cafe. My Barista was very helpful and recommended his current favorite for brewing at home; Sidamo Natural. The first thing I noticed was the strong, sweet chocolaty aroma of the beans themselves. And just to make sure, I handed the beans to my friend and the first thing out of his mouth was "chocolate!" It got even better when we brewed and tasted it. A sweet aroma,smooth, hints of chocolate and satisfying. What a cup of coffee! What a way to start the day. Try some of Wandering Goat's Sidamo Natural for yourself or ask your Barista for a recommendation. You wont be disappointed and you may just be surprised. o(__)

Wandering Goat Coffee Roasters

Brewing at Home: Room Mates, Tip Jars and Fun With Filters...

2009-11-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

If you haven't noticed yet, I like to have fun with life and that includes coffee of course. I was brewing my morning cup the other day and noticed a glass flower vase in the kitchen and not being able to help myself, I took a 3x5 note card and wrote "TIP JAR" and "Thanks-A-Latte" on it in big letters and taped it to the jar leaving it for my three room mates to see as they came in for coffee. They all got a chuckle out of it... but then something cool happened. The next day I found money in it! It just turned into the household coffee fund. All four of us chip in and I go out and pick a new coffee to bring home and try. Simple, fun and it works!
The other cool coffee related bit from my kitchen that I wanted to share with you was something a room mate did for our pocketbooks and the environment with coffee filters! Lynn is a Food & Bev. Supervisor at an area hotel and when she came home from work a couple days ago she had a good size stack of huge, commercial size coffee brew filters. They were from the hotel restaurant and were the wrong size for the brewer. They were slated to be thrown out when she came up with a great idea! Lynn brought them home, sized one up to our small single-cup brew cones and using it as a pattern, cut them down to size for us to use at home! Awesome. She saved us $5, a trip to the store and some unnecessary paper waste. Good job Lynn! [_]o

What's Brewing in Eugene: Coffee Cupping at Gary's Coffee!

2009-11-18T16:39:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, Gary's Coffee (on High Street across from the 5th St. Market) is hosting two coffee "cuppings" (coffee's version of a wine tasting) free for customers! Coffee lovers and coffee professionals alike are invited to come out and learn the art of tasting coffee! Coffee's from around the world, roasted by Stumptown Coffee Roasters will be on display for your sampling and palate-developing pleasure. Learn the three main components of a coffee's "taste" and begin to recognize and identify characteristics of different coffee varietals (single varieties). Just give the people at Gary's Coffee a call to let them know whether you would like to attend the 11am cupping or the 2pm cupping so that they can plan accordingly. It's free and sure to be fun. See ya there! c[]

Gary's Coffee

525 High Street
Eugene, OR 97401

541-868-1608

http://culturesource.net/garyscoffee

What's Brewing in Eugene: Free Showing of New Coffee Film!

2009-11-13T03:42:00.000-08:00

(click on photo to enlarge)

Here's something for coffee enthusiasts and coffee professionals alike, a free showing of the new film "KNOW YOUR STUFF!", a video about where coffee comes from. The showing is free to the public and will be followed by a Q&A with host Wen Lee. I found this posted as an event on the social networking site "facebook" and wanted to share it with all of my fellow coffee lovers. Below is the information as originally posted on facebook. Hope to see ya there tonight!

What's in a cup of coffee?

Come watch the world premiere showing of

KNOW YOUR STUFF!
A video about where coffee comes from

Watch the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6GcQi3fI8w

Using a combination of live-action and animation, the show follows Wen Lee as she zips off to Costa Rica in search of a coffee adventure. She tries her hand at coffee farming, chats with local farm workers, visits a coffee mill, and makes some astounding discoveries about the environmental, social, and economic impacts behind the coffee industry. It's amazing how such a simple drink can really be so complicated!

Join us for this exciting event:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 4:00-5:30pm
PLC 180 (University of Oregon)

A screening of the video will be shown, followed by Q&A with Wen Lee.
The event is free and everyone is welcome! Share it your friends!

This video is the terminal project of Wen Lee, master's degree candidate in the Environmental Studies Program. This event serves as a formal presentation to the ENVS program, as well as being open to the public.

Questions? E-mail ylee16@uoregon.edu

The PLC building is located on Kincaid at 14th Ave.

PLC room 180

Coffee Snapshot: Caffe Pacori's Wood Roasted Organic Sumatra

2009-11-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

Barbecued coffee!? Well, maybe not exactly, but the idea of wood roasted coffee just sounds so good. A quick keyword search led me to the wbsite of local coffee roaster Caffe Pacori. I live close to the roaster so I gave them a call to see if I could swing by and buy a pound of coffee for brewing my morning coffee at home but got an answering machine. Luckily for me the website has a list of cafe's & groceries that sell Caffe Pacori in town. I found a pound of Pacori's wood roasted Organic Sumatra, whole bean, in a vacuum sealed bag at the Kiva natural food store downtown. I enjoyed the wood roasted Sumatra from the first cup but I didn't really find distinguishing characteristics in the coffee like I had imagined I would. Now, I admit that I don't have the most well-trained or sophisticated palate and I just knew there were some wonderful things to discover in my cup of Sumatra. So I went with my first instinct and brewed my next cup a little stronger. And viola! Now I had a cup of coffee.
I really liked this rich, earthy cup of coffee. A hint of smokiness and smooth, Caffe Pacori's wood roasted Sumatra was great tasting and very satisfying. I couldn't help but think how well this Sumatra would pair with a good cigar with a little sweet or spicy characteristics to it or any fine dessert. (a chocolate raspberry tort from Sweet Life maybe?) I was sad to see my Pacori coffee bag empty at the end of the week but I discovered a great new coffee to enjoy, one that I recommend to any of my fellow coffee lovers that haven't tried it yet. For your convenience, you can order Caffe Pacori coffee's online at www.caffepacori.com. c[_]

Coffee Corner: 2nd Annual Latte Art Contest at Perk and Play coffeehouse!

2009-11-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

(click on photos to enlarge)

Thanks to Perk and Play coffeehouse, Eugene has its very own Barista competition featuring free-pour latte art. And the 2nd Annual Latte Art Contest hosted by the people at Perk and Play coffeehouse was, by all account, a success. Some 15 Professional and amateur Baristas from the area gathered, along with other local coffee professionals and coffee enthusiasts, to compete for Cash prizes, show off their skills and have fun! Baristas that accepted the challenge represented several Eugene coffee shops including; One Cup Cafe, Gary's Coffee, Vero Espresso House, Wandering Goat Coffee and, of course, Perk and Play coffeehouse. The competition was pretty stiff but remained light-hearted and fun. I was pleasantly surprised by how professionally the contest was put together and run by the people at Perk and Play. Perk and Play's owners and Baristas had a very professional and easy way about them that made for a comfortable and enjoyable evening. And I wasn't the only one to notice. After the competition Randy Stark, one of Perk and Play's owners said, " I was really happy with how well the staff at Perk and Play worked together to keep everything running smoothly. Our employees really rose to the occasion to help the contestants feel at ease. The crowd was wonderful - [they were]very encouraging to all the baristas who poured."

Randy Stark of Perk and Play coffeehouse with another competitor in the background.

A Perk and Play Barista stands ready at the scoreboard. A flat screen monitor helped onlookers watch the competition unfold up close.

Competitors and coffee enthusiasts watching the competition.

Okon Udosenata from One Cup Cafe, behind the espresso machine, pours a latte.

Baristas from Vero Espresso House and Wandering Goat Coffee Company made it to the finals of the competition. When the steam had cleared, Johhny Ormsbee of Vero Espresso House took 3rd place and pocketed a cool $20. Coming in second place this year with a $50 cash prize was Walter Steeb IV of Wandering Goat. And first place honors and a fat hundred dollar bill went to Wandering Goat Coffee Barista Thomas Howard! Congratulations to this years contest winners and thanks to all of the Baristas for puting on a great show. In recognition of Thomas' first place creation his winning latte will be featured in the For Love Of Coffee, website logo for the rest of the month! Also check out the Register-Guard's coverage of the contest in Wednesday's paper.

The first place latte.

The one hundred dollar first place winner of Perk and Play's 2nd Annual Latte Art Contest was Thomas Howard of Wandering Goat Coffee.

The people at Perk and Play, working in the background behind the judges table, were great hosts!

Some of the crowd that turned out for the contest.

(click on photos to enlarge)

The second place latte.

The fifty dollar 2nd place winner was Walter Steeb IV of Wandering Goat Coffee.

Perk and Play coffeehouse.

3rd place latte.

The twenty dollar 3rd place prize went to Johnny Ormsbee of Vero Espresso House.

The three judge panel.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Each latte was scrutinized and scored by a three judge panel. The judges rated each contestant's latte art in four categories; Clarity, Balance, Creativity and overall appeal. There were a lot of beautiful latte's on display throughout the evening and most of them were close to each other in quality and artistic creativity. The real difference that I noticed between the higher and lower scoring drinks was the clarity of design on top of the latte. Though I didn't see the judge's final scores, you can see the clear contrast between the lighter milk foam and the darker espresso crema on these top three-placing lattes. Beautiful. c[_]

Johnny.

This Barista showed personality too, an attribute of a top notch, spro-slingin' pro.

Perk and Play coffeehouse

2866 Crescent Ave.

What's Brewing in Eugene: Calling All Baristas!

2009-11-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

This Friday, the 6th of November at 5pm, Perk and Play coffee house on Crescent Ave. in Eugene is hosting their 2nd Annual Latte Art Contest for local Baristas! With a $100 top prize, the competition is open to baristas working in Lane County. It's only $5 for the Barista entry fee and it's free to come watch and cheer on your favorite local Baristas. So come on out and see some of the best in town work their magic with milk and espresso. email Perk and Play at perkandplay@gmail.com for details, rules or questions. Preregistration is recommended. See ya there! c[_]

Coffee Corner: "Mobbing" the Eugene Coffee Company!

2009-11-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

(click on photos to enlarge)

It was a full house when I arrived at Eugene Coffee Company on Halloween day, but I didn't mind waiting in line for my eggnog latte. We were all there to put our money where our mouths were, showing support for the coffee shop that we collectively voted as Eugene's greenest. The Eugene Carrotmob invited area coffee shops to participate in this years Carrotmob competition and of the three that accepted the challenge to 'green-up', Eugene Coffee Company received the most votes. So today we "mobbed" the winning business with our patronage, which was the dangling carrot incentive for the competing coffee shops to look for more eco-friendly, sustainable ways of doing business. My eggnog latte was yummy and I got to meet Sue Harnly, owner of Eugene Coffee Company (Sue's one of those people you just like instantly). E.C.C. serves locally roasted and organic Cafe Mam coffee. They also offer a nice assortment of pastries including toasted bagels and donuts. I had a nice visit. My drink was good and the people were great. Stop by and check out Eugene Coffee Company just off of 18th Avenue on Chambers street if you haven't already. The shop is wheelchair friendly, handicap accessible and has a drive-through window if you don't have time to stop in to have your coffee. c[_]

Follow 4loveofcoffee.com, Win a Carrotmob T-shirt!

Just click the FOLLOW button in the left hand column of this page using your Google, Yahoo or OpenID and you'll automatically be entered to win one of 9 Carrotmob t-shirts courtesy of Eugene Coffee Company, this years winner of the Eugene Carrotmob for "greenest" coffee shop! Next weekend (7th & 8th) 9 winners will be picked at random from among "Followers" of For Love Of Coffee! So please take a moment to become a follower of For Love Of Coffee and good luck!

Coffee Corner: Starbucks' First Customer

2009-10-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a trivial but fun bit of Eugene coffee history for you. My Mother, Lynn, and I were across town yesterday running some errands and after enjoying a breakfast at Brails cafe I decided to go over to the Starbucks on the corner of 18th and Pearl, a Starbucks shop I feel a personal connection to. This particular store was Starbucks first in the Eugene area, opening some 16 years ago. My friend Kammi B. & I were both Baristas here in Eugene, we loved the coffee business and Starbucks finally coming to town was an exciting prospect. So in our quest for coffee fun we decided that we wanted to be the first official customers at our town's first Starbucks! (for fun and for bragging rights of course). We arrived at the new shop a full hour before they opened that first day, waited patiently for the doors to open and had a good chuckle over what the Baristas inside must be wondering about these two people sitting out in front of their store.. and nowhere close to opening time. When we did get inside I let my friend order first and I paid for our drinks, making us both the first customers. My friend has since moved from Eugene but I still enjoy visiting Eugene's first Starbucks from time-to-time and reminiscing over a cup of house coffee. c[_]

Eugene's first Starbucks. 18th & Pearl St.

Cafe Snapshot: Vero Espresso House

2009-10-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

I finally got a chance to visit Vero Espresso House on 14th & Pearl Street downtown yesterday evening. You may remember the women's used clothing boutique that used to fill this old two-story house on the corner. The first thing I noticed walking up to Vero was the care and imagination put into making use of a number of outdoor seating opportunities. From park style benches, to table & chair seating and a covered, lit seating area. And things only got better when I walked inside to find possibly the most beautiful coffee shop interior I've seen in my coffee travels. I looked around for a little while and waited in line for a while and just couldn't get a smile, a "Hi" or any other type of acknowledgement, which is always disappointing. But I still enjoyed soaking up the ambiance of this great old house and the gorgeous shop interior. It's always nice when a shop's owner is hands-on a part of the operation and I got to meet Sunny Seo, owner of Vero Coffee House. Sunny and her staff at Vero serve up Stumptown coffee and a great selection of delicious foods including Panini sandwhiches made with quality local and organic ingredients. With Stumptown coffee, delicious food, a warm & comfortable atmosphere, a meeting room with conference table & flat screen t.v.on the wall, free wifi and convenient downtown location you can't go wrong with Vero Espresso House. I highly recommend you check it out for yourself. You'll probably fall in love with it! c[_]

Vero is having a cool contest this Halloween

season. Just carve your best jack-o-lantern and

bring it in to add to Vero's collection and get

a free cup of Stumptown coffee! Then around

5pm on Halloween day the jack-o-lantern contest

winner will receive a $20.00 gift certificate for use

at Vero. Fun!

Covered and lit outdoor seating area.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Vero Espresso House. Salud!

Vero Espresso House

205 E 14th Ave

Eugene, OR 97401

(541) 654-0504

What's Brewing in Eugene: Last Day to Vote for Eugene's Greenest Coffee Shop!

2009-10-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

This is the last day to vote for for your pick of Eugene's "greenest" coffee shop. Carrotmob is an organization that works with community businesses to help them to find and implement greener business practices and also empowers consumers like you and I to "reward" these businesses with our patronage and with positive exposure in the community. The Eugene Carrotmob has a website that you can visit to watch a short video for each of the three competing coffee houses; Gary's Coffee, Perugino's coffee shop, and Eugene Coffee Company. And then cast your vote! Simple. The idea is that on Saturday the 31st (Halloween) all of us that vote will "mob" the winning coffee shop giving the shop with most votes with a boost of business to show our support of their business practices. Great concept. So get your vote cast and I'll see you on Saturday! www.eugene.carrotmob.org

Coffee Biz: Baristas to the Rescue!

2009-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 26, 2009

Baristas to the Rescue--again!

Your New Mission:

It seems like yesterday that the American barista stepped out from that ocean of green aprons to prepare and declare themselves true professionals in the art of coffee education and preparation.
Now owners of independent retail specialty coffee businesses desperately need you again...as marketing associates to help them, and you, survive and thrive.
Taste EVERYTHING your coffee house sells your precious customers. Pick a favorite. If it doesn't taste great, immediately tell your owner, until it meets the same high standards your set for your coffee.
Once you are as proud of ALL the beverages and food your place serves, your new mission begins:
Every time an order is placed, inspire-not require- that added on sell by mentioning your favorite breakfast, lunch, pastry, gelato or any other item that compliments the time of day and order.

Drive-Through! Romano's

2009-10-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

I moved back to the Bethel/Barger area of Eugene this summer after living downtown for the last five years and although we don't have a neighborhood cafe yet, I was delighted to see that my old coffee stand-by was there. "Romano's" drive-through stands out colorfully among the nondescript businesses and housing along Barger Drive. And Romano's owners, Russ and Merson Romano, whom also serve as the drive-through's Baristas, put as much care into the quality of their espresso and food offerings as they do into the aesthetics and upkeep of the businesses building and grounds. My friendly Barista this morning, Merson Romano, remembered me from those years ago when I was a semi-regular customer. I've been craving an eggnog latte lately and didn't know if it was too early in the season yet for eggnog to be available at my favorite coffee shops. I wasn't disappointed. Not only did I get my eggnog latte but it was delicious! The Brothers proudly serve coffee roasted locally by Full City Coffee Roasters and they have a really cool Full City Coffee sign on the outside of the building which adds to the physical beauty of the drive-through. Romano's also offers a mix of other foods and drinks such as pastries, waffles and organic fruit smoothies made to order. So if you're in the Barger area or just want to check out an exceptionally quality drive-through operation, stop through Romano's and say hi to Merson & Russ!(check out the video at he top of the site that Merson suggested to me of Rick Dancer's interview with Full City Coffee's Michael Phinney, courtesy of KATU t.v.'s "you news")

My friendly neighborhood Barista, Merson Romano.

Romano's stands out along Barger Dr.

Romano's

5019 Barger Drive, Eugene, OR

97402

Coffee Economy: Free R-G Newspaper With Your Latte!

2009-10-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

I just received my first copy of the Register-Guard, a birthday subscription from my lovely sister Moriah, to help me stay up on the local coffee scene. And sure enough, one of the first things I find is the R-G's "Get Something To Buzz About" promotion. Through Saturday (while supplies last), a handful of area espresso drive-thrus and shops will give you a complimentary copy of the Register-Guard when you make a purchase of $3.00 or more. Here is a list of participating businesses in Eugene; Amazon Coffee Co., Barry's Espresso Bakery & Deli, Brewed Awakening, Caffe Pante Vecchio, Court Cafe/Knight Law Bldg., Daily Bagel west, Dutch Bros.- W.7th, Coburg Rd. & Franklin Blvd., The Espresso Bar'n, Joe to Go, The Louie, Original Firehouse Coffee (on Cubit), Palazzo Espresso, Solo Cafe and The Steaming Bean.

Coffee Corner: Bikini Weather?

2009-10-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

I found a help wanted ad on craigslist for a new espresso drive-thru coming to Springfield, calling for Baristas that will fit into company uniforms: Bikini's and lingerie. I didn't apply. You likely have heard some of the buzz surrounding Bikini Baristas, an espresso drive-thru in Everette, WA. First there was the report of a man dressed in womens undergarments, exposing himself to bikini clad baristas in Parkland, WA. and more recently the charges of indecent exposure leveled at bikini wearing baristas themselves, in Everett.
And with all the recent local media attention on the battle between Springfield and downtown exotic dance clubs, I'm wondering what kind of local uproar and drama this new drive-thru will provide us over the coming years. And I would love to hear your thoughts on Bikini Baristas coming to the area. Please feel free to leave comments here or email me (Cash Reynolds) at forloveofcoffee@gmail.com.

Cafe Snapshot: Marche Cafe

2009-10-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

I love visiting the 5th Street Public market, I have many fond food & coffee memories from the market over the years.The upstairs cafe & seating area still has that comfortable old-world feel with its dark wood, green painted window frames and brick facade. And though the once popular Coffee Corner kiosk that stood in the center of the room is long gone, you can still find a great cup of coffee at the market's Marche Cafe, the precursor to local restaurateur Stephanie Pearl Kimmel's Marche Restaurant located on the markets lower level. I met one of the cafe's friendly Baristas; Heather who told me that they served Wandering Goat Coffee, a switch from the Full City Coffee they served when the cafe opened in the late 90's. Heather offered a sample of freshed brewed [Wandering Goat] coffee to me which had a good flavor, I liked it. Ultimately I went with a latte and I wasn't disappointed there either. Served in a pre-warmed ceramic cup & saucer, my latte was delicious and was presented beautifully with Heather's free-pour latte artwork to top it off. I sat down with my laptop and latte and enjoyed some people (and train) watching from the window seating along the markets north wall. I enjoyed my visit to the market and to Marche Cafe. I'ts always nice to find a friendly Barista that will take the time to tell you about their coffee and take care to craft a quality espresso drink.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Upstairs at the 5th St. Public Market.

Marche Cafe

5th St. Public Market

http://www.marcherestaurant.com/cafe.htm

What's Brewing in Eugene: Vote for Eugene's Greenest Coffee Shop!

2009-10-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

Here's something really cool that you can be a part of. The Eugene Carrotmob is hosting a competition between three Eugene coffee shops where we, the coffee loving consumer, get to vote and decide which business we think "..will do the most to save energy, buy locally, recycle, waste less, compost, educate, support the community". Then, after the votes are tallied we all "mob" the winning shop with our collective patronage on a specific day to support them for their efforts to become more socially responsible in their business practices. Carrotmob is a great concept, not only helping local businesses to become more socially responsible in their business practices and creating incentive for them to make changes, but organizing consumers, getting us involved, empowering us to influence change with those we do business with through positive reinforcement. So check out the short presentation videos of each featured coffee shop, Perugino's coffee shop, Gary's Coffee shop and Eugene Coffee Company, and cast your vote online! You can also see which shop is ahead in the poll. Here's the link to Carrotmob Eugene: www.eugene.carrotmob.org. And remember to visit the winning coffee shop between 9am and 12 noon on Halloween- Saturday, October 31st to show your support. See ya there!

Coffee Economy: Coupons for coffee and espresso in Eugene!

2009-10-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Want to save some money the next time you go out for coffee? Here are some links to the Coupon Crusaders at couponcrusaders.com where you can find and print out coupons for drinks and food form cafes and espresso drive-thrus in Eugene. And aside from saving a little, it's a great excuse to break up the daily routine a little bit and you may just find a new coffee spot you like. This coupon site features coupons for all types of local businesses as well as for businesses throughout Portland. I'll be checking back with the Coupon Crusaders so keep an eye out here for more links to coffee and espresso coupons. And please let me know if you find any good coffee deals that you would like to share here at For Love Of Coffee. Here are the links: Caffe Gourmet, The Quick Fix, Creswell Coffee Company.

What's Brewing in Eugene: Barista competition!

2009-10-14T18:54:00.001-07:00

Barista's from around Eugene will be competing at Perk & Play coffee shop on Crescent Ave. at their second annual free-pour latte art competition. Local Baristas from area coffee shops will be showing off their espresso bar tending and latte art skills. The competition features creamy, delicious lattes with hearts, rosettas and other foamed milk designs poured into shots of espresso creating drinkable works of art. The competition is set for Friday, November 6th and begins at 5pm. The entry fee for competing Baristas is $5.00 to help cover the cost of hosting the competition including cash prizes for the top placing Baristas, with $100.00 for first place! So if you haven't been to Perk & Play coffee house yet this will be a great excuse to check it out, grab a cup of coffee, get something to eat and check out some of Eugene's top Baristas at work. Thanks to Brenda at Gary's Coffee and Randy at Perk & Play for providing the information about the competition. See ya there!

Perk & Play

2866 Crescent Ave
Eugene, OR 97408

Cafe Snapshot: Gary's Coffee

2009-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Gary's Coffee

Owner Brenda Scott Cervantes behind the bar.

There's a story behind Gary's Coffee, a shop on High Street in Eugene's historic [5th St.] market district. And when Barista and owner- Brenda Scott Cervantes told it, I understood what a special place Gary's is. Over and above having great coffee, (Stumptown) Gary's is about people. And their slogan; "Where friends meet friends", Aptly expresses the heart and soul of Gary's Coffee. I was greeted by Brenda as soon as I walked into the shop which made a great first impression upon me. I don't know about you but being greeted, seeing a smile or being acknowledged, in any way, makes me feel welcome and appreciated as a customer. The interior is pretty unique, with a high ceiling which allows a tree to live and grow in the shop's lobby/seating area. Lots of windows and plenty of tables and seating make it feel comfortable and spacious. The walls featured the work of a local photographer and a chalkboard sign encouraged guests to form groups or clubs and to use Gary's as a meeting place to connect and interact with others. I't was a pleasure talking with Brenda and she made a mean latte too, latte art and all! I've never had Stumptown Coffee Roasters coffee, which a handful of my friends rave about. And when I asked about the coffee, Brenda handed me a printed card with all of the coffee's vital statistics on it. Very cool. Indoor and outdoor seating, a couch, cushioned chairs, plenty of outlets and free wifi are just a few of the amenities that make Gary's a great place to have coffee, meet with friends.. and make new ones.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Gary's Coffee

525 High St
Eugene, OR 97401-2711
(541) 868-1608

New Food: Fluffles!

2009-10-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

I was laying in bed a couple nights ago trying to get to sleep and I was craving something sweet. And that's when the idea hit me! French-toasted, fluffy pancakes. I was so excited about the idea that I jumped out of bed, made my way to the kitchen and began to set up for a yummy culinary experiment. Here's how I did it:

Melted butter in a non-stick frying pan.

Mixed Krusteaz Buttermilk instant pancake mix, one egg, a splash of real vanilla extract and water in a bowl to desired consistency. (the egg makes the pancake more rich and fluffy)

Mixed two eggs, milk and a splash of real vanilla extract in a pie pan. (french toast batter)

Cooked pancake on medium high until it started to brown on each side and then turned it down to medium low until it was golden brown and cook through. (browning the pancake will help it hold together for the next step)

Melted more butter in bottom of non-stick frying pan. Dipped both sides of pancake in french toast batter. (at least four seconds each side to let it soak in a little)

Fried it in the pan for the second time until golden brown on each side and served it up.

As you can see, it's not a waffle and it's not french toast but it's not just a pancake either. It's a fluffle! Serve for breakfast with coffee or for dessert with your favorite decaf. I like butter flavor pancake syrup on my fluffle but real maple syrup or any fruit preserve would be good too. So if your like me and love pancakes, dutch babies, waffles, aebleskivers, crepes and french toast, then here's a delicious new breakfast treat for you to try. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

Cafe Snapshot: Full City Cafe, 13th & High

2009-10-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Full City 13 & High

This is one of my favorites. Full City Coffee Roaster's cafe inside the Ram's Head building at 13th & High street downtown Eugene. Full City is one of the reasons that Eugene is such a special place for coffee lovers. This is reflected in the loyal following and reputation for quality they've developed in the community over the years. And during this particular visit, as usual, the people behind the bar were friendly, greeting me with a smile. Being familiar with the flavor and quality of Full City's house coffee and latte's already, I decided to try something different than my "usual". I went with the Cafe Borgia, made with Full City's award winning chocolate ganache, (a thick chocolate sauce), double shot of espresso, real orange zest, steamed milk and fresh made whipped cream. And it was every bit as delicious as it sounds. More drinkable than the traditional Borgia I remember, made of equal parts espresso and steamed milk. Full City's 13th & High cafe is a great meeting place and people watching spot. It's the one place I'm likely to find my friend Brice, the "Window Man", and be able to visit over a cup of coffee before getting on with the day. Outdoor seating that wraps around the corner of the building is nice during the dry season here in Eugene and even during the morning coffee rush I can usually find a seat in the cafe. Full city also offers a nice variety of pasties and other light fare. And I also recommend taking some of their whole bean coffee home to brew for yourself. The coffee is roasted right here in Eugene by Full City's owner and roast master, Michael Phinney. I enjoyed visiting Full City once again and I'm already craving my next Borgia.

(click photo to enlarge )

Full City Coffee Roasters

295 E 13th Ave, Eugene - (541) 465-9270

www.full-city.com

Coffee Snapshot: Dillanos' "Organic Chelba Ethiopia"

2009-10-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

While I was at Coffee Fest Seattle last month, the friendly people at Dillanos Coffee Roasters gave me a bag of whole-bean "Organic Chelba Ethiopia", single varietal coffee from their One Harvest project to take home with me. The first things I noticed about this coffee were, that the beans were a lighter roast than I'm used to and the burst of sweet fruity aroma that wafted from the bag as soon as I opened it up. I don't use the word "wafted" lightly, as a matter of fact, I may have never used "wafted" before. But if ever there was an aroma that wafted, the fruity aroma of this Chelba wafted! The cup of Chelba that I just brewed tastes great and to my coffee drinking delight I can detect winy, fruity notes along with hints of nuttiness and cocoa. In other words, it's a delicious cup of coffee. This cup of Chelba is noticeably smooth, flavorful and satisfying. This is a coffee I'll really miss when I run out and I recommend it! If you enjoy trying delicious new coffee's, you can order this and other One Harvest Project coffee's from Dillanos Coffee Roasters by visiting www.dillanos.com and clicking on the "Get your home brew" icon in the upper right of the page.
(If you are a coffee roaster or distributor and would like your coffee reviewed here free in For Love Of Coffee, contact me, Cash Reynolds at forloveofcoffee@gmail.com)

Cafe Snapshot: One Cup Cafe

2009-10-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

One Cup cafe

One Cup cafe sits at the edge of the Whiteaker neighborhood's Blair historic commercial district. The former site of The Hub cafe, One Cup remains a hub of social activity for neighboring residents, business people and area commuters who love good coffee. Uniquely "Eugene", One Cup's offerings are as diverse as its clientèle. From coffee and food, internet and artwork to evening yoga classes and special events featuring sushi chef's and professional waffle makers!

As soon as I walked in the door I was greeted by Gloria and Okon Udosenata, the husband and wife team that own and operate One Cup. I started with a cup of house coffee which, to my delight, was rich and satisfying. Before I had a chance to sit down I was invited by another patron to play a game of chess, which I accepted. The coffee, the atmosphere and the people make it easy to relax by one's self as well as interact and connect with other people.

Okon, One Cup's owner and master Barista took care in preparing my latte, displaying his craft and producing a delicious work of art!

I like the fun colors used on both the exterior and interior of the cafe. The first thing I notice walking in is the wide couch and coffee table which seem to set the tone for a comfortable and relaxed visit. The walls feature work by local artists and a community bulletin board hangs above the Mac desktop computer provided for customers to access the internet free of charge. And yes, free wifi is provided for those of us toting our laptops. And to top it all off, One Cup has a great collection of Jazz, Blues and other favorites on vinyl and a turntable in the customer seating are where guests are encouraged to play whatever they're in the mood to listen to. There's even an area in the back yard that's smoker friendly. I enjoy my visits to One Cup. And the coffee, roasted locally by Equator Coffee, is delicious. Check it out for yourself!

Okon Udosenata

Pulling a beautiful shot of espresso.

Free-pour latte art

This latte tasted as good as it looks.

The bar at One Cup cafe.

298 Blair Blvd.
Eugene, OR 97455

(541) 683-5046

www.myspace.com/onecupeugene

Welcome to: For Love Of Coffee!

2009-10-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

Greetings! And welcome to For Love Of Coffee, Eugene's online coffee journal, featuring all things coffee in the beautiful City of Eugene, Oregon. Hi, my name is Cash Reynolds, author of For Love Of Coffee, and I invite you and all of our fellow coffee lovers to explore and celebrate the rich diversity and exceptional quality of specialty coffee and espresso offerings available here in our unique city.

I fell in love with coffee 18 years ago when a friend bought for me my first coffee, an iced, tall, vanilla latte at Starbucks inside Tacoma Mall, Washington. Since then I've had the good fortune to work for a myriad of coffee businesses, in thirteen different retail operations throughout Oregon and western Washington. My experience in the industry ranges from working behind the counter as a barista to retail management, marketing/copy writing and have consulted on advertising. I've also roasted coffee and served as executive assistant to the C.E.O. of one of the fastest growing coffee companies on the west coast.

A huge fan of all things coffee, I arrived an hour early to the grand opening of Eugene's first Starbucks store so that I would be the stores first official customer! Currently I'm writing a marketing book to help specialty coffee retailers gain profitable competitive advantage in their marketplace and am also considering becoming a part time barista again.... for love of coffee.