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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on September 1, 2011 at 6:23pm

Thanks Jimmy and Erin!

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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on September 9, 2011 at 6:13am

Thanks for the recommendations guys, those sound like some great places. I'm going to have trouble trying to visit all of them while I'm out there.  Farm:Table looks especially good.  Has anyone been to the Blue Bottle roastery and if so is it worth going out to Oakland for or is it better to just go to one of their shops in SF?  Also, any recommendations on a good ramen house?  I can't get real ramen locally other than what I cook at home.  What about some great beer?  Thanks again guys!  I'll be sure to let you know how everything was when I get home.

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Permalink Reply by Dustin DeMers on September 9, 2011 at 9:35pm

Theres really no need to go to Oakland to visit blue bottle, the sf locations will suit you fine. And I don't drink, or really eat ramon so I can't help you there. I have decided to take the boot coffee roasting course though, so I'm really interested to hear about your experience

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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on September 10, 2011 at 6:43am

Awesome Dustin!  I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.

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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on September 11, 2011 at 9:07pm

Got a shot of espresso and a single cup pour over of an El Salvador at Sight Glass today. Was super impressed with the whole experience. The shot was great, sweet and complex heavy and well balanced.  The El Salvador was awesome, juicy, sweet acidity and FULL bodied.  

Also stopped by Four Barrel but I wasn't as impressed with their offerings.  It was good but the espresso, I think a S.O. Costa Rica was a little on the bright side, I like a pretty bright espresso too, although it was a little too bright it had a nice gram cracker like complexity to it. The coffee, from what I could gather the same Costa Rica as the espresso, was a little flat.  It was brewed in a french press so it may just be the preparation that I didn't care for too much.  Really cool space and vibe at Four Barrel though.  I enjoyed watching the roaster work as I sipped my coffee and was surprised how quiet their Probat was.  I couldn't really hear the roaster running but could clearly hear first crack from 15 feet away.  

 

I also picked up a bag of beans at each spot a Costa Rica, Los Angeles, Las Flores from Sight Glass and a Ethiopia Welena Suke Quto form Four Barrel.  

 

San Francisco is a charmed city.  I was a little jealous, to say the least, when the roasters at Sight Glass showed up for work with wet, wetsuits apparently just after a surf in some fun looking conditions at Ocean Beach.  Can't wait for the first day of the roasting workshop in the morning.    

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Permalink Reply by Dustin DeMers on September 12, 2011 at 12:34am

Ya sightglass really is hands down the best espresso in the city. There build out just got completed so you came at a good time. I'm not a fan of the espresso I've had from four barrel, but I have had some pretty great Columbia from them. Have fun tomorrow! Oh and I'm roasting some GUJI suke quto right now at home, it pretty amazing stuff!

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Permalink Reply by barista Dan on September 12, 2011 at 2:29pm

la briciola.

a top rated sf italian restaurant.

on 3rd st @ stillman.

 

tell rhiannon, danny latte sent ya!

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Dustin DeMers on September 13, 2011 at 6:49pm

So Zach any updates on the course?

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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on September 15, 2011 at 7:15am

Dustin the course went great.  I only wish I would have taken it earlier.  Not really having a local resource to further my development as a roaster I felt that I had reached a plateau in my growth.  I feel the course expanded my knowledge and gave me a better understanding of how to continually improve as a roaster.  Four other enthusiastic roasters were a part of the class.  It was  a great group but unfortunately I had the most roasting experience of the group.  I wish there were some others more experienced than myself in the group.  Overall I think the course was a success.

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Permalink Reply by Dustin DeMers on September 15, 2011 at 1:24pm

Awesome! Glad to hear that the course was a success! Can't wait to take it myself, Im very new to coffee roasting so any guidance from knowledgeable people will be greatly beneficial. How did you like the city?

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Permalink Reply by Kirk on September 16, 2011 at 4:39pm

San Francisco: Ritual is another place to check out. And down the street from Ritual is a great Thai restaurant.

Santa Cruz: There used to be a place downtown on the main street - but don't know if its there any more.

Have a great time.

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