Cuban Espresso

I've basically stopped drinking coffee to drink espressos. I haven't been able to make them at my convenience, but I drink coffee for the taste, not the pick-up, so I've managed to survive. I was talking to a Cuban co-worker the other day about coffee and she mentioned that she makes espressos at home without a machine. Whaaatttt!?!? Yes, you too can make a cheap espresso with what is called a moka pot or a caffettiere. I came home and hit the local streets for one of these beauties:

After perusing the collection of thrift shops in Sunnyside, I checked the 99 cent store and found one for 7.65. Sweet deal!

I forgot to mention that my Cuban friend told me that she uses Cafe Bustelo, which happens to be one of my favorite coffees (we go way back). The mechanism is pretty simple. There's a chamber in the middle of the hourglass shape with strainers above and below it, where you pack your fine ground coffee. You pour a half cup in the bottom section. Screw the caffettiere together and put it on a stove for a minute. Watch it. And then.....

The water will boil up through the packed grounds and spill out two holes at the top of the spout. A full batch will yield about 3 demitasse cups. Take the caffettiere off the stove as soon as it's done, otherwise the coffee will burn.

While its true that espressos are simply concentrated coffee, a fine Arabic espresso has a peculiar bite to it not found anywhere on the flavor palate of regular coffee. These espresso's didn't quite make the cut here. They were basically very strong, small cups of coffee. The taste was no different than regular Cafe Bustelo, strong, simple, consistent. I talked to my Cuban friend about this and she told me that her family mixes it with an equal portion of milk and lots of sugar, and then dunks Cuban bread in it. I'll let you know how that works out sometime.

Overall, this is a fun little toy. Good for a coffee enthusiast who likes to try different brewing methods and tastes. Maybe down the road I'll learn some tricks on using it or some dishes to pair it with. If nothing else, brewing Cuban espressos is pretty badass.

(photo cred: wikimedia commons)

Sweetleaf

Well, Sweetleaf doesn't actually serve tea. It's a vintage specialty coffee shop located in Long Island City, Queens, right off of the 7 at Vernon-Jackson. It's literally right off the subway. As soon as I walk in the door, I'm directed to the counter by ornamental cast iron black fencing. I order an espresso for 2.75 and take a window seat on a bench against the wall. The place is almost empty.

A London clock overlooks the bar, hanging from a beige molded wall.  A shiny espresso machine sits atop the coffee counter made of a rich dark stained wood. Rectangular hanging lanterns of yore swing slightly over the counter. Vintage signs direct laptop users to a section off the shop slightly out of the main room, demarcated by a large threshold. I get up and stroll through a doorway at the back of the store, enticed by a comfy looking armchair peeking through a doorway. The back room is a completely different vibe. It's purple, poster-plastered walls encase a small room for about 6 people. There's a couch against one wall and two upholstered armchairs against the other. There's also a crate of old records on a table.

The espresso was good, from what I can tell. The crema looked a little burnt, but the taste wasn't too bitter. Pardon me, but my espresso reviews will remain mediocre until I get to taste two espressos side by side. I enjoyed it, that's what matters.

The vintage style hints at extravagance and refinement, but is subdued by the self-consciousness that such an age has already passed. In a true post modern fashion, Sweetleaf uses cultural artifacts to evoke beauty, but prevents them from placing any real claims on the shop or it's patrons.

It's probably one of the only decent coffee shops in Queens. Give it a shot, pun intended.

sweetleaflic.com

Under Construction

I know, I know, this blog is pretty mediocre; especially because I'm doing descriptive writing without pictures. I'm looking into getting a used SLR camera and I am reading about basic photography composition, as you can see from my 'On the Bookshelf' list. I'm also working on this new thing called having friends, who may also have cameras. If you know me and are interested in exploring the city, whether you're visiting or living here, let me know! I'll do the research and we can hit some pretty nice spots. On my to visit list:

The Russian Tea Room--$10 for afternoon tea, but it looks absolutely beautiful, it will be an experience!

Chocolate Bar--I passed through here the other day, good prices for strong chocolate

Tea Box Cafe--I'm looking forward to the oriental feel

There's also this strange place I've heard of that has, what I suppose you could call, reverse dumpling soup. The soup is in the dumplings. It's like gushers, except with dough and broth. Maybe this isn't that unique in Chinatown, but I've never had any. I still have to do some more research to confirm where I can find these delectable flavor grenades.

I'm also very behind right now on my posts because of a book I'm reading: Painted Paragraphs. The author samples excellent descriptive writing from a variety of texts and subjects and explores what makes them good. After reading such an incisive commentary on descriptive writing, you'll have to forgive me for slaving over my own prose.

Cheers,
Joshua

Culture Espresso

My friend and I dropped into Culture Espresso after reading in Bryant Park one day and got a Chai Latte and Espresso. The aura was quaint. Classic Chalkboard menus. A few cookies for sale. There were all generations of customers: men in their late 40's sitting in a corner talking business, young teens, and, of course, a few hipsters. A low counter meant I could watch the barista at work on my drink.

My friend and I sat down at the communal table in the middle and traded drinks. The Chai felt a little watery, but not as sweet as Starbucks; it also had a heart crema pattern. The espresso was vibrant and strong. There was a slight bitterness, but not the same acidic aftertaste as in your mediocre everyday coffee. It was natural and unintrusive, perhaps because of the concentrated intensity of flavor.

The small store makes for cozy coffee. The grey-blue walls and accenting crystal chandelier are artistic, but the muted colors also feel self-conscious, as if the designer was avoiding classless flamboyance. The entire operation felt very open and pleasant. The barista even took time to explain to me some basic criteria for a good espresso. Culture Espresso is a bit loud for studying and the architecture isn't designed to absorb sound, but it's a good place to visit with friends.

cultureespresso.com

Morning Muffins Part I

Monday morning I wake up late, of course. Shower, change, drink, and forget to eat before I dash out the door. I take the 7 to 42nd-Bryant Park and get off. I Shuffle with the herd of suits and ties out into the morning sunlight. Every day I walk the same, north-bound route to work. I pass the JP Morgan building and watch the financial gods blow jets of smoke out of their pursed lips from underneath the covered doorway. I pass a bunch of slow tourists. I also pass a homeless man with a sign that says "I listen to your problems, $2."

I pause at the corner of 5th and 46th at the sight of a bakery cart. The peddler stands in the tin box that has windows all along the bottom front and side, stocked with croissants, bagels, marble cake, and muffins.  "How much for a cranberry muffin?" "One-fifty." I exchange my two dollars for two quarters that are lying in the change pile he keeps on the counter in front of him. He swipes a muffin off of the rack below him and hands it to me in a brown bag. The outside of the bag already has a grease stain on it. At least I know it's fresh.

I arrive at the office, muffin bag in hand and it turns out I've arrived early, so I fire up my computer, check my Facebook and Gmail, and eat my muffin. It is heavenly. The berries are still moist and the bread is just spongy enough. The light consistency makes it feel filling in my mouth. It took me three minutes to finish.

For the next three days I bought a muffin on my way to work and for the next three days it was consistently the highlight of my day.

The Coffee Shop

Long story short, the trains were messed up, so my trip to Birch Coffee to explore the wonders of the espresso landed me in Union Square. I ended up linnering at The Coffee Shop, on the south side of the block. From afar, it looked pretty dinky. It had a tall, light turquoise vertical sign that said 'COFFEE' in big letters. It looked like one of those retro diners that you go to at 3 a.m. in the morning. On the more sophisticated side, outdoor tables shaded with umbrellas lined the sidewalk along the storefront.

I took an outdoor table for two and set up my writing notebook. The turquoise brick walls and white furniture, combined with a light breeze, made me feel like I was on a beach boardwalk. Smooth cream cheese contrasted with the biting crunch of red onion on my bagel sandwich. I pulled my teabag out early to avoid over-steeping and tapped in a dash of sugar to nullify the natural bite. The a whisper of bergamot flavor mingled with the breeze.

The bill was also 11.50, but I'll manage.

I recommend The Coffee Shop if you're in Union Square. The customer service has gotten a bad rap, but I wouldn't know. The food is a bit expensive, but you're also paying to eat outside (or, indirectly, for someone else to eat outside). Enjoy!

Stumptown

After spending a few hours skimming nonprofit texts in the SIBL, I made my first pilgrimage to the famed Stumptown/Ace Hotel lobby. For those of you who don't know, Stumptown is a small coffee shop acclaimed for its quality coffee. It is a storefront to the Ace Hotel. There's not much room in Stumptown, so, from what I gather, it's expected that you'll wander through the back door to the hotel lobby and nurse your drink of choice there.

First, the coffee. I'm no coffee connoisseur, but I have my preferences. Stumptown's coffee wasn't incredibly strong, but it was full-bodied. It had a slight acidic undertone, but it didn't linger in my mouth past the overtones. You don't want coffee that has a "flavor gap." It tastes like coffee as soon as you drink it, but the aftertaste tastes like watery bitterness. You want an aftertaste that still tastes like coffee.

I had my coffee black for the sake of evaluation, but it should be good with a touch of milk and sugar. Oh, shop itself was very cute: white walls and wood accents. The baristas were skinny hipsters. One of their fellow hipsters cut in front of me and the clerk served him first. I guess waiting in line and customer service are just too mainstream.

Through a back door in the coffee shop is the Ace Hotel lobby. The high ceiling lights were dim and complemented by tall glass canisters with candles inside of them. The room was mainly black and white, with dark furniture, but the dim light kept the contrast from creating a stark atmosphere. The furniture featured dark upholstered couches and chairs with dark wood finishes and vintage tables, complete with orange rust stains. I don't understand why people do homework here since the architecture leads to slight echoes and loud conversations, but its certainly a nice place to hang out.

http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/locations/nyc-ace