Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,791 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Wed Apr 20, 2005, 9:13am Subject: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
OK, I arrived in Stockholm this morning (from Chicago).
In the International Arrivals area of Stockholm's Arlanda airport was a simple cafe...having a not-so-simple 3 head Faema machine and a serious looking grinder. First order was a double ritretto espresso followed by a short double cappuccino. Both were EXCELLENTLY prepared though I have some doubts about the beans. They just weren't to my taste being too strong flavored with non-coffee flavors. But the drink preparation showed that the barista knew what she was doing.
Next, I started off in a rentall car to Orebro and had a cappuccino along the way at a place called ''Dinners''. It seems that these Dinners are like Ho Jo along the PA Turnpike. Here they had a super automatic machne and the result was, as you would expect, weak and having little taste.
I checked into my hotel in Karlskoga (Alfred Nobel Ramada) where they have a free-to-use super auto machine in the lobby. Again, the result is poopy.
I then went ot the Orebro airport to await the arrival of some Indian customers. Orebro airport must get 10 flight arrivals per day, maximum. Accordingly, it is a tiny airport with no real services except a small cafe. Lo & behold, in said cafe is a 2 head Isomac machine with E61 GHs! Of course, the barista didn't know to pull a cooling flush before making my single 4.5 oz. espresso! What utter drivel! Anyway, for the cappuccino, I asked her pull a colling flush and put 1/3 of the water through the espresso. Now, this was nice! I didn't even direct her in frothing but she made a decent (though not great) micro-foam.
All in all, I say: ''not bad - not bad at all''. Well, that is if we discount the super auto poop and direct the barista.
parity Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 317 Location: Mountain View, CA Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia Grinder: Rancilio Rocky, La Pavoni... Roaster: CO/SC
Posted Wed Apr 20, 2005, 10:13am Subject: Re: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
In Janurary, my partner (she's Swedish) and I went to Sweden. While waiting for the train connection at Arlanda, we got to try a couple of cafes at the airport. I thought both cafes had okay cappuccinos. We stayed in Karlskrona and we frequented Wayne's Coffee. Although Wayne's Coffee is chain, I did enjoy their cappuccinos. They have free wifi as well. Although going to a bakery for a cappuccino one morning was a mistake. Next time I am there, I'll do some research before hand so I can try some other places.
flydhest Senior Member Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Posts: 274 Location: Washington, DC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Giotto Grinder: Mazzer Mini Roaster: Hottop
Posted Wed Apr 20, 2005, 10:19am Subject: Re: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
I had fairly disappointing espresso based drinks the times I've been in Stockholm. One was at the coffee shop in Oestermalmshallen another was a little coffee shop in the mall in Karlaplan. I've got reasonably good drip at several konditori. If others have views on great places for coffee, I'm all ears. My wife is from Stockholm and we're going back in July.
As an aside, Oestermalmshallen is great for just about everything else.
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,791 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Thu Apr 21, 2005, 8:16am Subject: Re: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
ahhhh...another day, more coffee experiences!
I had 3 weak espresso from the super auto at the hotel this moring, OK drip coffee at the hotel owned by the steel plant: Otoukumpo in Degerfors after lunch, and then, and then...
Walking about 1.5 miles from my hotel I happened upon a small cafe (''Elkinbern'' or somethnig like that). IThey had a 2 head Pavoni machine and nice grinder. I asked for a double ristretto cappuccino and WOW! It was nice, real nice! Still, the beans had not enough coffee taste about them, but ther beverage was real nicely prepared. First, the espresoo was about 1.25 oz. double with good crema. The milk was beautiful micro-foam. I sat in the cafe and enjoyed this and thought about having just an espresso - but walked on out and am now back at the hotel.
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,791 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Sat Apr 23, 2005, 6:56am Subject: Re: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
Yesterday, I drove back to Stockholm and am spending the weekend here.
On route, I stopped at a city called Västerhås about 100km west of Stockholm for a cuppa' joe. I drove into the city center and found what looked like a good street, parked the car and set out for espresso. Alas, I found nothing other than some seedy looking bars. I asked a fellow on the street and he suggested a place in the basement of the largest building on the street. The building was 3 or 4 floors and was painted yellow and next to a canal. Here there was a nice 2GH machine (I think it was a Pavoni though it was badged: ''Queen''). I started with an espresso and was heartened by seeing the small size of the cup (maybe 2.5 oz.). The barista pulled a very respectful looking shot: small (1.5 oz.) and thick with real decent crema. The following cappacino was also very nice with smooth micro foam and she would have made a quite good latte art heart except that I had her stop as the cup held too much liquid. (I had already told her to only fill it about 2/3 but she was going beyond that.) Again, the preparation was great, the taste was poopy! Where do they get these awful beans?
After returning my rental car I went back to the airport to catch the train into the city but not until I visited the same cafe who made the nice espresso on my arrival into Stockholm. The place is called Ritazza and there were 2 different barista on duty than previosly. They also prepared a real nice cup - though the beans do not have a very good flavor. (They do have alot of flavor - just not coffee flavor.) I asked the barista where they got their beans and she said they were their own (Ritazza) and showed me a 1kg (2#) bag. I was not able to discern anything as all the writing was in Swedish but she told me that they were mostly arabica beans. Here we have a real nice preparation and a real crappy taste.
I am staying at the Lady Hamilton hotel click here in the old city next to the King's palace. There is a narrow shopping street at the corner of my hotel called: Västerlånggatau. Santering (or is it sauntering?) down this street last night revealed that it is chock full of cafe and espresso bars. I had a cappuccino last night at a place called Gino's and it was not too good being weak, watery and way too hot.
This morning's (Saturday's) breakfast was at a place called Cafe Old Town Spegelin where they have a no-name machine having 3 E61 GHs. Espresso was pretty good as was the cappuccino - though neither was great. Again, the problem is with the beans used - though these were not as offensive as Ritazza or Gino's. we are getting warmer!
Late moring coffee was at another place on Västerlånggatau called ''Coffee Cup'' where a 4 GH Rancillio machine was doing the honors. I notice with wrapt attention that the baristas are pulling a clearing flush before each shot and that tamping is done with a seperate tamper (all the other places mentioned above ad used the things built onto the grinders) and finshed off with a polishing swirl. REAL NICE cup! Next a cappacinno, and it was again great to see that the barista smacked and swirled the pitcher after frothing and that they poured the milk rather than use the ubiguitous spoon! Cappa was also GREAT. The beans had some coffee flavor (or am I just getting used to this no-taste coffee?). So far, this was the best in Sweden.
Lunch was at a place called: 'Paganini''. The after lunch cappacinno was pretty OK - though not great with the milk being too thick (a la *$). They have a 2 GH no name machine.
SamuraiE Senior Member Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 371 Location: Miyazaki, Japan Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: La Cimbali M21/S1 Grinder: La Cimbali Jr. Vac Pot: several / Atomic, too Drip: yes Roaster: Hottop baby!
Posted Sat Apr 23, 2005, 7:18am Subject: Re: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
This is very interesting reading....I'm feeling a little of the rush of the travel without the all the headaches that come with a trip of this nature.....thanks.......keep writing!!!
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,791 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Sun Apr 24, 2005, 4:56am Subject: Re: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
Yesterday (Saturday) afternoon's coffee was at a tiny coffee bar on the street Västerlånggatau. The place is called Caffelini and they have a 3GH La San Marco machine. Here is another place using a seperate tamper. The place has no tables and can only hold perhaps 8 or 10 persons. THIS WAS THE BEST COFFEE I HAVE HAD SO FAR IN SWEDEN.
The espresso (a single) was appropriately small (perhaps 1 oz.), thick and honey like and had a really nice thick crema. The taste was the best I have had so far - and by a big margin.
The cappuccino was real good being maybe 6oz. total. The barista (the owner) poured a really nice latte art heart on the cup. I watched him smack and swirl as he polished the milk and couldn't wait to see what the taste was. As expected, it was excellent.
The beans are imported from Italy and he showed me a bag (though since I didn't write it down, it is lost in my adled 50 something brain). One more note: they are using cups like the brown colored Nuova Point; the same ones I want to get.
I asked if he was aware of CoffeeGeek and he said that he had seen it but that he didn't have access to the internet. His skills were really fine and I asked where he got interested in espresso. He told me that he used to work at the ice cream place across the street (Cafe Glace) where they made espresso. He told me that they also make a fine cup. We shall see.
This mmorning's (Sunday's) breakfast was at a place called Old Street Cafe, again on Västerlånggatau. Here they had a 2 GH Grimac machine and put out an OK cup. Their fresh oj was something special, though.
Since Caffelini is closed on Sunday, I had my 2nd cup at Cofee Cup. Alas, it is not as impressive after visiting Elini.
As of now, I am staying in Sweden for at least 1 more day.
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,791 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Mon Apr 25, 2005, 3:27am Subject: Re: The espresso scene in Sweden (1 Geek's view)
Business continues to go slowly...so I continue to enjoy Stockholm!
I had more of the same espresso yesterday EXCEPT that I had a late lunch at a place called Restaurang La Corona on Drottninggatan Street near the Central Bank of Sweden (I think that is what it was). The food was real nice, the coffee was not. They had a 2 GH ''Queen'' machine and frothed the milk in a ceramic pitcher!!
This moring I was back at Coffee Cup for breakfast & Caffelini thereafter. The cappa had a real nice micro-foam with a quite good latte art apple thereon. It is worth noting that another barista was on duty at Caffelini (along with its owner). She also knew a lot about coffee and was also quite good. The results were more than acceptable.
I asked them both where in Stockholm one could get the best espresso and they both recomended that I try Sosta & Non Solo. Ergo, this shall be next.
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