Mark_C Senior Member Joined: 4 Jan 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Singapore Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Marzocco GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly
Posted Sun Feb 11, 2007, 6:57pm Subject: Coffee Klatch (L.A. area) -- disappointed
I'm down in L.A. on business and, after having read the glowing reviews about the Coffee Klatch in San Dimas, decided I'd drive about an hour total out of my way today to check it out. The end result was that I liked the atmosphere of the place (I actually hung out a while on their comfy chairs surfing the internet via their free wifi), but had a mediocre drink and a vaguely negative customer service experience. Maybe I've become totally spoiled by living in Seattle and getting to hang out regularly at Vivace, Vita, etc for 8 years or so, but I was surprised more than anything by the seeming unsophistication of the baristas who were there. I'm also nutty enough (like many of us) to have PID'd a Zaffiro and have pretty high expectations for what constitutes a really good espresso shot or milk-based drink.
My experience: normally when I'm trying a new place that is supposed to be good, I'll get a straight espresso shot (or a macchiato) and a double latte with relatively minimal milk (about 6 ounces...not 12 or more ounces like Starbucks serves up...which I think still allows me to appreciate the coffee although admittedly watered down somewhat). Given that it was late afternoon and I didn't necessarily want that much caffeine, this time I figured I'd start with the latte and, depending on what I thought of it, get the straight shot or macchiato. Much to my surprise for a high-quality place, their latte choices on their drink board were a single-shot latte with 12 oz of milk or a double latte with a whopping 16oz...in my view, way too much milk for the regular drinks. More to my surprise, when I asked if I could have a double latte with only 6-8 ounces of milk, I got somewhat of a confused reaction ("oh, a 'latte' has 12 ounces of milk" "I know, but can you just pour in less milk" "how about a 12 oz cappuccino which will have less milk and more foam" "no thanks, I don't really want all the foam, can you just make a latte and pour in less milk" "uh, yeah I guess so"). When I got the drink (made by a different person than who took the order), it was actually a 12 ouncer...one sip and I could barely taste anything but milk. I told the barista that I had asked for an 8 ounce drink, and her also-confused response was that they don't have any 8 oz cups. Then she offered to pour out 4 ounces of the drink! Uh, that doesn't work, I say, because I wanted a stronger coffee flavor. Then she offers to pour out 4 ounces and add more espresso. Uh, that's great and I'm sorry to be difficult, but I don't want that much espresso. By this time the order-taker has come over and they're exchanging knowing glances like I'm a monster PITA customer. One finally suggests to the other that they make me a new drink, which I gladly accept and she hands me it in about 15 seconds (literally)...I couldn't quite see behind the machine, but seriously I think an old double shot must have been cooling its jets given how quickly she handed it to me. The end result was a mediocre drink with milk that was almost scalding hot. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed at all.
I had high expectations coming in, which, of course, adds to the sense of disappointment at the visit. In hindsight, my drink and experience were mediocre but not a total disaster, and given that one drink on one particular day isn't necessarily representative of a place, I'll probably give it another chance on a different day if I happen to be nearby. In any event, one additional data point for those considering driving a long way to find some good espresso in L.A. (which definitely ain't easy to find).
Posted Sun Feb 11, 2007, 9:27pm Subject: Re: Coffee Klatch (L.A. area) -- disappointed
I also had a disappointing visit at Coffee Klatch in San Dimas December 27, 2006. Took these pics. The 3oz double espresso, pulled in a ~7oz cup, had some carbon taste and a really weird after-taste. This ugly looking macchiato was about 6-7 oz in volume. I prefer them to be about 4oz or less in volume. When the barista ground the beans in the PF using a Swift(?) grinder (not shown in photo), she walked away to help another barista, then the phone rang which she answered. By that time the grounds were in the PF for about 50 seconds before she transfered the PF to the espresso machine to pull the shot. Should not be this way.
Posted Sun Feb 11, 2007, 9:35pm Subject: Re: Coffee Klatch (L.A. area) -- disappointed
I bought some expresso beans from Coffee Klatch that were roasted on December 26, 2006. That's right, they wrote expresso on the bag which they corrected to espresso. Five days later pulled some nice shots at home with very good complexity. Then something odd happened, 7 days after roast the shots consisted mostly of carbon taste.
Posted Sun Feb 11, 2007, 9:38pm Subject: Re: Coffee Klatch (L.A. area) -- disappointed
I also visited Coffee Klatch in San Dimas in May 2005 and February 2006 and the double espressos were very good! Easily best coffee house in LA at that time.
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