Posted Sun Feb 22, 2009, 4:48pm Subject: M Street Coffee in Sherman Oaks
Whenever I hear about a promising coffee shop in L.A., I like to try it out. This goes double, if it’s anywhere near my neighborhood.
So, off I went today to M Street Coffee at 13251 Moorpark (“M St.,” get it?) in Sherman Oaks. It’s at the corner of Longridge, near Fulton.
M St. is using organic coffees from Supreme Bean in North Hollywood and currently features their excellent Volcan blend for espresso. Espressos are served in proper Italian demitasse cups. I introduced myself to Kate, a cheery barista from Portland and ordered an espresso straight up, which is the only way to judge a shop’s espresso quality.
First a few words about M St.’s setup. The shop is very attractive and inviting, with comfortable furniture and photography for sale. But it is clearly trying to do more with less in the equipment department. The bar work area is actually an immobilized espresso cart, with a counter level that is too high for barista comfort. So, they have made a few compromises, one of which is to use a Swift grinder.
The first shot ran about 45 seconds before the Rancilio’s flowmeter stopped it. It had a nice crema, but was predictably bitter from over-extraction. When I told Kate I had a suggestion, she already knew what I was going to say, and she offered to remake it by cutting off the flow at ristretto volume. This produced a tasty and complex 25 second shot, with all bitterness gone.
So, what is M Street? I would call it a busy, happy neighborhood coffee bar, operating far above the level of “neighborhood.” I doubt they are aspiring to be a regional coffee shrine, and don’t hold it against them for not trying. But it is certainly worth a visit if you are anywhere near the area. Just be sure to ask for a “short shot.”
Posted Mon Aug 3, 2009, 9:44pm Subject: Re: M Street Coffee in Sherman Oaks
I had this double espresso pulled with Supreme Bean Volcan blend. Unfortunately the main flavor was carbon. I've had very good Supreme Bean espressos at other coffee houses, so this experience was unexpected and disappointing.
Strad Senior Member Joined: 4 Aug 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Jun 28, 2012, 10:53am Subject: Re: M Street Coffee in Sherman Oaks
I went to M Street a couple of weeks ago to try it. I was very disappointed. The Cap was bitter and seemed gritty. I know the Supreme Bean coffees - I've been buying them for 10 years plus. This is a very attractive neighborhood coffee spot. I wanted to like it, but the the coffee was not up to par.
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