yakster Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 1,006 Location: San Jose, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Factory / La Peppina... Grinder: Vario / Kyocera Vac Pot: Yama 8 + Pyrex Lox-in Rod Drip: Brazen / Kalita / Chemex /... Roaster: Behmor
Posted Thu Jan 12, 2012, 5:12pm Subject: Re: Walia in San Jose area
I also like Roy's Station in Japantown for coffee... they started with Barefoot but are serving Verve now.
I don't get to go there very often, but if I can stop in the morning and get a steamed pork bun, an espresso, and maybe fill my ceramic cup with some coffee to go it's a good start to the day.
I probably make it to Red Berry more often because the espresso is consistently better and they are a multi-roaster shop with a nice variety of coffees. If you go on the weekend, try their waffle with fruit.
mcuff Senior Member Joined: 7 Jun 2006 Posts: 135 Location: SF Bay Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Andrea Premium Grinder: Baratza Vario, Hario Skerton Vac Pot: Santos Drip: Aeropress, Plunger, Clever Roaster: Yea, still getting there...
Posted Sun Jan 15, 2012, 5:42pm Subject: Re: Walia in San Jose area
yakster Said:
I probably make it to Red Berry more often because the espresso is consistently better and they are a multi-roaster shop with a nice variety of coffees. If you go on the weekend, try their waffle with fruit.
That's the thing I noticed about Red Berry - they are consistent, and good. Being consistently good is dynamite. I don't know how they do training, but they should bottle it.
Cerridwyn Senior Member Joined: 6 Jun 2010 Posts: 393 Location: Inland Empire California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Jan 16, 2012, 7:08am Subject: Re: Wahlia in San Jose area
I'll let you all know where I end up visiting. Hotel is about 1/2 mile from Bellano (not B2) so might walk over first day if I'm not exhausted (daughter will be at work).
yakster Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 1,006 Location: San Jose, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Factory / La Peppina... Grinder: Vario / Kyocera Vac Pot: Yama 8 + Pyrex Lox-in Rod Drip: Brazen / Kalita / Chemex /... Roaster: Behmor
Posted Mon Jan 16, 2012, 11:04am Subject: Re: Wahlia in San Jose area
The last few times at Roy's Station, they've been serving Verve House Blend. I'm not excited by this coffee and I know that they have served good drip coffee in the past such as a Costa Rica Helzar that has knocked my socks off, but the house blend isn't doing it for me. The other choice last trip was a decaf, so I got a Verve Sermon shot (good), a Chasu Bunn (good) and the House Blend (OK).
mcuff Senior Member Joined: 7 Jun 2006 Posts: 135 Location: SF Bay Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Andrea Premium Grinder: Baratza Vario, Hario Skerton Vac Pot: Santos Drip: Aeropress, Plunger, Clever Roaster: Yea, still getting there...
Posted Mon Jan 16, 2012, 12:26pm Subject: Re: Wahlia in San Jose area
Red Berry told me they also have Verve's House Blend in the shop. They offer it to customers who prefer a more traditional roast profile. Some people find the light roast style too sour.
Since you're that close to Bellano, drive 1 mile to Barefoot to get a single origin espresso, and drive 3 miles to get to Bitter+Sweet where they do a great job pulling Sightglass Owl's Howl espresso and brewing coffee on the V60. "Sightglass coffee at Bitter+Sweet in Cupertino"
Cerridwyn Senior Member Joined: 6 Jun 2010 Posts: 393 Location: Inland Empire California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Fri Jan 20, 2012, 5:18pm Subject: Re: Wahlia in San Jose area
Doesn't look like Santa Cruz is in the stars. With the rain and the fact my daughter has that GI bug going around...
I did borrow her car and go over to Bellano where I had coffee, Guatemala, Finca Rosma, from SightGlass I think. It was good. Wanted a dino mug, may go back and get one.
Then I went up to barefoot, had Ethiopia – Dominion Yirgacheffe as espresso, double shot, see pic. It was also good. The Barista gave me a dirty look when I ordered a double, like old ladies shouldn't be drinking them, LOL. They had some interesting foo foo drinks. Might wander back for one if the mood strikes.
Cerridwyn Senior Member Joined: 6 Jun 2010 Posts: 393 Location: Inland Empire California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Jan 23, 2012, 5:11pm Subject: Re: Wahlia in San Jose area
Between daughter's sickness and the weather, didn't get to go to several places on my hit list. Will be for next time.
We did go over to Bitter+Sweet in Cupertino. Daughter had red velvet latte, well a few sips of it, was all she could handle, but she wants to go back when she feels better. Sweets were good, not awesome, but worth it and atmosphere was not bad.
We went up to Palo Alto on Sunday (She uses a Citiz for making foo foo drinks at home and their is a new Nespresso boutique there). Went through forum for ideas where to go. Ended up going by Zombie Runner. Didn't have a drink but loved the theme. Did buy a bag of Gary's recommendation for home.
We also went to the Sweet Shop. Yes, they serve Verve, but do not do it justice. It's brewed and sits a bit and they have no clue what they have. Cute place though. If it was in my neighborhood, they'd learn, grin.
We went into Los Gatos next. Went to this new cheese place who's name I don't remember, small selection, but nice. Daughter saw Los Gatos Roasting Co and wanted to go in. Definitely not third wave. Beans are roasted on site but not properly stored. Smelled okay and were fresh. She took some home. They offered us a free cup of coffee but couldn't deal with regular brew again so didn't. They did have a wonderful smelling chocolate for making mocha's that daughter said was yummy.
Did less coffee than I wanted, but it was okay, saw my daughter and her S/O, most important thing I did.
My vote for best tasting coffee - Barefoot. My vote for best ambiance and professionalism was Bellano My vote for good customer service would be Lost Gatos because she was very good at that. My vote for best desert was the tiramisu and Affogato at this Italian place in a hotel down townish in San Jose called Il Fornaio. Espresso was not super but the overall effect of having those together was nummers.
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