So where have I been lately? Busy that is where, sometimes life gets in the way of stopping and meditating over a good cup of coffee. I need to stop and slow down to record the entries of my coffee life for you fine folks.

Thanks to: http://www.seanrees.co.uk, for the graphic.

Most important critic

The tongue of the chief coffee taster for a worldwide chain of coffee shops has been insured for £10m ($13.95m).


Looks like I am not the most important critic of coffee in the world… this guy is.

Madcap Rumors

There has been rumblings about a new killer coffeehouse to open up soon downtown Grand Rapids that has nationally rated baristas. They already have their own coffee roasting company. Madcap Coffee. Check their site and you find that Ryan Knapp and Trevor Corlett are coffee craftsman that hold 25th and 22nd titles in the Nation! Be sure to click through to their blog for updates on when the grand opening will be. Could this prove to be a knockout punch to Bigby and Satrbucks downtown GR?… Stay tuned.

Sparrows Part 1

So like usual I put things off. But finally I visited the Sparrows Coffee Tea and Newstand again. My buddy Chris was the Barista this time.

My wife wanted tea (which is my second love next to coffee) and the Sparrows has a formidable selection of tea. You can buy tea loose in bulk for your French press at home. "In the mood tea" is what my wife chose. Chris states that this particular tea has proven aphrodisiacs as he smirks my way… we'll see. The tea holder is interesting, it lets gravity push the water through the tea and down into the cup.

I order my usual mocha, this a first though, I have never pesonally known the barista. As Chris prepares it he tells me they just got a new batch of Ghirardelli's chocolate syrup in so it should have a richer taste. Chris is newer barista, but not that new. He takes his time pouring the foam on carefully. The taste was very well balanced with the chocolate and the expresso, the steamed milk came on a bit stronger than I am used to, but not in a bad way. I asked Chris about the milk taste and he tells me is non-homoginized so it has a bit sweeter flavor than regular milk because it has it's enzymes intact, making it more digestable.
Well thats round 1 for now stay tuned for further updates from the Sparrow's…

Handpresso and Presto! Expresso!

I know summer is over but Christmas is coming… or whatever holiday you may celebrate. I know we can just ask for the same old gift cards or coffee beans imported through fair-trade, remembering the warmth of the season. This is good and all—but lets say you really want to wow your coffee lover. Try this… Handpresso! Its a portable, hand pressurized expresso maker. All you need is hot water in a thermos, a small packet of ground expresso, Handpresso and boom high quality exprosso anywhere. Handpresso's pump presses the pressurized hot water through the packet and out a spout into your camping expresso cups (oh yeah you may want to gift those as well). Its a new product so I haven't found too many reviews on it. Regardless it is a cool idea and its French so at least they know their coffee product.

Can this coffeemaker save Starbucks?

An interesting article from Wired Magazine's website I came across:I will be keeping on eye out for this Clover machine if I do find myself at starbucks. Should any find one please post about it thanks. Regardless click on the photo and let me know what you think.

The Sparrow Coffee Series…

I have unique opportunity to get the inside scoop on a coffee shop, The Sparrows. My co-worker Chris is becoming a Barista there and the owners have some new techniques they picked up at a Barista conference. Now I am not gonna get any secrets but give you a story series of a great local coffee house striving to become even better. With photos interviews and video to come it should be interesting. They are #4 on the Top 10 list. Will they move up? Stay tuned…