The search for good coffee

Thus far the only coffee I've had in Columbia was from the little shop we sad Derek Webb play at last year (I wasn't impressed. It was very weak. It tasted like water that had once sat near some coffee beans while both items were sealed in their own individual containers) and Atlanta Bread Company. I refuse to go to the $.

I haven't had ABCs coffee before so I figured that since there is one just a few blocks from the school I ought to try it out. I went in and ordered an americano. Now, ABC has an interesting setup since you aren't always talking to someone who even knows how to make your drink when you order it, they might just be the order taker. She had no idea what I meant and went on to describe to me their coffees (some horrid sounding banana nut flavour, among others...). I asked her again and she asked another person what it was and they knew.

So, I began speaking with that person, asked what size their short was. Their short is the $ and R. Gabriels' tall, or 12oz. (*$s has a short that is 8oz, R. Gabriels does not but they have adopted *$s naming standards.) I then asked how many shots of espresso came in a tall. That took a little bit of clarification (I should note, the ABC downtown seems to be family run by an Indian family so there is a slight language/accent barrier there) but I got that there is one shot in the tall. This is pretty much par for the course at most shops. R. Gabriels puts two shots in theirs.

I then asked for a small with an extra shot which she seemed to understand and I paid. What I got was the next size up (16oz) with two shots...

To those of you who do not know, an americano is espresso with hot water added. You get the flavour and freshness of espresso without having it be like a syrup of pure coffee. So if you have one shot of espresso and hot water to the top of a 12 oz up it will taste different than if you have two shots of espresso and water to the top of the same cup. It will also be different if you have two shots and water to the top of a 16oz cup, being somewhere in between the single and double in a 12oz cup. I wanted more. Oh well, the espresso had an acceptable flavour at least, not the greatest but better than some swill I've had (*$, Joe Mugs, Boarders...). If I can get them to make the drink properly it would be alright. I'd rather find a non-chain place. I'd love to find a self-roasting place, or at least someplace I can go in and say, "What coffee do you use?" and not get an answer along the lines of, "I don't know.. it comes in a bag..." or, "[insert some major brand like *$, seatle's best, dunkin donuts here]".

The search continues...
- posted by Nick @ 2/15/2007 04:41:00 PM | 0 comments