The quarantine finally got to me, so John and I got creative on how we could take a trip but keep all the social distancing orders in mind… So we took a road trip up to Monterey and back! We mainly stopped for photos of the coast, a few nostalgic stops like Solvang and Cambria, and of course, GOOD coffee. Finding a list of great coastal shops in California was harder than imagined, so I did a lot of research (not to mention, finding out what’s open, what the reduced hours are, etc.). Let the below serve as a quick, caffeinated detour for your next PCH drive. (...)
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Starting from ground zero grounds? Here are all the things you need to start brewing coffee at home.4/19/2020 Alright, first thing’s first - a disclaimer that this is not for the pros, but it’s not for the pod people, either. It’s what I’d call an intermediate coffee brewing style. But, this guide is meant to help those who consider themselves beginners (or even pod converts - AKA Keurig, Nespresso, Verismo) and want to take their coffee game to the next level. While millions are sheltering in place or social distancing, it’s likely your coffee routine has been affected. If you’re up for the task, now’s the time to become self-reliant for all your coffee needs, and start brewing coffee yourself (tech and barista-free)! First, you need to decide what method of brewing is right for you. The list is endless on the number of ways you can brew coffee, and I lazily share the below poster I own demonstrating JUST how many ways exist. Boiling it down, here are the most common/popular home coffee-brewing methods:
For the sake of ease, personal recommendation and concision, I’ll be guiding you through everything you need to start brewing coffee at home via pour over. (...) Hello, coffee lovers and curious drinkers! This post is meant to serve as a quick-n-dirty intro to myself, the blog and how I adopted the coffee lifestyle... I'm Autumn, better known as your friendly "LACoffeeMate" on Instagram. What started as a part-time job as a barista when I was 16 grew to become my greatest passion and lifetime love affair. After six years as a barista, one year as a bartender and mannnny college majors, I dove into the world of advertising and PR... But I couldn't stay away from my hospitality roots. What started as a school journalism project blossomed into a hard-working hobby, keeping my creative gears turning and my excuse for drinking copious amounts of coffee valid. (...) "Welcome to the neighborhood!" At least, that’s what I should have said the first time I walked into the newest coffee shop, named Neighborhood. Note: This shop is open as of 4/5/20 with limited hours/curbside pick up only, so check their site and Instagram for any updates. A quaint and narrow shop boasting Millennial Pink walls, communal tables and carrara marble, Neighborhood is a welcome addition to the La Brea area. I’ll note early on that it’s NOT a coffee shop to work in since they don’t have WiFi. But, if you’re looking to meet some new people, muse about your screenplay, pontificate about the sustainability of almond milk or ask for directions to a Kanye pop-up (to the parachute pants inquiring: it was probably on Fairfax…) - then you’ve come to the right place! (...) My boyfriend is a big cold brew drinker, but he's in it more for the temperature and caffeine kick than the flavor, body and everything else it has to offer. I love cold brew when it's good, but it's really easy to find crappy cold brew. I have a few local places where they make a bomb Kyoto or kickass Toddy, but on the go, and definitely when it's your only option (i.e. during lockdowns), what are the best quick-serve options? Thus I did the taste-testing research to understand the crowded field of single-serve cold brews, and I believe I've come up with my ranking (with what was found at Whole Foods and Ralph's, mind you, during a quarantine)... I didn't include Starbucks, as I was focusing on the less traditional but still readily available brands. The first go around I was cracking em open and taking a few sips, but the second time around, each was given to me randomly via straw, blindfolded. The results below are from the blind tasting, but unsurprisingly, do not differ much from my original ranks. The Single-Serve Cold Brews, Ranked: (...) |
AuthorFollow me @autumn.enoch 📸 CoffeeMateCoffeeMate is your utilitarian guide to LA coffee shops, dedicated to amplifying small businesses.
CoffeeMate also provides product reviews, lists, 101s and more. My ratings scale is as follows: (5) Balanced (4) Strong (3) Bitter (2) Weak (1) Stale Categories
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