A good reliable advice showed us directions in the middle of coffee sanctuary; "Visit The 12th Ave."
The Stumptown of Stumptown is located on Capitol Hill, Seattle, near Seattle University, which represents fashionable but a little edgy coffee culture. This cafe proves cozy atmosphere and high-fashion can coexist in the same space.
There is a roasting space in the basement with a small segmented chamber with a big window, which appears to be a tasting space or education area.
Unfortunately, it was not a roasting day so the room as dark and quiet, with a lingering flavor of coffee.
There are several "looking good" pastries and scones to go with, but my choice was always same: Soy Latte. Although Soy latte relies mostly on flavor of soy milk, the cup gives relaxing happy moment. Simple beauty latte art increases happiness in a short afternoon break.
Name: Cascara
Retailer: Verve
We usually consume coffee beans, but here is new suggestion: Coffee cherry tea.
High quality coffee cherry brings a cup of refreshing and new sensation. Unlike usual coffee beans, aroma of CASCARA is a bit like Chinese herb. Brewing is same as herbal tea: put a spoonful cascara into a pot and pour hot water. The flavor of this eliminates the first aroma impression: English tea with lemon plus unique flavor.
Cascara perhaps derives from a Spanish word, means "husk". I have no idea how this product become popular but now there is a bit market in the States. It is said that Cascara contains higher caffeine than usual coffee beans, just like green coffee extract.
Does this Cascara bring a new market for coffee industry?? It is better to wait until how this booming expatiation turns out.
Beans: Queen Anne ～Blend
Roaster: Caffe Ladro
Roasting degree: City
【Impression】
Medium dark to dark, creamy texture, dark chocolate, a touch of roasted nuts, citric sourness merged into bitterness, a thin layer of syrupy sweetness, brown sugar, 90% cacao dark chocolate like bitterness as a long lasting after taste.
【Note】
Qeen Anne is the signature coffee named after their first neighborhood cafe, according to the note.
Cafe Ladro is WA based coffee roaster & Espresso bar started from Queen Ann, Seattle.
The photo shows the one of theirstore located in Kirkland, which has an appropriate sized dine-in space, cozy and quiet.
The store faces Central Way, a cute shopping street in Kirkland, and has a enough parking lots across the Central Way.
There is a small park called "Marina Park", within 5 min walk from this cafe, so it might be nice to grab a cup to stay at park when the weather is nice enough.
As usual, soy latte to go. Smooth and thick layer of foamed soy milk may quenches our tired feeling. Unlike globalized coffee shops, Indie coffee masters/baristas still have their souls in cups they serve.
Cafe Ladro has their own bakery to entertain us with freshly baked cookies, breads, scones, sandwiches and Danish/French pastries. There is a few items for vegan, so it may be fun to pick some with freshly brewed coffee.
Beans: Doka Estate
Roaster: Doi Coffee
Roasting degree: Full city
Area: Alajuela, Costa Rica
Altitude: 1,340 - 1,420m
Varieties: Caturra, Catuai
Processing: Wet
Screen: 17up
Grade: N/A
【Flavor scale】
Aroma: 4
Richness: 1
Sourness: 5
Bitterness: 3
Sweetness: 4
※Scale 1 to 5
【Impression】
Medium, soothing, nutty, mellow, sweet orange, well matured apricots, clean fruity&juicy, nutty sweetness of almonds, cashews and macadamia, citric impression a tip of bitterness bottoms flavor, juicy sweetness as a long lasting aftertaste.
Unlike Flavor scale, sourness is not detected as sourness. Flavor impression may changes by the brewing methods.
【Note】
Doka Estate is one of the oldest coffee estate in Costa Rica which produces the highest quality coffee beans. The estate is located on the slopes of Volcán Poás, blessed with the rich volcanic soil, ideal altitude, and climate such as dry and cold night. The environments is maintained by Eco-friendly way of farming such as shade grown and organic, to conserve the soil and nature resource.
Beans: Kangocho Kenya
Roaster: Intelligentsia Coffee
Roasting degree: Medium
Area: Karatina, Nyeri District, Kenya
Altitude: 1,600 - 1,900m
Varieties: SL28, SL34
Processing: Traditional, Wet
Screen: 17 - 18
Grade: N/A
【Impression】
Light to Medium, nutty note, spicy, black currants and cherry, sweet&spicy, high tone of citric mouth-feel, lemon & white grapefruits, followed by strong body of cacao, tint of fresh apricot, decadent body, fresh & clear, syrupy sweetness as a long lasting aftertaste.
【Note】
Kangocho Factory is one of the oldest prize-winning mill in Kenya, which managed to reserve Kenyan traditional processing methods. Kenyan wet methods increase clarity and sweetness of beans, but it became less popular when productivity was emphasized in retail markets. Kangocho Factory is the one focused on this traditional methods to increase the value of their products rather than competing with others over productivity matters, which results in the global recognition toward the factory.
Roy Street coffee & tea in Seattle, the second line coffee house presented by Starbucks.
Roy Street Coffee & Tea shows Starbucks experiment to create a new "CAFE" with their name hidden. The new line, called "inspired", creates "neighborhood" type atmosphere, even though whole image of store suggests similarities to the original. Food and drink menu allows more choices including hot volumie sandwich like foods.
Talking about hot drinks, Cafe latte looks much much better than a cup in Starbucks: creamy and formy. It is surprising to find a latte art on top!!
Roasting facility might be different, but all green beans are same as Starbucks. It might be difficult to expect "specialty flavor" at Roy Street but good enough to enjoy a feeling of taking a step away from nationalized coffee chain store. Price of merchandise seems almost same, so no worries.
