2008: A Coffee Odyssey

My 2007 US trip saw me go in with a mission to not have a single Starbucks coffee for my entire stay. I did this well for the first 1.5 days until I could not find an open cafe in San Fran in the late afternoon that had anything but drip / filter crap available. Flaked and ended up failing my mission and got a “coffee” from the nearest Starbucks. I realigned my mission a few days later to ensure that I would have a Starfucks coffee in each of the six cities I visited – the last came at nearly 1am at LAX International Airport whilst in transit to get home. Completed the set.

2008 and my work trip saw me come in determined NEVER to set foot in a Starbucks store on this trip, and hopefully none of my future trips. Starbucks just simply have NFI about what coffee is. I can tell them very simply that it is not JUST brown and water that is often covered with milk. This trip would also see me expand my search for very good to great coffees internationally. Still searching for new places to add to Tres Gazelles, and Bar Senato (Milano, Italy) for their espressos; and Pepe’s American Bar (Roma, Italy) for their cappuccinos.

By the time I departed the US, I could finally say Mission Achieved! In fact, I decided to recall the majority of my coffee experience from the moment I was preparing to leave the fair shores of Sydney. The only coffee missing is the disgusting crap I had at LAX International from their Peets outlet. I loved that this outlet sold excessively overpriced coffee whilst claiming it to be freshly brewed espresso. Is there even such a thing!?!

Ok, on with the show…

Santos – International Terminal, Sydney
Only options for coffee on this day were from Santos outlets. I have had ok coffee from their outlets before when out of options, but never anything flash. This will perhaps be the last time I ever do so. The above is their take of a double espresso. I am not kidding. I did not order a long black, yet they may as well have dished it up that way. This is a double espresso as judged by a fully sick bro automated machine. I didn’t realise this latter fact until I paid and went to join the line for pending coffee orders. Not a good start and one that pretty much set the tone for the entire trip.

QF Something Something: Normally what I consider a sin – airline coffee. However when one is desperate beyond belief for brown, water and a prayer for a hint of caffeine (hahahahahahahahahahaha), this is the order-nary of the day. At least I had the entire row of seats to myself.

Judy’s Cafe – 2268 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
As ordinary and crap as it looks. They only serve “House” coffee in this joint. Wasn’t there for the coffee though, however this place was recommended by Suzanne’s friend as making good food and coffee. Last time we’ll take that person’s advice.

Satura Cakes – 320 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA
First decent coffee since leaving Sydney. Was expecting nothing flash despite the fact that this place had a REAL coffee machine, you know, the type that one grinds coffee into the dispenser for? Was pleasantly surprised at the end result. Good crema that stayed throughout the short shot, hot and a nice flavour…just not strong enough, but not to matter…decent coffee was a treat.

Work – San Jose: The only photo I managed to grab and spotted this on my cell phone two days ago, and here I was thinking I lost a golden chance to track this one. Strangely enough, I was not disappointed with the offering as I didn’t EXPECT real coffee at the office – unlike in the Australian offices where we actually have real coffee machines and beans that are not yet ground…

The tone was set at 7am on day 1 when I saw the four huge urns labelled with Caf, Decaf and x2 Kenyan something or other blends. Found the best way to drink it was to pour two-thirds cup, drink about half of it to get the initial hit and non-bitter taste, then turf it and do the same again and again and again. Managed, but barely by the enamel on the chompers. Anytime coffee bubbles up like that and there is not a hint of milk in it, that is NOT a good sign. Note to all European Aussies – those bubbles DO NOT constitue something akin to your Nescafe Blend 43 style cappuccino!

Warming Hut – Presidio Building 983, Marine Dr & Long Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129
WINNER: Best freakin coffee I have ever had in the USA. Not only did I ask for a double espresso, I actually GOT a double espresso. This was dished up in the small sized take out cups (no, no, really, it was). Then the shot size was dead-on-balls-accurate. The flavour was delish. The strength was good too, but not great. Still, a freakin’ blast. Thanks for the tip Suzanne…at least you know a good coffee when you taste it. Must’ve been all that time you spent living in Sydney

Da Coffee Spot – 235 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Across the road and not far away from Satura Cakes. This cafe was not open on that Sunday prior I was in the area, however managed to make it back there on the following Wednesday. Wish I went back to Satura. Again, potential for good coffee seeing as they have real beans, a grinder, and a real coffee machine…just not a good result. This was a really bad coffee. And this is where I left it.

Rex Cafe – 2323 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA
Photo #1: The greatest trick Rex Cafe ever pulled was to convince the world they made a decent coffee. Looks good, no?

Photo #2: And what happens after about a minute of letting a piping hot coffee sit and taking a sip? The immediate result is one of the greatest cons of all time. This is as far as I got of this gutter water deserving coffee.

Notes From Underground – 2399 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109
Again, this is apparently a double espresso. My second last coffee in the US for this trip. A dissapointing ending in the cafe visits. This cofee was just on the verge of rapidly thinning crema, and was red-hot to the touch. Not good. Literally two small sips and left it. This cafe, in the right hands of a capable cook and capable barista could be truly wonderful for a nearly funky cafe.