Posted November 20th, 2008 by Meg
It was a Friday night many weeks ago, but both my boyfriend and my roommate were not available to hang out. I wanted to do something social, but didn’t really want to go drinking by myself. Instead, I drove to Funnel Mill Coffee in Santa Monica. Let me tell you that I have lived on this side of town for over 2 years and had never noticed Funnel Mill. I found out about it through a friend this past year and actually found out where it was located on Yelp that Friday night. I was surprised to find it so covertly close to Bodega Wine Bar; how could I have missed it? Surely I have walked past it. When I talked to the owners it was obvious that this place was meant for true coffee and tea drinkers who want the best quality product. (They don’t want it to be like the hustle and bustle of a Starbucks). The atmosphere is chilllaxed to the ten, spacious, and a wide selection of different seats (chairs, stools, sofas, etc.).
Their coffee is made using the siphon method (vacuum pot / Turkish preparation) - one of the most entertaining and elaborate coffee “makers.” Out of shyness, I did not take a picture - but here is one of what they look like. But, it consists of 2 jars. One jar is metal and is used to heat water. The other jar is glass for the actual brewing. There is a small alcohol burner that sits under the metal jar, and the two jars are also connected by a slim pipe. You place the ground coffee in the glass jar, boil the water in the metal jar, and light the alcohol burner to continue heating the water. As the water boils, it will begin to flow through the pipe into the jar with the coffee grounds. The water is just below boiling when it reaches the coffee (which is key is coffee in good coffee making). When the metal jar is empty and all the water has relocated to the glass jar for brewing, a balanced lever will tip the jar and put out the burner. When the metal jar cools, it creates a vacuum and the finished coffee is sucked back through the slim pipe from the glass jar. Usually there is a spigot at the bottom of the metal jar, where you pour your finished coffee. The machine looks like it should be in a chemistry lab (for wonderful coffee). It is able to create an amazing cup because there are no filters to alter the flavor and the use of long water contact at specific temperatures produces a smoother coffee.
Funnel Mill also offers one type of bean I have never tried in my life, but have heard so much about: Kopi Luwak (Kopi stands for coffee, Luwak stands for Asian Palm Civet) coffee. You might have seen the CSI episode where it is mentioned. If not, you might have heard about it because it is the most expensive coffee in the world. If you haven’t heard anything about it, that is okay too. Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee is coffee made from berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet. The civets eat the berries, but the beans inside the berries pass through their system undigested. This process only happens in Sumatra (Java), Sulawesi (Philippines), and East Timor. However, Vietnam has a similar type of coffee called weasel coffee, which is coffee berries that have been regurgitated by local weasels (local version of the Asian Palm Civet). Apparently, the berries are a part of the A. P. Civet’s diet. It is proposed that the stomach enzymes add to the coffee’s flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee the bitter taste. The beans are defecated still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed (hopefully) and lightly roasted to maintain the complex flavor. Kopi Luwak sells between $120-$600 per pound. Sold mainly in Japan and the U.S. It’s limited though, with only 1,000 pounds making it to the world market each year. In 2004, when the big SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare, many of the civets in China were exterminated. The night I was at Funnel Mill, I think the price was around 70 dollars for a cup of the Kopi Luwak. I asked the owner how many times a week someone orders it and they said around 4 people a month order it.
Since it was a Friday night and I was alone, I decided it was not the best idea to get caffeinated up and ordered some Chrysanthemum tea (known to relax the body and calm the mind). Even though there was no siphoning machine involved, it was still a beautiful presentation. I sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed. Although I did not write any notes, I do recall this being one of the best herbal teas I have ever had.
I am happy to report that the owners are very friendly, informative, kind, considerate, and thoughtful people. I have also met some other people who work there that aren’t the owners and they are also very friendly and informative. This place is truly a hidden gem that I am happy I found. Free parking. Free wifi. And great people, coffee, and tea.
Funnel Mill
930 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 597-4395
Posted October 29th, 2008 by Meg
For so long I have wanted to go to the cafe, art space, and store that is Royal T café, but there were always hurdles in my way. One time they were closed. One time I couldn’t rally the troops to go. One time I forgot it existed. But then one lonely day I remembered. Supposedly, it is the first cosplay cafe in Los Angeles. What is cosplay restaurant you ask? Well I’ll tell you. Cosplay are theme restaurants and pubs that originated in the Akihabara district of Tokyo around the year 2000. They include maid cafés and butler cafés, where the service staff dress as elegant maids (or as butlers). Compared with service at normal cafés, the service at cosplay cafés involves the creation of a rather different atmosphere. The staff treat the customers as masters and mistresses in a private home rather than merely as café customers. Which is pleasant when you consider how many rude baristi one encounters in a lifetime. Royal T’s waitresses are dressed in “maid kissa” uniforms designed by Lun*na Menoh (who designed similar costumes at Takashi Murakami’s exhibit at the MOCA ). The concept and design of Royal T is the work of Takaya Goto and Lesley Chi of Goto Design.
When I walked in I immediately thought: It’s kind of like if Kid Robot had a baby with Giant Robot and this child served food. Here is a picture of what the waitresses look like. I found it on Lun*na Menoh’s website. I was way too shy to ask for a picture while I was there; they are in character (high pitched voices, super duper overly friendly and nice) which I found to be intimidating.
First I walked around and looked at the store. Here are pictures of some of my favorite things I saw (Killer Cupcake, Fake Louise, Shoplifter Bag, and my favorite, Chanel Matches)
I didn’t take many photos of the art on the wall, but I did think this piece was cool. I am pretty sure it is Murakami’s work. Correct me if I’m wrong.
After the art, I sat down for some tea. Their menu is a fusion of French, Japanese, and Californian. Breakfast (granola, french toast, baked eggs), Lunch/Dinner (salads, sandwiches, rice bowls), and High Tea (the mix of everything for 20 dollars). I ordered the Royal T Milk Tea black tea with rose petals, pieces of fruit, and vanilla brewed in soymilk. As you can see in the picture, those are the bodum’s double walled glassware that is talked about highly throughout yelp reviews. It makes the experience very aesthetically pleasing. The tea was copious and delicious. I have a habit of finishing things even when I am full because I don’t like to waste. This was worth it though.
Although my maidtress told me that the brownie was probably the best dessert to order, I had to order the Sesesame Bean Sensation, a sweet sesame cake with tons of sesame oil and sugar. I am not the most knowledgable on these little squares of goodness, but I was able to recognize that it tasted very good. I would order it again, but I did see out of the corner of my eye someone else’s brownie and it looked quite decadent and delicious. So who knows what will happen next time I am there.
Hopefully, I will be able to return again soon. Not by myself. With enough money to buy Chanel matches.
Royal T
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-6300
Posted October 23rd, 2008 by Meg
I recently stopped by Jin Patisserie, a pastry boutique on Abbot Kinney. My post won’t give the place justice because I did not sit down in the quiet tea garden or have any of their delicious pastries. However, I know from prior experience that this place is nice. It’s a quiet sanctuary separate from the hippy hustle and bum bustle of the street, an isolated zen-world. The owner, Kristy Choo, is an inspiration. She is a native of Singapore that has baked with some of the best. In 2003, she opened Jin Patisserie, combining her knowledge of traditional Asian recipes with the understanding of the American (specifically the LAian) palate to come up with unique creations.
Sadly, I didn’t have time to sit down and relax. But, I did have time for some green tea. Even when you order tea to go, it is still a thoughtful production. Instead of merely handing you your cup at the register, they ask you to sit down so the tea can properly be steeped (which takes a a few minutes depending on the tea) and then bring out a tray filled with your tea and sugar for your liking. Although such a small detail, it still impressed me.
I cannot remember the name of the green tea I ordered. This is good and bad. It’s good because it shows that there are a lot of tea options. Literally, pages of tea to choose from. It’s bad because I can’t find the tea menu online and this reminds me that I need to start writing things down. However, I am pretty sure you will be happy with whatever tea you order. They use tea from the French company Theodor ( Jin Patisserie is one of approximately 8 locations in the US that sell/use this type of tea).
This place isn’t just tea though. They make cakes, cookies, chocolates, and have a food menu that includes sandwiches and salads. When I was ordering my tea I couldn’t help but notice they had Yek Yek Cookies. I was all like: “What’s a Yek Yek cookie?” Probably a question the counter receives a lot. Apparently they are traditional cookies from Singapore that Jin has a family recipe for. I know, not very helpful. But from it’s description it sounds like a unique soft, shortbread cookie. They also have an eclectic and extensive list of chocolates that I would love to try some day.
Although I can’t remember specifics to what I drank, I do remember that I thoroughly enjoyed my cup of tea. It is the type of place you can go with just a close friend, a romantic date, by yourself, or with a large group (they have Tea Service!).
Jin Patisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-8801
Posted September 5th, 2008 by Meg
Last time I was at Intelligentsia, I bought some tea to drink in the hours I do not drink coffee: the afternoon and evening. I chose a green tea called Cloud and Mist. It’s name comes from the cloudy, humid mountains of China in which it grows.This particular tea comes from Drum Mountain, found in the province Fujian. This tea’s distinct flavor results from the cooler climate causing the tea to grow more slowly than most other teas.
Body: Smooth, buttery
Flavor: Honey, baking spice, toasted almond
Finish: Sweet, lingering
Every adjective above is accurate in describing this tea. At first sip, I was able to distinguish the buttery body of the tea, which I have never experienced before in a tea. I am also able to pick up the almond and honey flavors, that not only leads smoothly into the lingering sweetness but also the desire to drink more. I am not able to compare this green tea because it is more complex than any tea I have had before (please note my limited tasting knowledge and experience of tea). I really enjoy the buttery feel to this tea and plan on buying this tea again, especially if I can find ones that were grown in a different provinces to compare with one another.
Posted August 15th, 2008 by Meg
I wish I could be doing more restaurant reviews, especially ones involving alcohol. But, this Sunday I am doing that half marathon thing, which means I need to take extra special care of myself. In the treat-your-body-nicely-so-it-won’t-screw-me milieu, I figured it is a perfect time to review tea. In one of my recent trips to Pasadena, I accidentally stumbled upon a tea shop.
I was headed to the parking garage to leave, but two birds caught my eye. Not real birds, but the two birds on the logo of a tea shop called Bird Pick. Looking less corporate than Teavana, but friendlier and more warm than Lupicia, I had to check it out. Immediately upon entering the store I realized how perfect of a store it is for Pasadena; the ambiance of the tea bar fits right in with the Old Town yuppy vibe. The location is also convenient because people will notice it when they are entering/leaving the popular parking garage across the street from the store.
While inside Bird Pick, a friendly soon-to-be freshman at UCLA helped me out. She offered to steep any type of tea I wanted to try along with giving me samples of teas she had steeped prior to my arrival. Everything I tried seemed very nice so I asked if they had any Tie Guan Yin. (My brother spent the greater part of the past year in Nanjing, but has finally returned to Pennsylvania.
One notable difference about him from the trip is that he drinks tea more often than ever before. Apparently he became quite fond of a Chinese oolong, Tie Guan Yin.). Although the girl was quite knowledgeable, she was stumped as to whether or not they sold it at the store. She explained that Bird Pick changed the names of some of their teas to make it easier to pronounce and remember. She asked the manager/tea expert guy, who was just as friendly and helpful as the girl. He was able to point out three different grades of Tie Guan Yin, which at the store is going by a very similar sounding, although not much easier to pronounce or remember, name: Tikuanyin (literally translates to Iron Goddess of Oolong). He also explained why they were graded differently; tea grading is very interesting because it is not as much about flavor and quality as it is to do with location/region of origin, garden of estate, elevation, and how it was picked and manufactured after harvest. I found that the Stash Tea website gives a more thorough description of different grades here. I bought the lowest grade of the Tie Guan Yin/Tikuanyin because it was the cheapest. I figure that if my brother likes it, I will buy him a nicer grade the next time I am there.
I only bought tea for my brother, but was given free samples to try out. Two in particular I really enjoyed: Royal One & 1 Green Tea and an Organic Green tea. The former is said to have a bittersweet finish, but I did not taste as much bitter as I did sweet. It was very pleasant and distinct. I was very hesitant about trying the Organic Green tea, because sometimes the word organic is placed on a label just so people will buy it, regardless of quality of the product. In all honesty, I was expecting it to taste like crap, but was pleasantly surprised by a smooth cup of green tea. It is the type of tea I could drink all day. I will probably buy the Organic Green tea and hopefully receive more samples next time I am at Bird Pick.
In regards to the other tea stores I mentioned: I would choose Bird Pick over Teavana any day of the week. However, I will always have a place for Lupicia in my heart (try their Tokio green tea!). It is an excellent tea store, but not surprisingly, more focused on Japanese teas. The Lupicia store is also in close proximity to where I live, making it more convenient for me to visit. If Bird Pick was just as close I would probably choose it over Lupicia because of the cute tea bar ambiance and the welcoming warm feelings.
Does anyone else ever feel guilty for not drinking green tea? I like all kinds of teas, but research seems to make green tea sound like #1 all time best tea for a person. I feel guilty when I drink other teas, even when the other type of teas have their own health benefits. I always think that if I am going to drink tea it should probably be green. Is this unheard of and am I crazy for feeling like this?
Bird Pick
10 South De Lacey
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 773-4372
Lupicia
10250 Santa Monica Blvd
Century City, CA 90067
Teavana
14006 Riverside Dr
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
It was a Friday night many weeks ago, but both my boyfriend and my roommate were not available to hang out. I wanted to do something social, but didn’t really want to go drinking by myself. Instead, I drove to Funnel Mill Coffee in Santa Monica. Let me tell you that I have lived on this side of town for over 2 years and had never noticed Funnel Mill. I found out about it through a friend this past year and actually found out where it was located on Yelp that Friday night. I was surprised to find it so covertly close to Bodega Wine Bar; how could I have missed it? Surely I have walked past it. When I talked to the owners it was obvious that this place was meant for true coffee and tea drinkers who want the best quality product. (They don’t want it to be like the hustle and bustle of a Starbucks). The atmosphere is chilllaxed to the ten, spacious, and a wide selection of different seats (chairs, stools, sofas, etc.).
Their coffee is made using the siphon method (vacuum pot / Turkish preparation) - one of the most entertaining and elaborate coffee “makers.” Out of shyness, I did not take a picture - but here is one of what they look like. But, it consists of 2 jars. One jar is metal and is used to heat water. The other jar is glass for the actual brewing. There is a small alcohol burner that sits under the metal jar, and the two jars are also connected by a slim pipe. You place the ground coffee in the glass jar, boil the water in the metal jar, and light the alcohol burner to continue heating the water. As the water boils, it will begin to flow through the pipe into the jar with the coffee grounds. The water is just below boiling when it reaches the coffee (which is key is coffee in good coffee making). When the metal jar is empty and all the water has relocated to the glass jar for brewing, a balanced lever will tip the jar and put out the burner. When the metal jar cools, it creates a vacuum and the finished coffee is sucked back through the slim pipe from the glass jar. Usually there is a spigot at the bottom of the metal jar, where you pour your finished coffee. The machine looks like it should be in a chemistry lab (for wonderful coffee). It is able to create an amazing cup because there are no filters to alter the flavor and the use of long water contact at specific temperatures produces a smoother coffee.
Funnel Mill also offers one type of bean I have never tried in my life, but have heard so much about: Kopi Luwak (Kopi stands for coffee, Luwak stands for Asian Palm Civet) coffee. You might have seen the CSI episode where it is mentioned. If not, you might have heard about it because it is the most expensive coffee in the world. If you haven’t heard anything about it, that is okay too. Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee is coffee made from berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet. The civets eat the berries, but the beans inside the berries pass through their system undigested. This process only happens in Sumatra (Java), Sulawesi (Philippines), and East Timor. However, Vietnam has a similar type of coffee called weasel coffee, which is coffee berries that have been regurgitated by local weasels (local version of the Asian Palm Civet). Apparently, the berries are a part of the A. P. Civet’s diet. It is proposed that the stomach enzymes add to the coffee’s flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee the bitter taste. The beans are defecated still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed (hopefully) and lightly roasted to maintain the complex flavor. Kopi Luwak sells between $120-$600 per pound. Sold mainly in Japan and the U.S. It’s limited though, with only 1,000 pounds making it to the world market each year. In 2004, when the big SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare, many of the civets in China were exterminated. The night I was at Funnel Mill, I think the price was around 70 dollars for a cup of the Kopi Luwak. I asked the owner how many times a week someone orders it and they said around 4 people a month order it.
