Posted May 9th, 2009 by Meg
Intelligentisa Venice is hopefully opening on May 15th! Different from Silver Lake, when you enter the beautifully designed Venice coffeebar you will meet with a concierge and then be taken to one of four custom-fabricated espresso machines where you will deal one on one with a barista. They will take your order, make your drink, and ring you up. Like all Intelligentsia’s, the workers will be hip, knowledged, and amazing! The whole process is pretty neat, including paying because they do not have registers and use a cell-phone like tablet so you can pay anywhere in the store (like the Apple store!).
Also, I read that they have hired M’Lissa and Chris Owens from Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco to work their magic behind the bar. This couple is notorious for amazing coffee cuppings, which is equivalent to wine tastings. I am very eager and excited for it all!
Hours
Sunday-Thursday: 6am-10pm
Friday: 6am-11pm
Saturday: 7am-11pm
Intelligentsia Coffeebar
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
Posted January 11th, 2009 by Meg
Caffe Luxxe finally opened in Brentwood! Although it is sad that Dutton Bookstore is no longer, it is nice to have a coffee shop in the area that isn’t Starbucks. Although not as big as the original Luxxe on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, it still maintains a relaxing, hip atmosphere with plenty of windows and also offers outdoor seating. The baristas were attractive, friendly, and cool. The majority of customers that came in while I was there all seemed to be regulars or at least well on their way to becoming a regular.
I ordered the Shakertino which is espresso, milk, and ice - shaken. Delicious. Although those muffins in the picture were not for me, I know first hand they they are tasty (I think they come from the Bread Bar). I really savored my experience there by sitting down, reading the newspaper, and feeling the friendly, hip vibe.
Maybe I too will become a regular…
Caffe Luxxe
11975 San Vicente Blvd.
Brentwood, CA 90049
310-394-2222
Daily Hours: 6:30am-6:00pm (Brentwood goes to bed early)
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 November 11th, 2008 by Meg
Me: What do you want to do today?
BF: I don’t know, what do you want to do?
Me: I don’t care, whatever….
BF: How about we get some coffee?
Me: Intelligentsia??!??!???!
BF: Yeah…
Me: You’ll drive??????
BF: Only if you buy me a cup of coffee.
Me: Deal!
And that’s how I ended up with a bag of Kurimi, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe. Usually it’s my idea to go out and procure beans, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear my boyfriend suggest it as a Saturday adventure. Especially since it meant there was less of a chance he would be cranky about driving and gas.
Flavor: Floral, honeysuckle
Acidity: Citrus, juicy
Finnish: Subtle, spice
Kurimi is a shy coffee. A soft, clean, citrus (think lemon/lime and orange) start that turns into a spiced cocoa taste which hangs out for awhile until you’re next sip. At first I had reservations about the citrus taste, but as I continued sipping, the cup opened up to me and told me it’s secrets, allowing me to recognize the beauty from sweet beginning to the calming and resonating end.
Intelligentsia
3922 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 663-6173
Posted November 5th, 2008 by Meg
I was lost but now I am found. I’m sure I’ve led a lot of people to believe that I lounge around my apartment eating peanut butter (and frosting). But the truth is, I rarely eat peanut butter. I love the taste of it, but for so long have I have not included it into my meal rotation. At least that was until this past weekend. My boyfriend and I spent a lazy Sunday morning at one of our favorite breakfast places: JuJu (the cereal bar! remember?) I walked in sleepy eyed knowing that I wanted to change my bowl. I wanted more than just fruit, milk, and cereal. Instead of exponentially increasing my chances of adult onset diabetes by ordering the frosted flakes with chocolate syrup, gummi bears, and and chocolate milk, I chose this crazy concoction: Hemp granola, peanut butter puffins, bananas, blueberries, skim milk, and PEANUT BUTTER. I had no idea what to expect and was a little hesitant about the milk and peanut butter. But, when I saw the prepared bowl, I knew it was going to be okay. In fact, it was a perfect combination of taste and textures: yummy, chewy, creamy, crunchy, gooey, chunky, etc. I know some might consider me crazy, but… so be it. Peanut butter is amazing. If you don’t believe me, it’s okay because I have found others like me: Peanut Butter Lovers.
I’ve gone beyond just ordering it on the weekends. Inspired by my bowl at JuJu and by Diana Takes A Bite’s recipe, I went out and bought some peanut butter. Like Diana, I add the peanut butter to my morning oatmeal breakfast. She has a more developed recipe; I have lazily stuck to adding just bananas and peanut butter - for now. It has made a world of difference on elevating my energy. Also, in combination with the morning coffee, it has quite the thermogenic effect on my body, which is nice because it’s so cold in the morning these days!
JuJu Cereal Bar
1248 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 474-8571
Posted October 7th, 2008 by Meg
Sunday morning I was faced with a delicious coffee dilemma: Iced or Hot coffee? Fortunately, I did not have to think too hard about it now that there is a website that answers the simple question: Is it Iced Coffee Weather? You type in your zip code and in big bold letters it tells you either Yes or No. On Sunday in this area it was a Yes. My boyfriend and I headed over to Caffe Luxxe (not a great website) on Montana. It’s a small, classy coffee shop.
I ordered the iced espresso drink with milk. I forget the name because it is Italian and their website doesn’t list their drink menu (!) and nobody picked up the phone when I just tried calling. My boyfriend ordered a simple Mocha. My drink looks creamy and milky, but it maintained a dominate espresso taste - which I loved!
We also got some cookies because that is a staple in my boyfriend’s diet. We chose the Dulce de leche cookie, vanilla and walnut cookie, and a little bag of muffins. All the pastries Caffe Luxxe come from the Breadbar, of which I have never had before. My boyfriend really enjoyed the muffins, but I preferred the dulce de leche cookie. It was a soft cookie and the caramel melted in my mouth. Yum. It paired perfectly with my drink.
While we were sitting, the place got a little crowded and a rather long line formed. I couldn’t help but think how lucky I am going to be when the new Caffe Luxxe takes over the old Dutton Bookstore Cafe. (It’s supposed to open in a few weeks). Although I am still sad to see such a great bookstore gone, I am happy that a great place is coming into the neighborhood. With a Starbucks, a Coffee Bean, and a Peet’s Coffee all zigzagging across from one another on San Vincente, it’s nice to know that we will have a non-corporate option. And it’s even better for me because I can walk there. I will no longer have to travel to Silver Lake area for good coffee beans! (Especially when an Intelligentsia opens up in Venice).
Caffe Luxxe
925 Montana Ave
Santa Monica CA 90403
(310) 394-2222
Posted October 6th, 2008 by Meg
N’Ice Cream officially opened up this weekend on Abbot Kinney. Immediately next door to a Pinkberry, a renovated garage has now become a cute little gelato shop. This place stands out to me because not only are their limited ice cream / gelato places (that aren’t corporate) in the area, but the owner I met was friendly and talkative (not too talkative though, just right talkative). I love when proprietors are social, it makes the experience more enjoyable; it’s good to know that someone cares about their product and their customers. Apparently, the owners are from Denmark (cool!) and are keeping N’Ice Cream a mom&pop place (not selling their souls franchising).
They make their gelato/sorbet fresh everyday (you can even watch them as they make it through a window). The day we went had about 10 standard gelato flavors, which is good for people like my boyfriend, but I love crazy ridiculous flavors. This is not to say I did not enjoy what I ordered. I am sure they will expand on that in the future. I chose a combination of Coffee, Chocolate Hazelnut, and Vanilla. Each one was wonderful in their own way. The chocolate hazelnut had pieces of hazelnut in it, making it my favorite of the cup. The vanilla had little black vanilla bean dots making it the most aesthetically pleasing. I regretfully did not get the white chocolate, but I heard people talk about how amazing it was. This place is great. In the heat, it will become quite popular especially since it is so close to the beach. They also do To Go packs. And they take credit cards. Go check it out.
N’Ice Cream
1410 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
