Can anyone recommend someplace in the Orange County, California, area where my wife and I could
experience a wonderful espresso?

We continue to enjoy the fruits of our Gaggia Synchrony Logic over the last two-and-a-half years, and I have recently started home roasting, but I am really interested in tasting what is possible from the hands of a skilled barista.

Thank you very much,

Cor

cruiten wrote:Can anyone recommend someplace in the Orange County, California, area where my wife and I could experience a wonderful espresso?

My money is on Kean Coffee in Newport Beach. I only know directions by bicycle from Fashion Circle, though...
Ride north along the PCH until you cross the 'bay' (a small inlet) and then turn right. Go to the top of the hill and take a left, drive until you see a strip mall on the right, look for Kean on the other side of the street.
Worth every pedal up that hill...

directions are by bike , but you say to "drive"




hehehe...

cheers

I was going to say Kean Coffee too. There's also a second shop in Tustin. (http://www.keancoffee.com/).

If you're up for a drive to San Dimas, there's Klatch (http://www.klatchroasting.com/).

I would love to see more shops.

Greg

If I lived anywhere near Los Angeles, Intelligentsia's Venice Coffeebar would be on the top of my list.


Intellivenice seems like the hotrod of coffeeshops.

RegulatorJohnson wrote:directions are by bike , but you say to "drive"

It's a synonym. Ride, drive, whatever. For me, riding is the part from the hotel on Fashion Circle to the bottom of PCH at the 'bay... (hold on, I'm gonna googlemap it)... and then up Dover whatsit. 'Then 'drive' kicks in. In any case, it's the onliest 'real' coffee shop that was available when I went. I've heard that there are a couple more, including the new Kean.

cruiten wrote:We continue to enjoy the fruits of our Gaggia Synchrony Logic over the last two-and-a-half years, and I have recently started home roasting, but I am really interested in tasting what is possible from the hands of a skilled barista.

Uh, you remember what happened when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit? A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Proceed with caution.

If you visit Kean or any of the L.A. County shops mentioned here, be prepared to come away with an entirely different impression of your Synchrony coffees. This could lead to spending ridiculous amounts of money, trying to recreate your coffee bar experience at home.

shadowfax wrote:If I lived anywhere near Los Angeles, Intelligentsia's Venice Coffeebar would be on the top of my list.

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Intellivenice seems like the hotrod of coffeeshops.

I'm a bit underwhelmed by that layout. This is an idea that has been hyped for a long time, and they seem to have just re-created the bar at what looks to be a college night-club. Except that they serve coffee, and it's opened during daytime.
This looks like it will just cause confusion and be off-putting to the general public. Not to be a downer, but I'm not sure the emperor is wearing any clothes.

wideawake wrote:This looks like it will just cause confusion and be off-putting to the general public. Not to be a downer, but I'm not sure the emperor is wearing any clothes.

There is no confusion. You stand in one line until a barista comes up to walk you to his/her station.

The real questions are:

1. Can this system handle high volumes (long lines) efficiently?

2. Will potential customers be put off by having bleacher-style seating, instead of tables and chairs?

I don't know the answer to either question. I was there during the first week, when the line was short, and we were almost immediately escorted to our barista's station. After our macchiatos, Chris Owen invited us to the brew bar, and made us a siphon coffee.

I liked the no-table seating, but that's because I like anything that discourages laptops.

As for "the general public," they haven't been seen in Venice in 60 years.

It reminds me of the newly remodeled Apple store near me. They got rid of the cash registers and the purchasing counter, so now you wander around looking for somebody to swipe your CC on their handheld device. It's slower, confusing and feels awkward standing there without a counter.

I still think the whole thing looks like a solution in search of a problem.