Schat's Bakkery

Usually once a year we go to ski on Mammoth Mountain. It's about a 5 hour drive, so we'll stop along the way to eat & stretch our legs. One of those stops is always the town of Bishop, where you'll find Schat's Bakkery. Schat is a Dutch family who owns bakeries throughout southern California.

Schat's has a huge variety of breads, pastries, cookies, sandwiches and more. And ALL of it is soooo good. Everything on the shelves is freshly baked with the best ingredients.

The best time to come is lunch. Then you can get one of their excellent sandwiches. Although it's rather crowded, it's worth it. The Mule Kick is my favorite. Then pick up a bread or two to go.

Oh, they have excellent coffee too!

http://www.schats.com/
http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/
Erick Schat's Bakkery
763 N Main St
Bishop, CA 93514
(760) 873-7156

Harry & David

Every once in a while we make a trip to the Camarillo Outlet stores. It has brand name outlets for Timberland, Sony, Nike, etc. One of our favorite places to stop by is Harry and David.

H&D sells snacks, food, and ingredients that are incredibly tasty and often decadent. They always have free samples to tempt you, so it's hard to leave without picking up something.

Our favoriate selections are:
Moose Munch Coffee - this delicious flavored coffee comes in both caf and decaf. It's smell is intoxicating.
Moose Munch Popcorn - carmel covered, sweet, crunchy and addictive; my flavor of choice is white chocolate macadamia nut.
Any dips, salsas or sauces - we love to try them all!

Coffee Tips

Good coffee doesn't just happen. It's the result of several key ingredients and conditions coming together to form a hot cup (or cups) of rich, tasty goodness. Here are a few tips to help you reach Coffee Nirvana.

Ingredients (pretty simple)
1. Water
2. Coffee

1. Water
Since coffee is 98% water, make sure you use fresh, filtered water. If you like the water, you'll like the coffee.

2. Coffee
This is mostly a matter of personal taste. We like Blue Mountain from Jamaica (or coffee from that area, which may or may not actually say "Blue Mountain"), Sumatra and Kona. They all have distinctive coffee flavors but not too harsh.

Look for beans that are of the "Arabica" type (or blends that are mostly Arabica). This type of bean can come from different areas. It have more flavor than others, but is harder to grow, so probably a bit more expensive. But it's worth it.

3. Optional
Milk, sugar, etc. This is up to you. I prefer froth my milk with the Magic Bullet, then heat it in the microwave for 30 secs.

Steps
1. Grind
2. Brew
3. Drink

1. Grind
Whole bean that is ground just before brewing is definitely better tasting than pre-ground. It's actually more science than just preference. The oils in the bean give it it's flavor. If they stay inside the bean until ground & brewed, you get more flavor. But oxygen (also known as air) dissolves the oils. So if the beans are pre-ground, more oils will be lost by the time you use them.

Make sure to store and seal coffee well. Preferably in a cool dark place, and seal the bag well to protect your beans from the air. Most bags have a one-way valve which allows roasted beans to release CO2 (which is okay) while not coming in contact with oxygen from the outside.

2. Brew
The recommended measurement is 1 scoop/cup. You don't need a fancy brewer, though the Cuisinart is nice. A French Press will deliver flavor, but is not as convenient.

3. Drink
Coffee is supposed to be hot. It should be close to 200F, but most US consumer coffee makers only go to around 140F (thank the lady who sued McDonands).

Don't forget to clean your coffee equipment. Old coffee residue can taint a new brew.

Sources
http://www.broadstreetcoffee.com/snob.htm
http://coffeefaq.com/coffaq.htm

Rant: Top Coffee Peeves

I recently saw the movie Kicking and Screaming on a flight from PHL to LAX. It would have been yet another forgetful comedy if it hadn't been for the numerous coffee-related scenes where the main character 'discovers' coffee.

Some of those scenes reminded me of a few pet peeves I'd like to share about waiting in line for coffee at the local Starbucks/Coffee Bean/Etc.

Cellphones
I'm not against cellphones. I'm against idiots with cellphones who stand at the front of a long line of caffeine-deprived zombies, having a full conversation while the salesperson patiently waits for them to blurt out orders in between "uh huh, yeah, he said what?, really?, yeah..." That's just so wrong.

People Who Just Ordered And Stand In Front Of The Counter
Okay, you've just ordered your half-caff soy light-foam macchiato. Not only is that going to take a while, there are already ten other people who also just ordered, waiting for their drink. What do you do? Well if you're an idiot, you'll rush up to the counter where they hand out completed orders and lean over it like you're ready for the Olympic marathon baton hand-off. Oh, and don't forget to answer that cellphone call...

Regulars
It seems that coffee shops like to cater to repeat customers, greeting them by name and having their drink ready before they arrive-- while the rest of us stand in line like we're in Coach Class or something. Maybe they should charge more for that First Class service. Then those customers wouldn't be so inclined to strike up a conversation with the Barista while the little people are waiting for their drink.

People Who Think They're In A Real Coffee House
On a past visit to a local Starbucks, the guy in front of me ordered French Press. The salesperson didn't even know what it was, and the other person behind the counter gave this bewildered look, then disappeared in the back of the store (presumably the same place from the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark) and returned with a press. The whole process would have been humorous except that I was waiting behind this guy. After they got the press, he started giving them instructions on how he liked his coffee. Sheesh, guy, this is just Starbucks!!

Bulk Orders
Great there's just one person in front you. But when they get to the front, they uncrumple a wad of paper with a long list of cryptic orders from everyone back at the home/office/club/whatever. Oh, joy.

As you can see, most of my peeves have to do with other people getting in the way of my coffee. It comes with the territory of being a caffeine fiend. Deal with it.

Robert Harris Coffee in NZ

On our vacation in New Zealand, we came across Robert Harris Coffee Roasters. They had great coffee and food, but it was the story of how they started from one shop and grew to a chain (despite the onslaught of mega-coffee monsters like Starbucks). If you're in NZ, check them out.

The Living Room

While in La Jolla, CA, we found The Living Room, a coffee house with a cozy yet lively atmosphere. It's on Prospect St. right in the middle of town. The coffee was good and they had some exotic teas as well. Good place to stop by or hang out.

Decaf or Not Decaf? That is the Question.

Coffee aficionados are often split when it comes to decaf. Some say it not "real coffee". Some feel it's the only way they can enjoy coffee without the side effects of caffeine.

Caffeine stimulates the nervous and respiratory systems. Typical effects include increased alertness and sensitivity, but can also reduce coordination (the "jitters") and potentially cause insomnia or headaches. Some people say it just makes them feel queasy. But if you've built up a tolerance, it's just part of the "rush" you get when you have a hot cup of java.

MMMM... coffee...ahhh...

Wait. Where was I? Oh yeah. Anyway...

If you've switched to decaf and think you're safe, there's actually still some in there. Most decaf coffees have only 96-97 percent of the caffeine removed. The only way to cut out entirely is to stop drinking coffee-- and then you'll have to also give up most candies, soft drinks, ice cream and other foods that contain caffeine. Yeah, right!

Many self-help and wellness experts advise to reduce and ultimately eliminate caffeine consumption entirely. But if you tried to avoid everything that's remotely harmful you'd have a pretty limited selection, which would make life rather boring.

My preference is to keep things in moderation so you can enjoy what you like but not go overboard. To me, drinking decaf is like having a flat warm beer. And I'm not talking about a served-room-temperature dark stout. I'm referring to a no-longer-bubbly Hefe-Weizen from the night before. So I'm not going to give up the high-test stuff just yet!

At home we'll brew a pot of half regular/half decaf, which cuts back on the caffeine but still has a kick. I haven't tried ordering a half/half at Starbucks yet. I'll let you know what happens.

Interesting links:

• Scientific American: How is caffeine removed to produce decaffeinated coffee?
• Eric H. Chudler, Ph.D.(University of Washington): Neuroscience for Kids - Caffeine
• ThinkGeek: Caffeine Molecule T-Shirt
• Guiness: A great stout beer (so dark it looks like coffee)
  

Magic Bullet

I don't normally believe everything I see on infomercials. But after having my first coffee with frothed milk made with this thing, I'm a believer now. Well maybe just this one- the Magic Bullet.

It really does a good job and yes, it really is that easy. To get that "steamed milk" look and feel, you need to heat the milk either before or after you froth it (I do it before- Fran does it after).


Look at that froth!

The parts are small and easy to clean too. And since it really is just a mini blender, you can also use it to make smoothies, salsa, tuna salad and a variety of other recipes.

Coffee Study

Just spotted an article on CNN.com about a college professor in Kentucky who has created a class all about coffee and its effect on society.

Here's how it got started:
For years, sociology professor Beau Weston has held informal office hours off campus in a local coffee shop, sipping his mocha latte while advising students.

As he did, he formed relationships with other coffee shop regulars who might otherwise have remained strangers. That caused a sort of academic epiphany, and now he's one of a handful of teachers across the nation who have developed courses that study coffee and its effect on society.

Other professors are doing the same thing:
"It really combines so many disciplines," said Mark Pendergrast, of Colchester, Vermont, the author of "Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World," which was used as a textbook in Weston's class at Centre.

"Everywhere you look in our culture, coffee has a fairly profound effect," Pendergrast said. "I think it's a wonderful way to teach history and culture and economics."

Cal-Irvine history professor Steven Topik began teaching his "History of Coffee" writing seminar course in 1996.

Coffee "is just not something we think about," Topik said. "History is usually taught as the history of great men and wars and great events. We don't think about the history of everyday things. But historians have been increasingly thinking about these things."

Studying coffee "is a palpable, liquid way of understanding globalization," Topik said.

It's nice to see Coffee being taken so seriously!

Coffee Geek

A great website for coffee lovers is Coffee Geek. These people really love coffee. I just read this great article on how to appreciate a good cup of java.

Here's an excerpt:
Within minutes (or less, depending on your mug), all that nuance and all those subtleties begin to peek through. From the first sip (coffee-hot!) to the fifth (coffee-mmm!) - now we really know something about this brew. To drink quality coffee is to tour the world, and if the coffee is a single-origin, the discerning consumer now has a pretty good chance of identifying and appreciating the 'varietal distinctiveness'. We know that this coffee is an Ethiopian, and now we can tell if it's a Sidamo or a Harar. If it's a blend, now's the time to appreciate the blender's craft. Find the fruity Yemen, play it against the smoky Java, and know why people have been blending these two beans for almost 400 years. This is the time to enjoy your coffee for what it is, and for what it's supposed to be.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Coffee rocks!

Kauai Coffee

On a family trip to Hawaii a couple years ago, we visited the Kauai Coffee Estate to sample some of the local beans and see where the drink we love comes from. We also visited a coffee plantation on a trip to the Big Island, and will probably do the same on our upcoming trip to Maui.

This past Valentines Day I ordered one of their gift packages which included a bag of beans, a travel mug and a collection of coffee butter, coffee syrup, and coffee jelly. Can't wait to try them out!!

Jinky's Cafe

A great place for breakfast is Jinky's Cafe. They have a pretty original menu with such dishes as Flaky French Toast, Bombay Scramble and Chili Jumble. And if they see you're a big coffee drinker, they'll drop off an entire carafe just for you.

The only drawback is the long wait you sometimes must endure when they're busy (which is pretty much all the time). That's okay- you can get some free coffee and hang out in the parking lot or the next door Java Lounge, an extension of the restaraunt.

Jinky's has specials that are either originals or remixes of their usual dishes. One good one to watch out for is the baked apple french toast. It's AWESOME!

Village Coffee Roaster

Yesterday morning after breakfast I had a cappucino at Village Coffee Roaster on Mullholland Drive in Woodland Hills. It's a pretty unique place since they roast their own beans instead of just being a fancy storefront. The staff is pretty friendly and likely to strike up a conversation while you're waiting for your cup of java.

Consumer Reports

Just read an article in Consumer Reports ranking coffee beans and makers. They gave Starbucks a mediocre rating, saying it tastes "burnt" by comparison. Also, ground coffee quality varied drastically even on good brands. It's definitely better to grind your own.

Who did they rank the best? Caribou was #1. They're only available directly or at select stores. Frontier Airlines serves Caribou as well. Next in line is Eight O'Cock Coffee. They've been around for a while.

Our Cuisinart didn't get a good review, but I'm standing by it. It does a great job and the insulated carafe keeps things warm longer than a typical glass one. It also doesn't get warm on the bottom so you can put it on a wood tabletop.

Coolest Coffee Maker

The Cuisinart Grind and Brew is the coolest coffee maker around. You put the beans right in the machine and it grinds and brews up to 10 cups into an insulated carafe that keeps warm for hours.

There's also a no-grind option if you happen to have pre-ground coffee or packet packages like hotels do. If you're only making a few cups, another special option adds extra heat.


Our coffee maker.


A must have.
(PS: Thanks, M&D!)

Just the Facts

• Favorite Starbucks drink: Venti Misto.
• Favorite Coffee Bean drink: English Breakfast Latte.
• Favorite Coffee beans: Sumatra.

What's a Misto, you ask? It's 1/2 coffee, 1/2 steamed milk. Similar to what some people call a cafe au lait. Why isn't it on the Starbucks menu? I have no idea.