The Busy Hedonist » Caffeine Buzz

The perfect coffee: Notes from Rome

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:45:21 +0000

On my quest to find amazing dishes + drinks around the world, this guest post by Nichole Manna takes us to Rome, where coffee is a way of life.—Tracey

When I went to Italy last summer to study, I knew I would taste great wine. But I honestly didn’t think I’d also have great coffee. We landed in Rome on May 14, picked our hotel rooms, mingled with classmates and then immediately hit the nearest coffee spot: Tazza D’Oro. Just a short walk from Hotel Navona, just past the historic Pantheon, Tazza D’Oro would soon become our morning stop before seeing the sights for the next five days—and mid-day stops, pre-dinner stops and occasionally “just for the heck of it.”

On the first day my American mind was still spinning its red, white and blue wheels. I immediately thought the coffee would cost as much as it does at Starbucks, would be made like a Starbucks coffee and would have to be ordered the way one does at Starbucks. Fortunately, I was wrong. Ordering un caffè in Rome is a unique experience.

Tazza D’Oro sits on the left side of a corner facing the Pantheon. There are two doors. Through the first one you see a bar and a couple of tables. Through the second door, you see a cashier and a few gifts to take home. I stepped through the second door and stared at the menu until the woman behind the counter looked anxious.

I walked up to the counter and nervously mumbled, “Un caffè per favore.” She gave me a kind smile, a nod and asked for 1 euro. My mouth almost dropped. That’s only $1.50 for an actual cup of coffee, unheard of where I live.

I handed her my euro and she handed me a slip of white paper on which my order was written. I walked to the bar and handed the slip to the barista. He quickly whipped up my caffè and slid it across the table with some natural sugar.

I poured just a bit of sugar in the caffè and looked around for the creamer. I panicked for a second, reminding myself that I wasn’t in a coffee shop back home, and took the first of many amazing sips of coffee.

It was smooth. It was warm. It gave me a rush of energy. Unlike the burnt and scolding hot coffee we often pay way far too much for—this coffee was perfect.

Nichole Manna is a Journalism student at Middle Tennessee State University who will be graduating in December 2012. In 2011 she studied in Italy. Nichole is currently interning at www.travelated.com.

Want to create your own travel memories—and write about them? Sign up for Fly Away Travel Writing Class, which starts the week of April 23rd.

Where to find the best coffee in NYC

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:11:06 +0000

The latte at La Colombe Torrefaction

I’m standing in line at La Colombe Torrefaction in Tribeca. The baristas act blasé, as if you’re interrupting their coffee break. They haven’t taken on the “overly sweet because of the economy” attitude I’ve experienced elsewhere. No, they just assume people will love their coffee, and indeed they do, as proven by the long line at 2pm. I order a latte (and a pear tart), both of which are perfect, and find a seat next to a friendly woman who smiles at my daughter S. Being a mom and running a business, I need my daily caffeine fix and lattes are my drug of choice. La Colombe Torrefaction and the following are my favorites.

At the cozy Joe The Art of Coffee in the West Village, you may find yourself sitting across from an Oscar winner like Philip Seymour Hoffman or Jessica Lange (as I have), but the real lure here is the coffee. It’s rich, creamy and consistent. A large latte gives me exactly the buzz I crave. Although it can be hard to find a seat, there are two benches outside. Either way, you might end up seeing the hilarious Amy Sedaris (sister to David) who used to drop off her cupcakes here.

Roasting Plant became my go-to coffee shop when Baby S was a newborn and I was living on little sleep, which means the coffee here is potent. Choose from a variety of beans, and then for a dose of science fiction, watch them shoot through a tube on the ceiling, after which the beans are ground to order—i.e. the freshest cup in town. (You can also see and smell the beans being roasted in the Roasting Plant Javabot at the Greenwich Ave location.) With only 4 seats, you’ll probably have to get your cup to go. But if you’re get there at the right time, and you happen to have your laptop, each seat has an outlet—and there’s wireless. And if you buy a pound to take home, they’ll give you a free cup of coffee. I’m addicted to their Block Party Blend which, sadly, isn’t always available.

When you feel like you can’t make it through the day, or when you need to be up all night working, writing, whatever it is that inspires you, stop by Abraço (which means embrace on Portuguese) for a fix. The creamy lattes at this minuscule coffee shop, whipped up by co-owner/barista Jamie, are all the fuel you’ll need to stay alert for many hours. If you’re hungry, try two standouts: homemade olive oil cake or the custard fritatta. Since there aren’t a lot of seats, this is another place where you may need to drink your coffee on the go. But trust me, you won’t want to relax after drinking Abraço’s strong brew.

La Colombe Torrefaction
319 Church St at Lispenard/212-343-1515
270 Lafayette St between Prince & Houston

Roasting Plant
81 Orchard St between Broome and Grand/212-775-7755
75 Greenwich Ave near 7th Ave

Joe The Art of Coffee
141 Waverly Place (west of Sixth Avenue)/212-924-6750 (other locations, too)

Abraço
86 East 7th St (west of 1st Avenue)/212-388-9731

Chai tea on-the-go

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:31:58 +0000

I’m a tea addict, especially when it comes to chai tea. I LOVE chai and drink it all day long. But I’m often out and about and can’t make it exactly the way I like, with special honey I buy at the Greenmarket and steamed milk that I foam with an Aerolatte.

Enter Jaipur Avenue Tea. This new, high-quality instant tea is perfect for the chai tea-lovers who are out and about all day or working in an office where making a quality cup of tea isn’t feasible. (I recently took some on vacation and was so happy I did.) It’s formulated and packaged in Mumbai, India. And look at the beautiful packaging! The tea was founded by a former textile designer for Oscar de la Renta

I’m not usually into instant beverages, but these are appealing because:

1) They’re all-natural and authentic (there’s no other chai tea like this that I’ve seen).

2) They come in five flavors, all of which are appealing: Cardamom, Original Masala, Ginger, Saffron, and Vanilla. (I’m prone to the cardamom and vanilla.)

3) Low on sugar—only 10 grams per 8 ounce cup, which is 50 to 100% less than other leading brands.

4) Easy to carry around and prepare—simply add hot water for a traditional cup of chai, or chilled milk and ice for a summer drink.

Jaipur Avenue tea isn’t yet available at stores in NYC, but it is available on Amazon.com



Tea-infused pound cake
admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:38:42 +0000

I love cooking with tea and highly recommend it. Some of you may remember my tea-roasted chicken recipe. It’s definitely one of my favorite ways to cook a bird, but more on that later. 
Here is my latest experiment: Tea-infused yogurt pound cake with Earl Grey icing, featured on The Gourmet Blog by Dean & Deluca.
It’s a dreary, rainy Friday…the perfect time to bake a cake weekend guests.
 


Would you like some espresso with your steak?
admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:43:20 +0000
Espresso-Rubbed Rib-Eye Steak


Making the rub for this steak was super easy, and I loved the crust it formed. If you love experimenting with recipes as much as I do, add herbs and spices you like to the espresso/brown sugar mixture. 
Find the recipe for espresso-rubbed steak in The Gourmet Food Blog by Dean & DeLuca.
 


Get a buzz…my Q&A with a coffee expert
admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:35:29 +0000

I can’t recall when I first became a coffee addict because I’ve always been a tea drinker (and still am), but it was definitely solidified when my daughter was an infant. Too many nights with too little sleep at the very beginning of her life made me crave coffee as soon as I awoke. Now granted I’d have only one cup a day, but that one cup became an addiction because it was something I absolutely had to have, or the day would not feel like it began properly. And I got into it, buying French presses and bags of coffee at my nearby coffee shop, The Roasting Plant, and some shops that are a bit farther, like La Colombe Torrefaction or Abraco. I’d try various beans and decided on a standby from The Roasting Plant: the Ethiopian Harrar, which has hints of blueberry. And while my real love affair with coffee began in the spring of 2008, I never realized how much there is to know about coffee. Which is why it was a treat to encounter John Moore, VP, Sales & Marketing, Dallis Coffee. This man is a true coffee expert, and I’d love for you to read my Q & A with him in Haute Living.
You may have been like me: stuck on getting a caffeine buzz and not caring much about what’s behind the bean. But I can assure you there’s so much more to know, and if anyone knows all about coffee, it’s most definitely John Moore. And, Dallis Coffee, where he’s the VP, sells their beans to many NYC coffee shops. 
Here are two gorgeous photos of John Moore’s recent coffee expedition to Rwanda:






And in case you’re in NYC, or coming to NYC, please check out my go-to coffee spot:

The Roasting Plant/81 Orchard St below Broome St/212-775-7755


 


Shot of Charity at Dean & DeLuca
admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:53:10 +0000

It might not seem possible to donate to charity while sipping a cappuccino as you stroll through SoHo. But a new partnership between Dean & DeLuca and Shot of Charity™, a nonprofit founded by three Georgetown University graduate students, makes that possible. When you order a coffee and ask for a Shot of Charity™, 25 cents will be donated to a rotating and changing roster of lesser-known charities, and 50 cents for a double Shot of Charity™. It’s a great way to help while going about your daily life.
Whether you’re working or shopping in SoHo, you can feel good about getting a caffeine buzz. Starting on June 21 you’ll be able donate a single or double Shot of Charity when you order a cup of coffee at Dean & DeLuca’s SoHo location; 560 Broadway at Prince St.
For more information about the Shot of Charity™ program, visit Dean & DeLuca.
 


Tea forte iced tea
admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:34:05 +0000

I’m always raving about tea here on my blog. It’s truly one of my favorite drinks.  While I used to be addicted to the iced tea at my neighborhood bakery, lately I’ve been experimenting at home with various blends and brands, which is how I came across this new tea-over-ice brewing pitcher set by Tea Forté. Instead of brewing tea and then waiting for it to cool down, this does so at the outset. As you can see from the photos, you pour hot water over the tea that sits in a heat-resistant container that sits on top of another pitcher containing ice. Wait a few minutes and then pour the tea into the ice-filled bottom pitcher. And voila—a refreshing cup of “flash-chilled” iced tea. A great gift to bring to someone’s summer party (or to keep for yourself). 

Tea Forté sells five kinds of iced tea: lavender citrus, pomegranate blackberry, raspberry nectar, white ginger pear and my favorite in this list, ceylon gold. (As much as the other flavors are appealing, for me, a super busy mom, caffeine is a must!)
For more information on this unique brewing pitcher, visit Tea Forté. And I just read on their site that since it’s National Iced Tea month, they’re offering a special for the entire month of June. 
 


Zhena’s Gypsy Tea
admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:48:44 +0000

As a self-confessed tea-a-holic, I am always on the lookout for new tea leaves to add to my ever-evolving collection. And though I prefer black tea of all sorts, I found a green that I actually like: the new line of biodynamic tea from Zhena’s Gypsy. This organic tea, which meets extremely rigid guidelines to be certified Biodynamic®, offers teas grown and processed to the highest sustainable agricultural and environmental cannons. That’s a great reason alone to love it, but the flavors are also appealing: black forest berry, blueberry vanilla, kiwi peach, mango ginger and my favorite, caramelized pear. In this flavor the high quality green tea leaves are combined with organic pear pieces, organic marigold flowers and organic caramel flavor. It’s a refreshing change for any tea drinker.
For more information on Zhena’s Biodynamic® Green Tea, visit Gypsy Tea.
 


Latte Throwdown at Dean & DeLuca
admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:47:25 +0000
If you’re a latte enthusiast like me, someone who craves a daily caffeine buzz, you may want to check out this Latte Art Throwdown at the Dean & DeLuca in Midtown, in the New York Times Building. The baristas from Dean & DeLuca stores around the country will be turning milk foam into works of art in hopes of winning prizes. It’s next week. Hope to see you there!