Coffee Cafe

What if we told you that it's simple to make your home brewed coffee taste just as good or better than your favorite coffee shop? It's true! We chat with Tara and Ori, two coffee specialists from Equator Coffee, who tell us how easy it is to do it. They give us a step by step guide to making coffee-shop coffee at home, AND how to make sure you pick a great coffee shop when you venture out. It's an episode all about great coffee and impressing your family, your friends and yourself with your home brew!

SHOW NOTES (with time markers)

INTRODUCTION – Jason and Myles explain how Joanna, the owner of the Palm Coffee Bar in Burbank, told us how we can make coffee-shop coffee at home, and how to make sure you get great coffee at a coffee shop. So we connected with Equator Coffee & Teas to share this great info with YOU!

1:20 - Meet Tara Samuelson and Ori Tuler – Equator Coffee Specialists. They share how they found for passion for coffee, their experience and how much they love working at Equator. They also mention how they can find themselves behind the counter when they visit a coffee shop!

7:05 – Tara and Ori explain what makes Equator standout from the crowd of coffee bean roasters, and how they bring amazing coffee to your cup. How many people can say they can call their CEO anytime of day and they’ll pick up the phone and talk your ear off!

10:25 – The difference between SINGLE ORIGIN coffees and BLENDS and which you should choose and why.

12:22 – Why and how coffee shops that serve the same beans can taste completely different.

14:00 – The difference between GOOD coffee and NOT-SO-GOOD coffee! Arabica vs Robusta beans and how not all “Arabica coffees” are the same.

15:12 – The difference between coffee shops in general and the difference between their coffee drinks. How espressos are the heart of almost every coffee drink and how important it is to know how to make it proplery.

17:13 –How coffee shops are starting to go back to “batch brewers” (drip coffee) because of newer technology. Drip coffee can be even better than pour overs if done properly!

19:05 – You can amazing coffee without the fancy tools! They tell us how everyone is going back to basics and making better coffee. And how your drip coffee maker can be the perfect tool. And Ori tells us what she does to get a little crazy with coffee!

22:11 – How to pick a great coffee shop so that you know you get a great cup of coffee. And they give us TWO telltale signs that can help you know if it’s a good coffee shop when you walk in (you’ll never watch a “Friends” episode the same again!).

27:16 – What Latte Art can tell you about the taste of your coffee. Hint, it’s not what you think!

28:40 - What to look for in an Espresso to determine if it’s good.

29:24 – Tara and Ori tell us what they order to determine if a coffee shop serves great coffee.

31:48 – The definition of a “Specialty Coffee Shop”. BTW, there is no definition of a “specialty coffee shop”, but they tell us what to look for to determine you found one!

32:34 – What defines “Specialty COFFEE”? BTW, there IS a definition for this one!

33:52 – What beans you should choose to brew coffee at home – single origin, blends, flavors and more. And Tara and Ori tell us what they drink at home!

36:55 – The K-Cup Pods (Keurig, Nescafe, etc.) VS brewing coffee – can you get the same quality coffee from a K-Cup pods?

38:15 – The NEW Instant Coffee – how it compares to brewing coffee. The answer will surprise you (it surprised us!)

42:00 – What most people do WRONG when they brew coffee at home.

43:34 – How and where you should get your beans ground. And how to store your coffee (and it’s NOT in the refrigerator!)

45:15 – What to look for when you buy your coffee beans. And did you know that roasted coffee, is still a “living thing”?!

46:10 – How to grind your beans properly for the brewing method you are using. One size does NOT fit all! And how the grind-to-water ratio is vital to amazing coffee

47:20 – STEP BY STEP instructions of how to make amazing coffee at home. It only takes 4 to 5 minutes! (no espresso machine required)

• Water is vital – coffee is 98-99% water! But don’t give up if you don’t have perfect water!
• How to heat the water properly for a pour over. (BTW, you DON’T need a thermometer).
• How much coffee grounds do you need? The grind-to-water ratio defined.
• Grinding the beans at home or getting the grind from the store (or coffee shop) and what’s the best grind type for your method of making coffee. AND what type of grinder you should use to grind your beans!
• Filters - one size does not fit all. It is a vital component to great coffee.
• Cleaning your filter – yes, it makes a difference!
• Pouring the water over your grounds (or if you have a drip brewer, turn it on!). But look for the “bloom” in your grind.
• From Chemex to drip; choosing the best coffee brewer that’s best for you!

1:00:00 – How to get a free written step by step guide from Equator for many brewing methods.

1:00:40 – Final thoughts on brewing amazing coffee at home, and you DON’T need every single tool or a lot of time! It just takes knowledge.

Please subscribe to our podcast and share this show with your coffee loving friends!

Thanks to Equator Coffee & Teas and The Palm Coffee Bar in Burbank, CA.

If you love coffee, this is the festival you have to attend! It's the inaugural Los Angeles Coffee Festival, which is organized by the same people that are responsible for the extremely popular Coffee Festivals in London, Milan, Amsterdam and New York. It's everything that you love about coffee in one place, and we tell you if it's worth the price of admission.

They also have created the LA Coffee Guide, which lists the top 40 coffee shops in LA (along with info on just about everything related to coffee in town). We chat with Jeffrey Young, the coffee aficionado, founder of the festival and the person who spearheaded the Guide. He tells us how they were able to select the top coffee shops in Los Angeles from so many amazing places.

Plus, Myles and Jason talk about how they each had quintessential father/son moments in the same week, all over several cups of coffee! We're over-caffeinated and enjoying several delicious coffee cocktails at the Festival. Join us!

The name "Amsterdam Café" should have been a hint that this would be a highly uniquecoffee experience. Guess what. It was! It's a story we'll be talking about for a while! Plus, Myles had a code yellow and code brownin the same week and both involved his 3-year-old. Jason goes trick-or-treating with his son and is disappointed with the results. We're drinking coffee at 10PM - what could go wrong? Join us and we'll tell you all about it!

SHOW NOTES

Amsterdam Cafe ADDRESS: 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood HOURS: Mon-Thurs 5PM – 1AM / Fri & Sat 5PM – 2AM / Sun 7PM to 1AM WEBSITE

Toluca Lake is the Beverly Hills of the San Fernando Valley, but with a twist. It's a mix of mansions right next to apartments and condos. But no matter what your status may be, breakfast or lunch at Aeirloom is right in the middle of it and is perfect for this unique community. But is their coffee just as diverse and delicious for everyone? Also this week, Myles is losing the battle of will against his three year old son. Jason's son is popping confetti balloons over his school's principal's head! We're eating organic breads and pastries with our La Colombe coffee. Come join us for a couple cups in this Mediterranean cottage style cafe!

Cafe Magazzino is known for their soups and their eggs-in-a-pastry breakfast. But what about their coffee? Should it be just as popular? Myles learns a few new things from his son's school assignment. Jason learns that he's going back to 3rd grade. Join us for several cups of coffee in this cozy and inviting coffee shop.

SHOW NOTES

Cafe Maggazino ADDRESS: 3917 W Riverside Drive, Burbank HOURS: Mon thru Fri - 8am - 4pm WEBSITE

What can go wrong in a weekend? Apparently, a lot! Jason goes to Urgent Care for an unusual pain and ends up in the hospital for days. Myles has the answer to all the world's problems. We also announce the winner of the 2-week Coffee Challenge and read their haiku. Join us at an unusual location for a cup of creamy coffee.

Replace a green turtle's shell with a coffee bean and you have the awesome logo for Honu Coffee, an inviting coffee shop that makes you feel like you’re relaxing on the beaches of Hawaii. But do their coffee and Hawaiian themed specialty coffee drinks taste as good as their vibe? Jason and Myles chat about the “season” of Pumpkin Spice as well as National Coffee Day (September 29th). We get ultimate Starbucks fan's (Laura Brown) final thoughts on her Coffee Challenge experience. Plus, Myles preps for leaf-jumping season and Jason's son claims to know everything. We've ordered five drinks at Honu...join us for a few sips!

SHOW NOTES

Honu Coffee ADDRESS: 22722 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita HOURS: Open every day - 7am - 8pm WEBSITE

When you're in the need of a coffee fix, what better place to get one than its name sake? With an extensive menu and locally roasted beans as the key ingredient, Coffee Fix has all the makings to give you what you need! But can they put it all together to make it taste as good as it sounds? Myles attempts to walk the kids to school, but a "little something" gets in the way. Jason's son gets a "hanger management" class! Join us for a coffee chill and an espresso that may just blow your mind at Coffee Fix!

SHOW NOTESCoffee Fix ADDRESS: 12508 Moorpark St, Studio City HOURS: Monday thru Friday - 7am - 5pm / Saturday 8Am – 5PM & Sunday 8am - 4pm WEBSITE

It is a couple's love story that started 20 years ago and ended happily ever after with a very unique coffee shop. Steve and Emily join us on the show to tell us the how it went from a dream to "ugly". Plus, Myles and Jason talk about finishing their Coffee Challenge, and we all discuss the challenges of coaching kids (hint: it's hard!). Join us, as we taste their brand new "flan latte" at the Ugly Mug Coffee House.

SHOW NOTESThe Ugly Mug Coffee House ADDRESS: 3112 W. Burbank Blvd Burbank HOURS: Mon-Fri 7AM -6PM – Sat & Sun 7AM – 5PM WEBSITE

On our 2nd week of the "Taste the Difference Coffee Challenge", Jason and Myles are mixing it up. We're rating the coffee from four of the largest national coffee chains: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Peet's Coffee. It's a good old-fashioned "taste-off", or what we're calling the "Coffee-Off". Plus, Myles and Jason talk about our children's "emission policy" (yes, it's what you think it is!). And we discover that "someone" had a cheat day on the Coffee Challenge, and there will be consequences. Join us to see which national chain coffee taste best!