Aldo Coffee Company

Second Origin Brunch, Sunday, June 21

We're going to do our second "Origin Brunch" buffet on Sunday, June 21.  Cost will be $12 per person.

Home Brewing Clinic Postponed Until Jan 10

We hope this doesn't create an inconvenience for those of you planning on attending.

Rich had to leave for Connecticut to deal with a family health issue and won't return until next week.  That, coupled with other staff scheduling conflicts means we're not able to put the resources together on Saturday to do the clinic the way we'd planned. 

So instead of doing the clinic before you buy a coffeemaker for Christmas, we'll do it after the holidays so you can figure out how to best use whatever brewer you received.  Besides, other folks we respect do theirs after the holiday.

More details to come, but we think what we'll do is have you bring in whatever it is you received for Christmas and we'll make coffee with it.

"Secret Santa" Sale Now Through December 19

It's that time of year for office holiday parties.  And "Secret Santa" gift exchanges are very popular.  But it's often challenging to find that gift that's sure to be appreciated for under the usual $10 or $15 spending cap.

From now through December 19, if you buy any retail 12oz bag of coffee and say the password "Secret Santa" to your barista, we'll take 10% off your retail coffee purchase.

Cupping 101 This Saturday

After taking off November, we're back to free public cuppings this month, starting this Saturday, December 6th with a cupping at 1pm.  We'll be tasting coffees from Kenya, Brazil and Guatemala.  In tasting the three coffees we've selected for this week, you'll learn about differences in balance and body in your cup as well as different flavor profiles for the representative regions. 

The cupping is free.  We already have some sign ups but three two seats are left to fill.  If interested, drop us an email or tell your barista to sign you up.

No Free Coffee for Voting

As we didn't open until late 2004, this is our first presidential election campaign as owners of a coffeehouse.  We're seeing a lot of promotions from different coffee purveyors (chain and indie) offering a free cup of coffee if you vote tomorrow (and possibly illegally).

Voting is a right granted us in the Constitution.  Being an informed voter is one of very few things requested of us to be a citizen of this country.  But unlike Australia, it's not the law.  You won't get fined here if you don't vote. 

For those who've expended no effort in becoming informed about the details of what or who you're voting for, maybe it's best you don't vote anyway.  For others, even being informed doesn't help if one feels they're simply choosing between two awful options. 

So we're not giving away free coffee or any other reward tomorrow just for exercising your right to vote.  Because exercising your right to not vote is equally as important.  In either case, your reward is the action itself.

Just remember, we get exactly the government we deserve.  And for the record, we do vote.

Really, think about your vote this time, OK?  Voting isn't a duty, it's a privilege.  But knowing what's going on with your country should be everyone's duty.

Mexican Brunch This Sunday to Wake Up the Dead

Sunday, November 2, is "Day of the Dead" in Mexico, a festive celebration honoring loved ones who've passed on.

Here at Aldo Coffee Co., it's going to be a "Wake Up the Dead" celebration! 

With all due respect to Mexico, if the beer and tequila companies can co-opt Cinco de Mayo to promote booze, why can't we use Day of the Dead to celebrate coffee?  After all, Mexican celebrants make noise with beads and other items in order to "wake the dead".  So why not add caffeine to the mix?  Besides, the holiday is really a day to celebrate living.  Maybe we'll start a national movement for a coffee holiday...

In that spirit, we're even doing our first "brunch".  Here's what's on the menu:

We'll be serving Chiapas "La Union Coop" all day (roasted by Jake's Java).  It's a sweeter cup, with notes of chocolate and caramel apple.  We'll also have two shop favorites from Intelligentsia brewing: Guatemala Itznama and El Salvador Los Inmortales (both of which border on Mexico). 

We'll also be serving the following for our first ever brunch:

STARTERS:
- Freshly made churros with abuelita (Mexican hot chocolate)
- Pan de muerto (sweet bread made specific for the holiday)
- Chilaquiles, made with fresh tortillas and quesos flown into town by Melinda's mom
- Two quiches, one featuring chorizo and Chihuahua queso, the other poblanos and queso fresco
- Pumpkin soup
- Duck enchilada in mole colaradito
- Pork in green peanut sauce
- Mini Flan
- Guacamole & chips
- A cup of Mexican Chiapas La Union Coop or Guatemala Itznama or El Salvador Los Inmortales

All for the ridiculous price of only $10.  Which is less than two frozen margaritas.

Even if you're not into celebrating Day of the Dead, where else are you going to find Mexican food on Washington Road?  ¡Buen Provecho!

The photo is of a roasted corn stock being made.  We used the cobs from today's sweet potato corn soup.  Not sure what we're going to do with it yet, but it'll find it's way into the brunch somehow.

And don't get used to the idea of us doing a regular Sunday Brunch.  The cook hates to miss Meet the Press.  (And for those doubters, yes, he can cook Mexican. He lived there.)

Advanced Cupping This Saturday: Triangulation and Defects

This Saturday's free public coffee cupping will feature two things we haven't yet done in a public cupping.  And there are still seats available!

Esmeralda Gesha Featured All Weekend. Plus Two Cupping Seats Still Open

As many of you have noticed, the coffee we purchased at auction back in May - 100 lbs. of lot #5-14 of Esmeralda Gesha - went on sale here last week.  This coffee is from the much-heralded Hacienda La Esmeralda in Boquete, Panama and is being roasted for us by Jake's Java in Peters.  We'll have a few pounds coming in each week from now through October.

You'll have an opportunity to taste this special lot of coffee this weekend at our standard drip prices.  While we typically only brew the Esmeralda in press pots ($4.50) or as a custom pourover ($3.35), this Saturday and Sunday, we'll be offering the Esmeralda as our featured drip coffee.

That's correct.  You can get a cup of Esmeralda for less than two bucks. 

Seats Open for This Afternoon's Public Cupping

Today's "Cupping 101" will feature a Sumatra and Kenya roasted by Zoka and a Bolivia Anjilinaka roasted by Intelligentsia.  We'll be noting the stark differences between the three coffees while identifying nuances that showcase each of these three coffee growing regions.

It's a 2pm today and will last about an hour.  It is free to the public.  We have a couple of seats left.  If interested, give a call at 412.563.1220.

We will be having an advanced cupping event in two weeks.

3rd Place "Roaster's Choice" Coffee On Bar

We have a couple of pounds of Kenya AA Jambo Estate from The Roasterie.  This coffee took third place in last week's "Roaster's Choice" competition at the Specialty Coffee convention.  It'll be available as press pot brew starting today.

The Finca Matalapa Espresso is down to the last pound and we expect it to be gone by close tonight. Today it seems to have acquired a hint of salt, or as Kyle Glanville might put it, "What was lime mousse is now margarita!"  It's remains one of the most well-balanced shots of single origin espresso we've ever had.