Aldo Coffee Company

Intelligentsia Roasters Wins "Best Coffee in Chicago"

We never got around to posting this when it happened, but wanted to pass along that our roaster, Intelligentsia, won "Best of Chicago" on AOL Citysearch.

Here are some of the reviews.  Note how many out-of-towners from across the country have Intelligentsia beans shipped directly to them.

Since we use Intelligentsia beans and Great Lakes Barista Champion Ellie Matusak did our training, it would only make sense that we'd be in the running for "Best of Pittsburgh".  Alas, we'd only been open for a couple of months before the voting for 2005 was completed.  Winners were announced for Pittsburgh in May.

There's always 2006!

Here was Pittsburgh's list for 2005.  With Sheetz in the #3 position and Starbucks in #9, it seems we have a ways to go in Pittsburgh on promotiong the concept of specialty coffee.  Nothing against anyone on the list, but we're still having a hard time believing La Prima was all the way down at #10.

The right (and left) coffee

One of Aldo Coffee's  favorite regulars, resident intellectual-conservative and nationally-syndicated columnist Tom Purcell turns his attention today to coffee, politics, Starbucks, and Dunkin' Donuts.  Read his Sunday column Politics and Coffee, here.

But you'll have to come into the store to find out why our Cara decorates his table/office with groundhogs.  We miss you while you are on the road, Tom.   

TFC: Sunday, August 28

This morning  Andi and Steve are brewing Kenyan and a Fair Trade, Organic Dark Italian Roast, along with our delicious Aldo House Blends and the excellent Black Cat Espresso Blend  from Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters.  All of our beans are available by the pound so you can enjoy them at home, too.

Happy Friday - Mark & Christin Tonight

This is last time you can catch Mark Shuttleworth & Christin Salem here without a cover charge, so take advantage! 

They've been rehearsing new material and are announcing an actual band name shortly.

See them tonight, 8:30-10:30.  No cover.

We also have some new desserts tonight, so check out the pastry case!

Open Stage Wednesday

Open Stage hosted by Mark Shuttleworth.

7:30-9:30 Wednesday night, August 24.

If you're playing, bring your friends.  If you're not already signed up for a set, contact Mark Shuttleworth at 412.720.0521.

No cover.

See you then!

Our New North Side Friends

Mel and I spent Saturday evening down in the Mexican War Streets at the "launch party" for Pittsburgh Dish.  We supplied a couple of airpots of coffee, naturally. 

Since it was also a housewarming, we brought along with a bag of Intelligentsia Kenya and a loaf of the ridiculously tasty parmesan pepper bread from Mediterra we usually have on hand in the store on weekends.

Of course I was delighted to talk to Since we had to leave well before the celebrations were over, we told our hosts, Joe and Colleen, that we'd leave the airpots and come back for them after our Sunday restocking trip in the Strip.

About 3:00pm Sunday afternoon, we pull up to get the airpots to learn that Joe and Colleen had drank some that morning and it was still tasty.  In fact, when we emptied the last of it from the airpots a full nineteen hours after brewing, it was still steaming hot.  Amazing pots, those Fetcos.  (We don't recommend drinking old coffee, however.  We change our coffee at least every 90 minutes in the store to maintain the best quality, freshness and taste.)

Since Colleen hails from New Haven, about 45 minutes up I-95 from Stamford where I grew up, we compared our horror stories on buying decent wine at a fair price around here, not to mention being able to buy a six pack of something that isn't Bud or Coors Light.  We all pretty much agreed that we'd vote for anyone who could overhaul the communistic government-controlled PA Liquor Control Board and replace it with something a bit more capitalistic. 

Needless to say, the wines served were great - and you wouldn't find them anywhere in Pittsburgh.  Our city has many fine things going for it.  But buying booze isn't one of them.

Lilly returns Friday Night

We are delighted to announce that Lilly Abreu will be with us once again, this Friday night, August 19, from 8:30-10:30pm, accompanied by keyboardist extraordinaire Ken Bott (who just married on Monday!).

This time, Lilly is featuring "Lilly Abreu's Musical Menu" - where you pick the songs she'll sing.  There are more than 150 songs on the menu - about half from Lilly's native Brazil, the other half from the Broadway stage.

Lilly was a big hit with both adults and kids last time she visited - many of the children in the audience got up to play with Lilly's shakers for a bit of a backbeat.  So bring your kids - they'll enjoy it.

"Lilly Abreu is a dynamic, versatile and brilliant artist.  Her audiences are inspired and spellbound by her elegant voice and charisma." - Andres Cardenes, Concertmaster, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Lilly and Ken will be playing from 8:30-10:30pm.  We will have a $3.00 cover at the door (talent like this doesn't come cheap!).

We look forward to seeing you on Friday for an engaging evening. 

Improv Comedy Tonight with I-Factor

The I-Factor improv comedy troupe will be making a stop at Aldo Coffee Co. tonight for some inspired zaniness. 

Fans of "Whose Line Is It Anyway" will especially enjoy this show.  I-Factor has regularly played local downtown comedy institutions like the Funny Bone and we're pleased to host them here at Aldo.

Comedy in a coffeehouse. Who'd have thunk?

Show runs from 7:30-9:30 or whenever they run out of energy.

There is a $2 cover tonight.  Enjoy!

TFC: Monday, August 15

Today we are serving Kenyan and Organic Dark French Roast.  Thank goodness it is cooler today.

More Latte Art

Andi was working with Stephen this morning on practicing some artwork.  Steven's foam has become top notch and he's been getting better rosettas each time out. 

That's Stephen's work on top and Andi's on the bottom. 

When you watch experts do latte art pours, like Ellie at Intelligentsia (who trained us), their movements are so quick and fluid that it looks really easy.  But as we're learning, the expertise needed to make the designs effortlessly takes months of practice.  Even in this case, Steven got everything right except for starting his design too early in the cup, which is why it's not quite full.  An expert could "force" the rest of the milk through the design without affecting the art.  We're just not quite that confident yet.

While not every try ends up with a perfect design, the practice pays off in a richer, sweeter milk foam (you can't do artwork without perfect foam) and a velvety smooth texture.

Your best bet right now for finding art in your cup is in the mornings when Andi or Lois are behind the counter.  While the two of them (along with Stephen) have the most accomplished designs, all of our baristas now have the requisite skills to make perfect foam.  It's just that sometimes the designs come out, well... a bit abstract (Cara's was partcularly proud of one that looked like The Pope and Megan's pulled something that looked like a rooster on Thursday).  But we're all working on rosettas and heart designs.

If you happen to be in the shop while our baristas are practicing (and everyone usually tries a couple each day), you may end up with a free sample.  If if the design isn't perfect, the taste and texture will be.  We believe that once you try one of our lattes, it will change your opinion on what a "good" latte is.