Aldo Coffee Company

That Model on Pittsburgh Today this Morning? None Other than Our Cara

Cara was modeling pajamas for Zzz's on a fashion segment of "Pittsburgh Today" this morning.  The segment also featured our Washington Road neighbors Ona and Zipper Blues.

We've been hoping for a link all day long to video from the KDKA site, but we haven't found one yet.  Maybe they lag a day?

There are links to 10 different videos (upper right corner), but nothing on fashion as yet (Friday night).  Soon as we find one we'll link it.  Meantime we're pretty certain Cara and all of her relatives taped the program. 

Anyway, if for some reason there never is a video forthcoming, stop in and Cara will be happy to act out the entire sequence for you.

Cooking for Engineers - Copious Recipes, Voluminous Detail, Humorous Commentary

We were scouting some recipes and came across this site - Cooking for Engineers - which we had to share.

Nic Engel On Stage Tonight

Nic Engel, tonight 8:00-9:30pm, $2 suggested donation.

Nic plays music that he says "cuts an eccentric swatch between acoustic, folk, progressive and rock."

And, according to his press info, he really likes pants.

And Here We Thought Tom Hanks Was a Standup Guy

Hollywood is about to make a 90 minute Starbucks commercial, with Tom Hanks' assistance.

Maybe the screenplay was based on a true story.  But let's recognize that Mystic Pizza wouldn't have had any charm if Julia Roberts was clad in a Domino's smock.

The rich get richer...

So, we're looking for some stories on how hanging around Aldo Coffee has enriched your life.  Or shortened it.  Whatever.

Send your submissions to aldo AT aldocoffee DOT com no later than Friday, April 7. 

Don and Craig, we KNOW you've got something to say... 

Aldo Coffee Makes News in KC

We got noticed by the Kansas City press.

And yet still not a mention in the Trib or PG.

Hmmm.  I guess that's because according to the KC reporter, only out-of-towners have heard of us.

And Now, Coffee-Flavored Coke. Or Something.

Oy.  You'd think they've have learned something from "New" Coke and "Zero".  Somebody make them stop.

Coke Blak (or is that Coke Blehhh?) is being tested in San Diego before its inevitable national release.

Early reviews, as quoted from the article:

"It doesn't taste like coffee… it's closer to root beer than coffee."

"It almost has a licorice kind of flavor to it."

"I actually like it better than Coke."

"Compared to the other drinks with caffeine to get you going, this is a lot more pleasant."

Watch, it'll be a huge hit.  And then we'll have to sell it. 

We got a "Blog of the Day" Mention

We made "small business blog of the day" on Pajama Market.

Unfortunately, we didn't win anything.  Not even pajamas.  Still it's a nice kudo to earn. 

But it doesn't make up for all three Big East teams losing this weekend.

Deja Vu - Steven's Back from Paree

Regulars coming in Saturday morning will be greeted by a familiar face as Steven will be back behind the bar, hopefully none the worse for wear after four months in Paris.

We expect Steven will be pulling a few shifts each week for the next couple of months.  He plans on returning to Paris (and Lorene) sometime in June, possibly for good.  We'll enjoy his company while we can.

UPDATE:  Stephen went back to Paree and Lorene in July.  But he still exchanges email with some of the staff here.  Hopefully we'll make a trip over there next year.

Spring Panini Menu Unleashed - More Unique Tastes, More Italian Regions Represented

With Spring about to arrive, we'll be introducing a new menu on Monday* (note: Flickr may upload a smaller version - if so, wait for the zoom icon then click to enlarge). 

We've held onto a few favorites like the North Beach Pepper & Mozz, but we've parted with the last remaining vestiges of "suburban Pittsburgh sandwiches" (see ya turkey & chicken salad). 

Instead we're adding traditional panini ingredients like speck with eggplant, arugula with red onion and a new tuna with cannelini bean panini.

The new menu reflects a greater number of regional influences from the Piedmont, Emilia-Romangna, Campania and Sardinia in addition to Tuscany. 

*we already made a couple of small mods during the past week, so if you downloaded the menu before March 30, please download again to have the most current version.

More on the Clover

Here's a story that ran this week in Seattle news on the Clover - the new single cup brewing machine that's just hit the market.  Think of it as a really big Senseo except with fresh coffee.

Sometime in the near future we look forward to having our own Clover sometime in the next couple of years (hint: buy lots more coffee...)

There aren't any Clovers that we know of out East as of yet.  But a couple of the top flight Seattle and Vancouver coffeehouses have them. 

UPDATE:  Our roaster, Intelligentsia, just put one in their newest Chicago store.  They are only the fifth roaster in the country to install a Clover.

Expect to hear more on the Clover - as we've mentioned before, in time it may well change the way non-espresso coffee is brewed and consumed.  With the Clover, coffeehouses can brew their more expensive Cup of Excellence varietals and blends one cup at a time with reliable precision instead of brewing in a vacuum pot or French press.  And it will bring about "cup" pricing for different coffees, much the way wines by the glass are sold at better restaurants.