We queried the staff who were busily brewing aromatic cups of coffee behind the counter and they handed us a long brochure of all the beans sold at Blue Bottle. Each roast sounded intriguing, however our already stuffed carry-on luggage limited us to one bag of beans. Further questioning revealed that the roast served at the coffee cart was called “Giant Steps“. A peek at the price and I quickly stopped bemoaning our lack of luggage space. Yikes! Perfection does not come cheaply. We purchased a half pound bag and then proceeded to sneak whiffs like junkies over the next few days until we were at home with our espresso machine.
The good news is that in a home machine, these beans still created some of the best espresso and cappuccinos we’ve had. Blue Bottle’s commitment to small batch micro-roasting means that the beans are sold no more than 48 hours after they are roasted. The incredible freshness of the beans provides a foundation for memorable coffee. I’d like to say we rationed it out, but we ecstatically sipped our way through the bag in about four days. (Maybe this is the reason I had a surprising amount of energy after returning from our trip?) I’m already trying to resist ordering more online, but I know that the first special occasion I can use as an excuse will find me ordering a few pounds of beans. Hmmm…lots of people celebrate May Day don’t they?
are the “Lentiles du Puy”, which have an AOC designation (meaning that they only come from a very specific location- namely the volcanic soils around Puy, France). Lentils du Puy stand out from other lentils because they have a unique earthy flavor and hold their shape when cooked. This makes green lentils the perfect choice for salads. (I’m never quite sure whether my un-labeled green lentils are truly “du Puy” or not, but I’ve found that all green lentils seem to hold their shape nicely.)
