by Ryan Jacobs
Editor’s Word: This text was written in June 2000. Lots of the locations on this article are actually gone. Get pleasure from this time capsule of the Columbus espresso scene.
Columbus, Ohio is house to The Ohio State College in addition to many glorious espresso retailers. Whether or not you need to study chemistry or espresso, you are able to do each right here and on the identical time. Previous to shifting to Columbus to attend The Ohio State College, I thought of myself a connoisseur of espresso. I might scoff at my father’s pot of Folger’s, whereas I brewed “hazelnut” espresso for myself. I had a lot to study.
Caffe Fino
Caffe Fino resides in The Ohio Union, which is a part of the OSU campus. It was right here that I had my first espresso-based drink — a Caffe’ Latte. I used to be very impressed by the wealthy taste that got here by way of the steamed milk. On the time, Armando Escobar was working the store. Quickly after that latte, I graduated to ingesting straight espresso, additionally a primary at this store. I’m ceaselessly grateful that my first espresso was right here as a result of I nonetheless consider that theirs is persistently the most effective espressos I’ve ever had. I can solely think about what my angle towards espresso could be if I had tasted a poorly made one my first time round. I’ll have been ceaselessly scarred, swearing off the drink ceaselessly.
Caffe Fino at The Ohio State Pupil Union
Thankfully, I took a sip and located it to be superb. In truth, on the time, I bear in mind considering that the pungent aroma and bitter style mixed with the creamy texture was intriguing. It wasn’t scalding scorching — it was excellent. I by no means imagined {that a} espresso beverage might have such physique with out including sugar or cream. I didn’t notice it till a lot later, however their demitasse cups had been essential to the standard of the espresso. They use the identical cups used to serve cappuccino, which I might usually contemplate too giant. Nevertheless, they do an important job of maintaining them heated on the espresso machine. By ingesting the espresso from these wide-mouthed cups, your nostril is caught inside as you style the espresso, which lets you inhale the aroma as you style it. This enhances the entire expertise.
For 4 years, Caffe Fino was there for me once I wanted it most. Earlier than and after courses, earlier than and after exams. Evidently, I spent numerous time there.
Staufs Espresso Roasters
To me, discovering Stauf’s espresso was like discovering the Holy Grail of espresso. I got here to Stauf’s shortly after having my first latte at Caffe Fino. Right here, with their large kinds of coffees from around the globe, I discovered that there was extra to espresso than Colombia and Juan Valdez. Once I walked in, I used to be instantly drawn to the brand new aromas that got here from the massive drum roasters and bins of espresso. As I examined every bin, I observed the completely different sizes of beans, the completely different colours, textures, and roasts. On the time, darkly roasted coffees had been new to me and smelled unique and tasted the identical. My first half-pound of espresso was Baba Budan mix, named after the hero who smuggled espresso seeds strapped to his stomach out of Ethiopia. I used to be just about obsessive about oily espresso for about six weeks.
Stauf’s Espresso Roasters – 1277 Grandview Ave.
I then started ordering the lighter roasts and was amazed on the variations in taste I used to be discovering. What Stauf’s excels at is roasting. They deal with every espresso fastidiously and roast it to simply the proper degree. I quickly tried mixing their completely different beans to create custom-made blends and skilled reasonable success.
Stauf’s was opened in 1988 by Tom Griesemer. Griesemer, initially from Davis, California, teaches a category routinely for the Inventive Actions Program at their Grandview location. These courses are one evening solely, however they’re informative and enjoyable.
Insomnia
My publicity to Insomnia began at their campus retailer. In addition they have a downtown location. Their home mix is exclusive (roasted by Stauf’s) and so they have a really vibrant cafe. Some locations are good simply to hang around in, and that is a kind of locations. The campus location caters to the scholars whereas the downtown location caters to the businessfolk who want a fast repair. Consequently, the 2 areas harbor a distinct crowd, however the goal remains to be the identical — espresso.
Insomnia Espresso – 1728 N Excessive Avenue and 31 E Homosexual Avenue
I didn’t restrict myself to campus shops, although they had been essentially the most handy. I discovered many different good coffeehouses within the Columbus space. Finally, this led me to create The Columbus Espresso Information, an internet site the place I gave the placement, hours of operation, cellphone numbers, and evaluations of every store I visited. I finished writing the information in 1997 once I moved to Indiana, however engaged on that web site led me to the next gems.
Cup O’ Joe
Once I initially moved to Columbus, there was just one Cup O’ Joe. Now there are 4. Bexley, German Village, Campus, and the Airport all have a Cup O’ Joe. This espresso store serves Stauf’s espresso and, like Insomnia, has an important environment. This cafe has been repeatedly voted “Favourite Coffeehouse” by Columbus readers of Columbus Alive, a neighborhood weekly paper. If dessert is your factor, they’ve a repute for having an important dessert menu as nicely. Just lately, Stauf’s Espresso Roasters and Cup O’ Joe merged. Sooner or later, Cup O’ Joe will probably be answerable for dealing with retail operations whereas Stauf’s focuses on the espresso. In my view, this can be a good plan. It’s fascinating to notice that Starbucks actually has weak infiltration in Columbus. I attribute this to the truth that Stauf’s excelled at supplying most of the native espresso homes with glorious espresso lengthy earlier than Starbucks turned the power it’s at this time. Merging a top-notch roaster with an important retail operation ought to strengthen each events.
Cup O Joe Espresso – a number of areas
The Espresso Desk
The Espresso Desk is a really stylish espresso store within the coronary heart of the Quick North space of Columbus. They use Stauf’s Espresso and have large window house, which supplies it a vivid environment. The Espresso Desk is one in all longest-running espresso retailers in Columbus and has a loyal buyer base.
The Espresso Desk – 731 N Excessive Avenue
Basso Bean
Not removed from the Espresso Desk is Basso Bean. In addition they serve Stauf’s espresso. The fascinating factor about this location is that additionally they serve craft-brewed beers and have a wine listing. You will get an important double espresso and so they have good meals to associate with no matter you get. This can be a smoking institution and you’ll acknowledge this upon entry.
Basso Bean – 691 N. Excessive Avenue
The Crimson Cup
The Crimson Cup doesn’t have any retail fronts that I do know of, however they supply the espresso for Caffe Fino in addition to Columbus Espresso Bars, a drive-thru espresso bar. In addition they roast espresso for Wild Oats, a big well being meals retailer.
Candy Maria’s
Candy Maria’s opened in Columbus in 1997, proper across the time I moved for a short stint in Indiana. The irony is that I’d by no means have found Candy Maria’s if I hadn’t left Columbus. Candy Maria’s caters to the house espresso roaster, and since Columbus was stuffed with locations that served good espresso, I had no cause to house roast. Dwelling in Kokomo, Indiana with horrible espresso, nonetheless, put me in a troublesome spot. I used to be confronted with a number of selections:
- Go strictly mail order
- Revert again to the times of Hazelnut and French Roasted Folgers
- Examine one thing I remembered studying about on a espresso newsgroup way back — house espresso roasting.
Thankfully for me, I selected the third choice. After discovering find out how to do it, I wanted to discover a provide of inexperienced beans. My analysis instructed me again and again that the very best place was a store referred to as Candy Maria’s in Columbus, Ohio. Word: for the reason that writing of this text, SweetMarias has relocated to Oakland, CA.
Candy Marias – 9 E 2nd Avenue
As I discussed earlier, Candy Maria’s caters to the house roaster. If I had thought that Stauf’s had all kinds of coffees, Candy Maria’s had extra nonetheless. Tom, the proprietor, frequently will get new beans in and even lists roast profiles of every bean on their web site. Catering to the house roaster permits such luxuries as not carrying a Kenyan espresso if the actual crop is low grade. It’s way more tough to do that in a restaurant the place clients at all times count on Kenyans to be obtainable. Residence espresso roasters have a tendency to grasp the crop high quality variations way more.
Abstract
Through the years, many shops have opened and lots of have closed. Nevertheless, the great ones appear to have survived — even flourished. In case you are ever in Columbus, take a look at a few of these locations should you get an opportunity. They’ve given me a well-rounded schooling, and I plan on being a perpetual scholar.
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