10 of the most effective espresso roasters alongside America’s most well-known freeway
Almost 100 years in the past, earlier than the U.S. Interstate Freeway system was born, Route 66 was established as a significant transportation artery for each leisure journey and industrial transit. The route spanned 2,448 miles and meandered by means of eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck referred to Route 66 as “The Mom Highway” for the entry it offered westward-bound vacationers in the course of the Mud Bowl Days. Bobby Troup’s R&B basic tune, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” etched the highway without end within the American zeitgeist and was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946 and later by Chuck Berry, Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, The Rolling Stones — and even Depeche Mode (a private favourite).
Klatch Espresso’s Rancho Cucamonga, California roastery and cafe are situated within the well-known Route 66 Thomas Vineyard Plaza. Courtesy of Klatch Espresso
Whereas Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 to make method for the freeway system — chalk it as much as “progress” — it stays in lots of a nostalgic coronary heart and thoughts. Whereas the espresso of the route’s early days was brown and scorching, it tended to be low cost and astringent, i.e., nothing to put in writing dwelling about. As espresso has come into itself over the previous 50-ish years, the affect of its high quality and customers’ concomitant love affair with the common-or-garden fruit has unfold properly past U.S. metropolises to, properly, nearly in all places. For this month’s report, we cupped 32 coffees from roasters and cafés on or close to Route 66. Only for kicks. And what we discovered had been 10 coffees price a detour alongside your journey.
The 32 coffees we cupped ranged in rating from 84-95, and the ten we assessment right here scored between 91 and 95, fairly spectacular for a route recognized extra for its retro-cool diners and motels than cutting-edge brew. A pleasant number of types is represented, too, with three experimentally processed coffees, 4 basic washed coffees and three strong blends.
Regent Espresso is a Glendale, California, specialty espresso roaster and cafe. Courtesy of Regent Espresso
Excessive-Scoring Experimental Coffees
On the high of the charts is Regent Espresso’s Colombia Finca El Paraiso Lychee (95). Who’da thunk one in all Colombia’s most famously meticulous espresso farmers and processors, Wilton Benitez, would seem in Glendale, California, a metropolis most famous for being the headquarters of IHOP? Bypass the fried clams and too-hot, bitter-edged espresso there, and cease in at Regent as an alternative. For those who go for the flowery thermal-shock Lychee (see our assessment), put together to be dazzled by notes of rambutan (ever so barely extra savory-complex than lychee), candied violet, ginger blossom and sandalwood.
Iconik Espresso’s wood-fueled IMF roaster. Courtesy of Iconik Espresso
Lovely Santa Fe, New Mexico is dwelling to Iconik Espresso Roasters, whose Colombia Las Perlitas Anaerobic Honey (94) we discovered to be pleasingly advanced with notes of cocoa nib, strawberry guava, cashew butter, pink peppercorn and lemongrass.
Simply-harvested ripe Geisha espresso beans at Altieri Property in Panama. Courtesy of Klatch Espresso
Additionally at 94, we have now Klatch’s Panama Altieri Luci Geisha Pure Chilly Dry Ferment, a splurgy, decadent cup with notes of Juicy Fruit gum, tangerine, chocolate fudge, and narcissus — an actual sensory extravaganza.
Basic Coffees on Route 66
Tulsa, Oklahoma’s DoubleShot Espresso Firm hit a winner with its basic washed Costa Rica La Minita (94), a extra developed roast than the everyday light-roasted fourth-wave coffees we see, which brings out notes of wisteria, hazelnut, darkish chocolate, date bar and Meyer lemon zest, to not point out an opulent, satiny physique.
Tulsa, Oklahoma’s DoubleShot Espresso Firm’s tagline is “Tulsa Powerful.” Courtesy of DoubleShot Espresso Firm
Whether or not free affiliation has you imagining a mustache or a bicycle, Santa Barbara’s Handlebar Espresso has a method with this basic washed Honduras Marcala (93). It’s deep-toned and redolent of Nutella, mandarin, crimson plum, marjoram and fairly cedar notes. It’s additionally medium-roasted, so there are not any sharp edges.
Santa Barbara’s Handlebar Espresso is a bike-themed roastery and cafe. Courtesy of Handlebar Espresso
Costa Rica’s on a regular basis drinkers are interesting for his or her stability and vibrancy, and Peoria, Illinois-based Instinct Espresso’s Costa Rica Don Claudio (93) hits all of the basic notes: It’s cocoa-toned and sweetly citrusy sophisticated by distinct stone fruit.
Cutbow Espresso’s Albuquerque hotspot is equal elements roastery, espresso store and tasting room, and our first foray into its lineup has us wanting extra. The basic Kenya Nyeri AA (93) we assessment right here is the epitome of all the things we love about Kenya coffees: unabashedly savory (suppose tomato vine), sweetly citrusy (pomelo) and grounded (crisp cocoa nib).
Considerate (As Against Afterthought-ful) Espresso Blends
We’ve been across the block sufficient to know that some blends are roasters’ leftover inexperienced coffees thrown along with a want and a prayer. So, one telltale signal of an excellent espresso operation is the standard of its blends. Are they considerate, fastidiously composed, or inconsiderate, haphazard? These three cross the take a look at.
The Langer Household (Rachel, proper, and her mother, Nancy, letf) of Albuquerque’s Pink Rod Roasters, has been within the espresso enterprise for greater than three a long time. (Courtesy of Pink Rock Roasters
Roadrunner Mix (93) from Pink Rock Espresso Roasters’ in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a legendary household recipe that has remained related for many years. A base of Sumatra offers lends earthy sweetness (petrichor, molasses, cedar) whereas rotating Central and South American greens give this espresso a candy-apple raise. And it’s named after the humorous, surprisingly elegant birds that punctuate New Mexico’s Route 66 and environs.
Newbury Park, California’s Ragamuffin Espresso Roasters despatched in an omni-blend, Higher Day (92), initially designed as an espresso however candy and rich-toned when cupped for brewed purposes. It’s deftly medium-roasted, with notes of milk chocolate, crisp pear, sassafras, and a touch of gardenia. It’s developed sufficient to face as much as milk however retains a mild brightness.
And lastly, we have now a beautiful discovery: Single Velocity Espresso Lab and Roastery, a 21st-century espresso area in a fab Arizona mountain (faculty) city, whose Hazard Monkey (91) is a enjoyable, pleasant mix that evokes blackberry cobbler with a drizzle of darkish chocolate. It’s one other medium-roasted mix that toes the road between sweetness and stability, and it succeeds in delivering a satisfying cup.
Whether or not a Route 66 highway journey is within the playing cards for you, or not, these 10 roasters — all of which ship espresso, too (as a result of it’s 2025) — are doing a spot-on job with sourcing and roasting. All of them get a number of love from locals, they usually deserve a good broader fan membership.
