ARABIAN MOCHA SANANI @ STARBUCKS® COFFEE

I'd probably say this is my favourite... up coming

stay tuned..!

my favourite usual, Venti Caffe Mocha to go, with cream

Starbucks Coffee @ Warisan Square

SUMATRA SIBORONG - BORONG @ STARBUCKS COFFEE

Coffeechat with Zul and Crystal of Starbucks City Mall and Greg, coffeemaster from Warisan Square


Grown in Siborong-Borong—a town in the heart of Sumatra’s Lake Toba coffee-growing region—this rare, full-bodied coffee offers a surprising complexity, soft acidity and hints of freshly cut basil.

More about this coffee: Batak women pick the cherries and then pulp and wash them, all by hand. The wet parchment is set out to dry in the sun on tarps or woven mats in front of houses. This coffee is sorted by hand and delivered to market the day after harvest to ensure freshness.

Batak women at the marketplace

Priced at about nearly 200% from a usual pack of beans, this definitely is an exclussive production. Wrapped in a cool cut-out design box with royal purple packet, the look itself is irresistable.

PHILOSOFFEE ASSESSMENT

Since this is also another single origin roast from Sumatra, the usual characteristic of Indonesian coffee is expected, as in earthy, mushroomy and complex. I could not appreciate the suggested basil as is on the pack, but probably because I don't know what basil should taste like.

Aroma 7/10 quite subtle, if compared to the usual sumatra blend, but the sweet complexity is also distinguishable

Flavour 7/10 just like its cousin the sumatra roast, this coffee is characteristically earthy, with a slight hint of wine

Body 8/10 heavy, strong saturation of the palate

Acidity 5/10 low, as common for Indonesian coffee

Aftertaste 5/10 The taste clears after a while, probably due to the salivation promoted by the winey character of the coffee

PHILOSOFFEE RECOMMENDATION

Don't chat over this one. Drink it straight, as hot as possible because it turns acerbic real fast. It probably tastes like the subtle winey character that you can get at the beginning, but magnified to about 250 times, which randers it unpleasant.

However, the coffee is slightly overpunctuated with the packaging and the anticipation of the Year's Black Apron Exclusive Label, but not at all disappointing, just delicate. Buy if only you appreciate good coffee that requires your utmost attention and turns bad the minute you turn your back on it... and if only you can still find it, because it is going fast..

STARBUCKS® ANNIVERSARY BLEND @ STARBUCKS® COFFEE

Full-bodied and smooth with deep, spicy flavor.

Created in 1996 in honor of our 25th anniversary, Starbucks® Anniversary Blend is a big, bold, full-bodied blend of Asia/Pacific coffees accented with rare aged Indonesian beans.

More about this coffee:
The aged coffees deepen the earthiness and spiciness of this blend. This coffee celebrates the spirit of Starbucks and our coffee expertise.

The most catchy thing about this blend is definitely the presentation. I would know how catchy it is, for I bought not only the drink, but also the mug and travelling tumbler.. never have I bought so many merchandises based on one single product, but who can resist the lure of a half naked siren doing her thing, just like in the folklore. I think Starbucks' up to something.

Good marketing stratedy, I'd have to give them that.

PHILOSOFFEE ASSESSMENT

The general mood created by the coffee's aroma is definitely relaxing and mallowed. On the first introduction to the palate, I could almost taste the sweetness, reminding me of cotton candy or roasted marshmallow. And being an aged Indonesian produce, the earthy fragrance is distinctive.

Aroma 7/10 soft and gentle, the sweetness resembles roasted marshmallow

Acidity 4.5/10 rather low

Body 8/10 strong and confident, the coffee saturates the palate rather easily

Flavour 7.8/10

Aftertaste 6.5/10 quite clean aftertaste

RECOMMENDATIONS

Sipping the coffee slowly will reveal the slightly briny sweetness, not unpleasant, something of a strong caramel. Definitely something to relax with.

Hit number 1313

Yea, I've been around doing my usual coffee tasting but am still tied to work, stay put though, coffee reviews will be back... soon...

Plus I blog a bit more on my other blogspot... check it out!

FIRE & RAIN

James Taylor


Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things
to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now

Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now

VINCENT

Don McLean

Starry starry night
paint your palette blue and grey
look out on a summer's day
with eyes that know the
darkness in my soul.

Shadows on the hills
sketch the trees and the daffodils
catch the breeze and the winter chills
in colors on the snowy linen land.

And now I understand what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
they did not know how
perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry starry night
flaming flo'rs that brightly blaze
swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in
Vincent's eyes of China blue.

Colors changing hue
morning fields of amber grain
weathered faces lined in pain
are soothed beneath the artist's
loving hand.

And now I understand what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you
but still your love was true
and when no hope was left in sight on
that starry starry night,
You took your life
as lovers often do...

But I could have told you Vincent
this world was never
meant for one
as beautiful as you.

Starry starry night
portraits hung in empty halls
frameless heads on nameless walls
with eyes
that watch the world and can't forget.

Like the stranger that you've met
the ragged men in ragged clothes
the silver thorn of bloddy rose
lie crushed and broken
on the virgin snow.

And now I think I know what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
they're not list'ning still
perhaps they never will...

A LIL BIT TOO MUCH MOCHA

Attending a meeting over a 3 nights stay in Labuan - the land of cheap booze, cigarettes, textiles and of course, chocolate - I picked up a goodie bag full of the stuff worth more than 50 bucks. And all of them as you may have guessed it correctly - are in someways and somehow flavoured with coffee.

Stay tuned till I find the opportunity to have my caloriextravaganza, and celebrate the second Easter this year doing something I'd regret - trying out my coffee chocolate.

But a coffee maestro's gotta do what a coffee maestro's gotta do... oh well.

YAY!

I've just got my millennial hit today, exactly at about 0945 local time!! Here's to more visitors, cheers!

EQUATOR COFFEE @ SANDAKAN

Stuck between wanting to play a good host to the visiting Indonesian doctors, and not being bored to death pretending to be interested in some huge nosed proboscis monkeys, I had to make up my mind and decide... finally I decided not to die from monkey-induced boredom. Got myself dropped halfway off Sandakan town, at Bandar Indah, I quickly headed to this place which I spotted the night before during a night out to get some beers.

coffee equator

Another one of those place that surely will catch my attention, even though it was late at night, not to mention the heavy rain and the fact that I saw it from such an angle usual people would just be happy to ignore.

Yeap, anything with a large signboard with t he word coffee on it will work!

Inside, to my greatest pleasure, was fully air-conditioned and the comfortable dining tables were just as inviting as the signboard outside.

At one glance, this place would pass off as a really impressive American style coffee joint franchise, very similar to that of Coffee Bean or Starbucks, minus the usual overcrowding and the effort to find a good place to sit.

the counter - extra shy people who runs off gave it an impression that there's nobody around

Even the menu was suggesting that this was an experience I am going to remember - it says "coffee tastes better with a friend". Aaahhh :-)

Very quickly attended to by its young apperentice, Kit (whom later expressed that he has a keen interest in pastry business) he showed good knowledge of the products on sale, which tell me that I will at least enjoy my stay here.

cozy chairs - not captured here is the sofa set

I was later joined by the owner, who was a friendly lady who has travelled Europe to experience the real coffee that side of the world has to offer. She took time to sit on my table, telling me a little bit more about their coffee, its origin, and what makes the business work with different people.

Equator Coffee usually gets packed later in the evening, when the younger consumers find it a perfect place to hang out with friends, or get together to do homework (though I doubt much would be accomplished here).

coffex coffee

Equator Coffee only serves Coffex Coffee, a company from Australia which gets its beans from Central America. The shop only uses one single blend, which is the Espresso for Cafe, medium strength.

I tried a few drinks and later a couple of pastries here at Equator. The first was to try Coffex black. I will write about it separately. Then, a Grand Cappuccino as recommended by Kit, a concoction of Espresso with a spalsh of flavoured syrup. Kit did Irish Cream for me, which I thought was superb. Other than that, they also have other syrups like chocolate, caramel, hazel, mint, tiramisu and vanilla. Priced at RM8.70 a serving, not too bad really.

Another recipe worthy of trying, which is Mdm Chong's favourite, is Caffe Viannese - Cappuccino. I didn't have the opportunity to try this one, after 2 servings of coffee here, but this could be a good reason to come back! Priced at RM8.60 a serving, it is one of the store's bestsellers I suppose.

Another thing that cought my attention, on the menu was the real Irish Coffee - with real non-halal stuff in it - at RM15.50 a mug, I wish it was not broad daylight and I have to take a taxi back to the hotel - or I would have ordered one. Next time, next time...

tiramisu

Another offering that one shouldn't go back without trying, is in the display fridge, next to the counter. The cakes are all home made, and each and every one of them are made herself by Mdm Chong! I got to try her tiramisu (RM6.00 each) and since I am filled to the brim but still greedy - I packed a slice of her Japanese Cotton Cheese cake - simply irresistable.

This is one place I would gladly recommend to anybody passing by Sandakan. I wish we have one like this in KK.

Kit and Mdm Chong

Equator Coffee opens daily from 0800H to 2300H
(varying on Weekends and Public Holidays)

G/F Lot 5, Block 12, Bandar Indah,
Mile 4, Jalan Utara, Sandakan
equator_coffee@imap.cc
089 210 517

WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those night when you've got no lights,
The check is in the mail;
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by it's tail;
And your third fiance didn't show;

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;
The morning's looking bright;
And your shrink ran off to Europe,
And didn't even write;
And your husband wants to be a girl;

Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.

Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came...

BEHIND THE APRON

Some time back, while on a meeting trip to KL, I was staying at Petaling Street and the nearest coffee joint accessible by walking is a Starbucks at Kota Raya. Spent almost 3quarters of my coffee consumption at that particular Starbucks, I made friends with its manager, and had long great conversations with this guy. Let me introduce to you, Mr Mohd Adli, a man with great passion for good coffee. We chatted about everything, and for a long while, I haven't had that kind of fruitful substantial conversations (to quote a dear friend, a conversation that leads to mental orgasm).

Now, please don't think dirty.

Here are 10 things about our man, Adli.

1. He has worked in Starbucks for 7 years, working his way up from a barista
2. It takes about a month to master the coffee machines - the one that makes espresso and blows out fierce steam to make milk-foam - if one is serious enough about it.
3. The mark of a good barista is that he knows his coffees well, and his coffee drinks well (meaning that a cappuccino will only be called a cappuccino if the milk-coffee-foam ratio is right etc).
4. He has been a coffee master for 2 years (meaning that for the past 2 years he gets to wear a black apron when there's any formal functions)
5. The most under appreciated element of coffee couture is the recognition of taste - the mingling of flavour and aroma that gives coffee its characteristic individuality
6. For black coffee, he loves Sumatra the best, for its pleasant aftertaste, and Kenya for its sweetness and juiciness as an iced drink.
7. Currently his favourite drink is cafe-latte.
8. He believes that running a cafe like this is all about costumer service, and the knowledge of the beverages available (I think the ability to recommend is also a very important plus-point)
9. Adli recommends black coffee for the experienced, caramel machiato for the first-timers, and for teenagers (as usual) any frappucinos.

getting my usual

Well, for number 10 why don't you drop by at his outlet and say hi to him yourself!

KD, Adli, Fauzi @ KotaRaya Starbucks

FINALLY, A CHANCE AT THE KEYBOARD

Ah, after a long long wait, and a long long overdue promise to post something up, I've finally found the time (squeezed in between my sleeping times) to make myself a big mug of coffee and a good internet connection to update my recent findings (by this time, they aren't so recent anymore). Anyway, here they are...

FRENCH PRESS

This is also called French Press - but what is the likelihood of me talking about exercise?
"Not" -Borat-

article taken from Wikipedia
A French press, also known as a press pot, coffee press, coffee plunger or cafetière, is a coffee brewing device popularized by the French. Its operation is simple and it produces a stronger coffee than other devices.

french press, or coffee plunger

A French press consists of a narrow cylindrical jug usually made of glass or clear plastic, equipped with a lid and a "plunger" which fits tightly in the cylinder and which has a fine wire or nylon mesh acting as a filter. Coffee is brewed by placing the coffee and water together, leaving to brew for a few minutes, then depressing the plunger to separate the coffee at the bottom of the jug. The French press goes by various names around the world. In Australia, South Africa and Ireland the whole apparatus is known as a coffee plunger and coffee brewed in it is known as plunger coffee. Its French name is cafetière à piston, a melior (from an old brand of makers of coffee pots of this type) or a Bodum (another brand). In the UK the device is known as a cafetière (the French word for "coffee pot").

Because the coffee grounds are in direct contact with the brewing water, coffee brewed with the French press captures more of the coffee's flavour and essential oils, which would become trapped in a traditional drip brew machine's paper filters. French pressed coffee is usually stronger and thicker and has more sediment than drip-brewed coffee. Because the used grounds remain in the drink after brewing, French pressed coffee should be served immediately so as to not become bitter from over-extraction. A typical 8-cup French press is considered expired after 20 minutes.

Coffee for use in a French press should be of a consistent, coarse grind. The use of a burr mill grinder gives a more consistent grind than the whirling blade variety. The ground coffee should be more coarse than that used for a drip brew coffee filter, and far coarser than that used for espresso, as anything other than a coarse grind will seep through the press filter and into the coffee. A French press can also be used in place of a tea infuser to brew loose tea.

A French press is also more portable and self contained than other coffee makers. Travel mug versions also exist made of tough plastic instead of the more common glass, and have a sealed lid with a closable drinking hole. Some versions are marketed to hikers and backpackers not wishing to carry a heavy metal percolator or a filter using drip brew.

SUMATRA @ STARBUCKS COFFEE

Cupping date: 4 and 5 July 2007

Coffeechat: Vino (coffeemaster @ KLCentral) and Mohd Adli (coffeemaster @ KotaRaya)

Sumatra has a full, syrupy body with virtually no acidity - so the coffee's intensity lingers in your mouth. The concentrated spicy, herbal notes and earthy aroma are the telltale signatures of this well-loved coffee.

More about this coffee
The island of Sumatra produces 70% of Indonesia's income and is home to over 38 million people.

I've been very fortunate to have the opportunity to discover myself the difference between coffee by the drip and coffee by the press just one day after another during my last visit to KL Starbucks. Now I am a Press Convert, convinced that the best way to appreciate coffee to its most minute detail, in fact, can only be done, by using the French Press brewing method. For those who do not own a Press yet, it's about time to get one.

PHILOSOFFEE ASSESSMENT

This is probably one of the most honest and straight-forward coffee I've ever cupped. Straight-forward because the flavour is not-at-all complicated. I am actually lost for word in trying to describe this coffee that is so "unmistakably coffee" like "this is what coffee meant to taste like".

The aroma is strong and handsome, giving off a sense of adult's-coffee.. or coffee for the mature minded. The body is so full that it saturates the tastebuds even on the first sip.

One thing fascinating about this coffee is that its heavy-weight character stays consistent throughout the whole cup, not like most others that would turn another spectrum as the coffee cools.

The aftertaste is surprisingly cleaner than I've expected. The boldness of the coffee lingers on pleasantly without being annoyingly bitter.

Aroma 7/10 the first impression suggests that this has got to be the coffee's coffee
Acidity 5-8/10 although the conventional accepted idea states that bold coffee has got low acidity (in fact Starbucks claims that this coffee has got no acidity at all) I felt that the acidity started somewhat low but ended with a higher zing; hitting like a trombone but takes off like a flute
Body 9/10 definitely bold and heavy mouth feel, one that saturates the taste bud upon first contact
Flavour 8/10 earthy, unmistakably

PHILOSOFFEE RECOMMENDATION

The simplicity (or rather straight-forwardness) of the character makes it ideal for someone who is not in the mood to scrutinise or discern the complexity of some other coffee. Like a writer experiencing inspirational constipation, this would be the best choice because it offers enough jolt to sustain wakefullness, but not complicated as to disturb the flow of ideas.

On a less-poetic note, I'd recommend this for after-dinner companion, especially after a heavy meal of meat and spices - this coffee is bold enough to dampen and pacify the bombardment on the tastebuds from dinner, yet straight-forward in character to ease and relax the mind.

YUKON BLEND @ STARBUCKS COFFEE

Cupping date: 2 July 2007
Outlet: Starbucks @ Warisan Square, Kota Kinabalu
Barista(s): Coffeechat with Talissa


Yukon Blend® is a little bolder than House Blend but still mellow and balanced. The acidity is moderate due to the influence of fuller-bodied coffees from Asia Pacific.

More about this coffee: A blend of coffees from Latin America and Asia Pacific, Yukon Blend® was originally created for a captain of a fishing fleet and his crew.

Food Pairing Recommendations Any breakfast food is wonderful with this invigorating blend - like a big bowl of oatmeal with raisins and cinnamon.

PHILOSOFFEE ASSESSMENTS

I tried blind tasting for this one and found that my description of the coffee is fairly accurate to Starbucks description. One step closer for this self-acclaimed coffee-critic.

Okay, now to business.

The aroma for this blend is clean and light. Somehow reminds me of Christmas spices. The initial sip suggests of a nutty background, which delivers a smooth walnut character to the base of the tongue. Relatively mild-mannered.

The walnut flavour becomes more prominent in the midtaste, but leaves a low residue lingering. Overall, the coffee has an equal distribution of strength all over the tongue. The aftertaste is also clean and well balanced, as it goes off relatively quickly.

Aroma 6/10
Body 5/10 light to medium
Acidity moderate brightness 5.5/10
Flavour nutty 6.5/10

PHILOSOFFEE RECOMMENDATIONS

I would suggest pairing with nut based pastry or cakes, and personally I love carrot walnut cake to go with this. This blend has a fleeting character, and will only be prominent when the drink is still hot. So I'd not recommend this as a conversational drink but more of a personal indulgence kind of retreat.

Go for it when you need something to warm you up after getting drenched from the rain outside.

TANZANIA @ STARBUCKS COFFEE

Cupping date: 26 June 2007
Outlet: Starbucks @ City Mall, Kota Kinabalu
Barista(s): Talissa, Adeline and Madan

Medium-bodied with a crisp, clean flavor and pleasing black currant and citrus notes.

Geography Is a Flavor™ You can tell a lot about a coffee if you know where it’s from, because every bean has a distinctive flavor particular to its land of origin. Coffees from Africa are remarkable for their floral aromas and citrusy tastes.

Origin Tanzania coffee is grown in East Africa’s fertile Rift Valley, which is believed to be the birthplace of coffee. The Great Rift Valley was formed out of explosive earthquake and volcanic activity.

Key Tasting Term Currant

Food Pairing Recommendations The citrus and berry notes of Tanzania will pair perfectly with your favorite summer fruit salad.


PHILOSOFFEE ASSESSMENT

Aroma 6/10
Body 7.5/10
Acidity medium to high 7/10
Flavour sublte earthiness, bittersweet 7/10

The aroma strikes as mild and cakey, with a tinge of sweetness similar to honey or something more familiar like vanilla. Cake is still the best description I would give for its aroma. Pleasant, smooth and brings together with it happy thoughts.

Initial impression on the first sip is very much like what I would have guessed from the aroma. Smooth and tame, the body first strikes with a medium weight at first but tapers down to lightweight after saturation.

The sweetness of the coffee starts to show-up slightly more when it cools down a little bit. It is quite unmistakably caramel, characterised by its subtle bitter-sweetness that hits more prominently at the back of the tongue rather than the tip where we'd expect to taste sweetness.

Tanzania has a pleasant aftertaste, not exactly clean as it leaves you with quite a bold lingering, but since it is bittersweet, it is okay.

RECOMMENDATION

I would recommend Tanzania for any coffee skeptics who cannot tolerate the idea of a bitter coffee. It is also good for coffee-enthusiast beginners as this will leave one with pleasant first impression for novelty coffee.

Pair this with other feel-good food like tiramisu. Also good with dark chocolate thins.

pumba

FEELOSOPHY @ PHILOSOFFEE

I was pondering upon this word one day after an argument with another person, that it's okay to have different opinions because we all have our own identity. Used in such circumstance, I often imagine that the word 'identity' refers to the uniqueness of a person; like a character that defines me as me, and that I am who I am because my identity says so, and so I am like no others.

But upon careful dissection of the word, it actually means other that what I understood - that identity means the similarity with another! That my identity is a reflection of my similarity with another point of reference. That I am not my own, but my being is classified or realised by how much I am similar to someone else! (Now suddenly the word identical twins catches its meaning).

This brings me back to many years ago when I was brewing on the theory that one's characters or identity is formed by its surrounding - therefore a person is like a sponge, that absorbs the character of his environment. If that is so, what is my composition? If I can describe myself in 5 words, what would they be? What are the environmental factors or surrounding influences that contributes to the 5 words?

What do you feel about this thought?

The Gospel According to Starbucks®

This book has not been authorised by Starbucks Coffee Company

Product Details
Price: RM 56.90 at Borders
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (January 16, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1578566495
ISBN-13: 978-1578566495

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Studies show that fewer Americans than we thought attend church, and Sweet, popular author (Soul Salsa) and professor of evangelism at Drew Theological School in New Jersey, thinks that the church should take cues from an institution that isn't suffering a lack of customers: Starbucks. For all his hip cultural sensitivity, Sweet hasn't shed one standby of church-growth books: the acronym. His is EPIC, which stands for Experience, Participation, "Images that throb with meaning," and Connection. Starbucks has mastered EPIC living, and the church can, too. The successful coffee corporation recognizes that people are drawn in through visual icons, and it beats competitors because its design sensibility is superior—indeed, its imagery is shot through with "spiritual significance." The church should take a hint and, instead of focusing solely on its written mission statements, devote some energy to design. Starbucks understands that people hunger for "authentic experience." Finally, just as people like to drink coffee together, people seek community and connection in religious settings. Sweet's bottom line? Christianity must move beyond rational, logical apologetics, and instead find ways of showing people that it can offer "symbols and meaningful engagement." This whimsical and insightful book offers a fresh approach to a topic of perennial interest. (Apr. 17)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Praise for The Gospel According to Starbucks®

“Cultural barista Leonard Sweet serves up a triple venti cup of relevant insights to wake up decaffeinated Christians. Careful, the book you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot.”
–Ben Young, pastor, author of Why Mike’s Not a Christian

“Reading this book is a caffeine jolt. Get ready to be accelerated into the future, with Jesus a central part of the experience.”
–Dan Kimball, pastor, author of The Emerging Church and They Like Jesus, But Not the Church
“The Gospel According to Starbucks® inspires us to quit playing safe and mediocre lives and to fulfill our God-given potential. Leonard Sweet uncovers God’s purpose for people not just as individuals but also as communities. An outstanding and thought-provoking book.”
–Paul McGee, international speaker, best-selling author of S.U.M.O. (Shut Up, Move On®)

“I have a massive passion for passion. It’s my favorite spiritual topic. And I have a nominal coffee obsession, Starbucks being my ritual more often than not. So what a treat to read Leonard Sweet’s extra-shot weaving together of the two–all in the hope that each of us will drink in the meaningful and passion-filled life we were designed for.”
–Mark Oestreicher, president of Youth Specialties

taken from Amazon.com

This book was spotted by my friends (Martin and Anne) at Borders one day, and they immediately called me to ask whether or not I have it already - because they know it is a must have in my collection. Yup, I don't have it yet and I must have it!

Though I have not read the book thoroughly yet (there's still a long queue before it comes to this one) but browsing through it is enough to pull me to ditch the rest and sit on this (like the strong aroma of good coffee that is so irresistibly tempting).

The author explains matters of faith using acronyms that is related to coffee and Starbucks' business plans like BREW for Being, Real, Engages the, World and EPIC for Experiential, Participatory, Image-rich and Connecting.

Sprinkled with experiments that illustrates how much Christian faith can be exemplified by our day-to-day coffee knowledge, using coffee related jargons, this book is truly going to be one of my favourites.

AZUKI FRAPPUCINNO @ STARBUCKS COFFEE

"Taste the daydream"

- complicated tacky caption or just plain distastefully Japanese?-

By comparison, this is not a new drinjk introduced by Starbucks, since I get to try it about a month back at Kl Central Starbucks. The name is definitely catchy for me, because I like anything and everything Japanese.

The Frap before it's made to affogato

Come to think about it, I now feel that I was cheated into trying it, since I was told that it is a coffee based Frap. On its own, it was a tad bit just too sweet for my liking, and I was wondering where did the coffee taste go? So to spike up my drink, I ordered a cold shot of Espresso to drown it and make it stronger. As I have experienced before, cold Espresso is pretty much necessary to maintain the texture of the Frap, since a hot pour will spoil everything.

I would prefer the red bean chunks to be slightly coarser too, to add to the texture. Bigger straws are a better idea (like the ones in Coffee Bean) rather than the usual individual packed green ones for this.

Being a coffee purist, I'd frown upon any attempts to make fanciful combinations that doesn't really bring out the taste of coffee, but this is one exception, to have it is to have it Affigato, or not at all.

foam

COFFEE STORY @ MALACCA

the pond along the length of the coffee house

Recently I was in Malacca for an official field-trip and I had some free time at night to go strolling around the town. Unluckily or maybe luckily, it rained a heavy down-pour when I was out and I had to run for shelter to some shop-lots. Wet, stranded, tired and in a terrible mood from the sudden change of weather, one unexpected consolation was to find this place: The Coffee Story - Concept Coffee Shop.

Located at the fringe of town, sandwiched by old shops left and right, this great place is easily overlooked.

Walking in to the restaurant almost felt like walking in my dream place - Cafe Philosoffee as I meant it to be.. well, almost. But the concept in this set-up falls nothing short of superb.

the sound of trickling water calms the tired nerves

One most glaring attraction is a rectangular pond with flowing water running across the length of the coffee house. There are 2 water fountains at each ends of the pond and gold fish swimming freely in the water.

fusion of simplistic modern design with Oriental deco

The seaters are comfortable, clusters of sofas and dining tables loosely placed in and outside the main enterance. Chinese House and CantoPop plays in the back-ground - an acquired taste, of course. Alternatively, bring your own jazz CD and get them to put it on, I'm sure they'd be happy to entertain requests.

Another intriguing character of this place is in the menu. They named their food and drinks with catchy names like Coffee Story Toast, Old School, Brand New Day and drinks like Superman Milo and Coffeeman.

Being happily stranded in this cool place, it is unlucky to have forgotten my camera. And without any decent books in hand for that matter. They do have a few selections of Chinese Mags and tabloids though, but... never mind...

In the time-frame of about 1 hour, I had the opportunity to try 2 drinks and 3 dishes - talk about greed. But the portions were pleasantly appropriate for me to try out more than just one.

First I had the Coffee Story Toast - toasted bread and cheese with cherry tomato on top - and Coffeeman which is a vanilla+coffee milk shake.

Coffeeman and Coffee Story Toast - ideal finger food for the small eater

Then I went for the heavier dishes - Mayonnaise Chicken and Sweet+Sour Chicken without the rice. Downed with a very interesting drink, the dream of every child: Superman Milo which is actually iced-Milo topped with a hill of Milo powder. Messy, but which child will eat cleanly?

Pricing
I spent about RM16.00 for all the mentioned above. This, as opposed to a Frap Venti(R) drink for the same price - extremely worth every cents spent.

Recommendations
I strongly recommend this place for a night out catching up with friends or just to run away from routine life and sink your nose in a good book. The centre-piece pond and its catchy ornaments scaterred around the coffee house serves as conversational starters making this place a good port for first date too. If you don't already have a date, lug your laptop along and start chatting up a company for this place is equipped with WiFi connection.

And if for nothing else, I'd come back just because the waitress (?owner) was extremely hospitable and welcoming - making my short patronage a pleasant experience.

Coffee Story Concept Coffee House is located at:

328, Jalan Melaka Raya 1
Taman Melaka Raya
75000 Malacca
(same row as Maybank, right opposite HQ Bookstore)

Business: 0800 - midnight (Mon - Sat)

GOLD COAST BLEND @ STARBUCKS COFFEE

All that glitter is gold: not your ordinary bling-bling

Intro by Starbucks

Starbucks created its biggest and most flavorful blend in 1987 to commemorate its first store opening in Chicago. Gold Coast Blend® is a sophisticated coffee with waves of flavor that evolve as the coffee cools. This full-bodied blend showcases our finest Latin American and Asia Pacific coffees, accented with a touch of Italian Roast's sweetness.

Pricing
Tall serving RM6.50 + 15%Tax

Origin
This is a multi-region variety of blend, fusion of the best from Latin American and Indonesian origin.

Starbucks Gold Coast Blend: the diva

Assessment
This is truly a complex blend, a multiphase showcase of flavour and aroma. One just need to sit and sip through the cup to experience the spectrum of stimuli it presents. I recommend sitting through it because this is one with very interesting character needing a bit of concentration to appreciate.

The initial impression comes about as tame and gentle. Comparing to Colombia Narino Supremo which is intense on the first sip, Gold Coast Blend gives a non-explossive introduction. Even the aroma is not striking, rather soft and smooth, creating an image of a sweet talking gentleman welcoming his dame.

Further discernment finds a fruity tinge, similar to a sweet wine consistency. The midtaste experience turns more intense, giving off a tinge of bitter-sweetness, very much like burnt-sugar. This bitter-sweet character lingers at the back of the throat, enhances the aroma, changing the initial mild impression to a level higher.

As the strength of the brew is most noted in the aftertaste, characterising it as unmistakably bold - or Extra bold as the company claims - constant sipping helps me to stay in the sweet wine phase of the showcase, which is my favourite for this blend.

Although the strength of the brew is most intense in the aftertaste, the general impression I have is still a clean coffee, with a pleasant bitter sweetness that stays for a while.

Aroma 8/10
Acidity 8.5/10
Body 8/10
Flavour 7.8/10
Aftertaste 6.5/10

Recommendations
Like a good movie, this one is best enjoyed in silence (not necessarily alone). I would drink this as my breakfast coffee, on a calm morning, after a well-rested night, when a high joltage jump-start is not needed.

After-coffee mint recommended.

SWEET SWEET COFFEE

It's been a while since I last had a good cup of black coffee. Last week, when I was at UPM attending the National PROSTAR Convention, I had to endure 3 full days of absurdly sweet americano or kopi-o that was dispensed from a leaky plastic container every time we had a break. I swear that would be the last time I will put up with such insult.

Anyway, congratulations to Starbucks KK for the opening of its third branch at KK City Mall. Why do we need another Starbucks I do not know, but I am not complaining, in fact, I think we can never have enough... I just think that Berjaya Group should be careful of over-domesticising the brand because the way Sabahan or rather Malaysian mentality as a whole, appreciates the exotic more.

PicH OF THE WEEK

A forgotten carcass of a ship at Kota Kinabalu Waterfront, will only emerge during low-tide

FEELOSOPHY

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs pic credit Wikipedia

In the order of needs proposed by Abraham Maslow, we see that there are two level of needs for sex, the more primitive physiological sex and the (slightly) more complicated intimate sex. Are there differences between them?

What do you feel is the difference?

Sheena said...

So, an insecure person can't be moral?

NEVER FORGET

Take That

Been on this path of life for so long

Feel I've walked a thousand miles
Sometimes strolled hand in hand with love
Everybody's been there
With danger on my mind I would stand on the line of hope
I knew I could make it
Once I knew the boundaries I looked into the clouds and saw
My face in the moonlight
Just then I realised what a fool I could be
Just cause I look so high I don't have to see me
Finding a paradise wasn't easy but still
There's a road going down the other side of this hill

Never forget where you've come here from
Never pretend that it's all real
Someday soon this will be someone else's dream

Been safe from the arms of disappointment for so long
Feel each day we've come too far
Yet each day seems to make much more
Sure is good to be here
I understand the meaning of "I can't explain this feeling"
Now it feels so unreal
At night I see the hand that reminds me of the stand I make
The fact of reality

We've come so far and we've reached so high
And we've looked each day and night in the eye
And we're still so young and we hope for more
But remember this
We're not invincible, we're not invincible, no
We're only people, we're only people
Hey we're not invincible, we're not invincible

So again I'll tell you...

FEELOSOPHY @ PHILOSOFFEE

Most often we define our existence by means of purpose or reason (ie almost all major monotheistic religion define meaning of existence as to worship and glorify God).

Are there any other ways in which we can define our existence beyond a description of purpose?

What do you feel?

Sheena said...

You can define yourself in relation to others, eg.

(i) How others SEE you.
(ii) What others EXPECT of you. (This one is related to purpose, except on a more horizontal, rather than vertical level; unless the person in question is your boss :P)

Or, you could just live life without reason, ie. live for the sake of living, eg. pleasure-seeking. Dorian Gray, for example. Existentialism, that's the word, there ya go.

I must admit I'm a bit distracted in this comment: I'm still chewing over a question some else asked me a few days ago: "Why are you so religious?"

Why don't you have a go at that one? :P

ARTEo said...

My boss once asked my, knowing I attend church and stuff, that whether or not I am a religious person...

Thinking about the silent debate in my mind of the times when I was looking at the pros and cons of having a set cluster of rules to direct your relationship with God (interpreted as religion), I at that time was leaning towards the cons of religious restrictions

So I said I was rather faithful than religious.

Sheena said...

Not answering the question:

Question is why, not what.

ARTEo said...

That's what we are trying to discuss here... the question of what rather than why... for why will always be followed by a reason and another why... Many a times we are told about the philosophy of being versus doing, but not many (I dare say) understand fully the actual meaning of being, and unconsciously fall back into "doing" something in order to "be" something...

Is there a more primary state of existence (or probably existence isn't the best word to use here) that connotes our "being"?

In other words, probably I'd rephrase that, what is the meaning of our existence, other than to answer some purposes?

MOCHA FRAPPUCINNO: AFFOGATO STYLE @ STARBUCKS COFFEE

MOCHA FRAPPUCINO : AFFOGATO STYLE

I was just browsing through Starbucks' merchandise cabinet last night, thinking to myself.. I was around KK all the time and there are outlets there, why should I get mugs and what-nots here when I have to lug everything up and down the plane?...

So I didn't get anything, and was just about to get away with a boring Mocha Frap when my new barista friend, Hieffny, suggested that I should give it a little twist - or drown it - and make it affogato. We need more baristas like this. Good for the company :-)

Starbucks Coffee @ Bukit Raja, Klang

Affogato - or drowning - is actually a common recipe, taken as dessert or beverage by topping it with hot espresso shot. Ice cream, pudding or ice-blended beverages has been drowned in the past.

Espresso used to top a beverage

Affogato was on offer at Starbucks some years back, and has not returned since. Although the norm would be to drown a cream based beverage (Chocolate Frap or Vanilla Frap et cetera) I tried it on my Mocha since I was just too curious to know what's it like, so I went for it.

I can understand why Hieffny stressed that this recipe should be done on a cream based frappucino, because adding a shot to an already coffee based drink did not bring out the wonderful taste of getting cream and coffee mixed as you sip - the coffee taste was too overpowering. When enjoying the beverage, the whole idea is to let cream and coffee combine in your mouth, so sometimes you get more of the sweetness of cream and sometimes the bitterness espresso. So dont stir the whole thing as you'll just end up with a latte frap.

Since it was a last minute improvisation on a Mocha Frap, the whole Frappucino texture was lost after the drowning, making it a tad bit too fluid to stay as a conversational beverage, and because the coffee was doubled by a notch, the chocolatey taste of the original mocha was also drowned.

How I would probably do it at Cafe Philosoffee - is to make the base drink more dry - by using more ice, so that it will not all be dissolved by the hot espresso. Another idea is to use chilled espresso - so that it will not readily mix with the cream based frap and I'll get more texture from the concoction. It is Starbucks' policy to customise drinks for its clients, go have it your style, ask away.

Yusira dressing up my Affogato

Generally the drink is a pleasant one, good for first dates or reunion, since it can also provide conversational starters for those awkward silences. Don't do this when you're in a hurry because this is one beverage to sit down and contemplate over.

Hieffny and Yusira

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"
They're really saying "I love you"

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn so much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world...

QUOTE

"I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra.
But I don't think that's quite it;
it's more like jazz.
There is more improvisation..."

~Warren Bennis~

WHAT DOES 15% MEAN?

The Government has recently announced a salary raise of 15% to Officers in the Grade 41 category. These are 25 ways in which this good news can be translated... at least for me...

1. 23 cups of Venti Mocha at Starbucks
2. 32 KFC meals of Dinner plate and a large Pepsi
3. 2.8 pieces of Pierre Cardin shirts
4. 41 movies a month at GSC during non-peak hours
5. 74.6 packets of Chacheer Sunflower seeds
6. 839 pieces of photos in 4R
7. 9.3 paperback novels
   
8. 84.3 pieces of Unagi Hand-rolls
9. 2.3 airplane trips from KK to Lahad Datu by Fax
10. 26.2 cups of Regular Ice-Blended Ultimate Mocha from Coffee Bean
11. 31.2 copies of Men's Health, Malaysian Edition
12. 22.4 copies of Readers' Digest
13. 33.9 tubs of Nestle La Cremeria 'Loaded' Cappuccino Chocolate Ice cream
    

I think I'll stop at 13...