George Howell Coffee / Ethiopia / Worka Chelbessa / Washed (Comet Coffee)

I was nervous going in because I did not recognize this barista. At this point, I recognize many baristas and know whom to trust. I thought I heard this barista explaining the steps to the brew to the other barista, saying she was told to do this or that. That would just be prejudice, though, because this was well made coffee. 

I loved this coffee as it settled into the lower end of hot and the center of medium warmth. The acidity started to sharpen at the bottom of the cup when it got cold. However, in the center 80% of the cup, it was silky smooth, almost honey-like. I was impressed. I am starting to find the florality and lightness of African coffees to be more interesting, but the note here was the body and mouthfeel. Incredible. 

Máquina Coffee / Rwanda / Rambagirakawa (Cairo Coffee)

Always trust your gut when you are getting coffee. In this case, this cafe was not my vibe. It was too hipster. I knew it going in - it had the same feeling that I had entering Stepwise... i.e., a mistake. I guess the pourover was good. I am a believer in pour overs being a scam, which the man at Anthology proudly told me over the phone, but this lady took her time and made a presentable cup. Nothing mind-boggling, but the coffee was in itself not mind-boggling. Warm, comfortable, light. Good coffee. I cannot recall more than that.

One thing I noticed here was that there was a grainy-ness to the coffee. I experienced the same with the Hyperion / Honduras / Pedro Zuniga / Washed from January. When ground, it kicks up a lot of white grounds. I think those are the ones adding the weird flavor. I don't enjoy that flavor. 

Metric Coffee / Colombia / Carlos Esteban Cortes

I did a quick trip to Chicago, which may become my new home in a few months. I did research online and one friendly Redditor left a great list of all the most notable cafes in the city. He said:

The only local roaster spots that are specifically worth traveling to for espresso (i.e. you’re a total coffee nerd/in the industry/this is how you usually spend vacations) and are on par with the best spots in the country are going to be Metric and Four Letter Word. 

So, naturally, I went to go see what was up with this cafe that was reportedly so good that it was worth traveling to for some espresso. 

I arrived and found the description online was very accurate. Standing room only, outside patio. The baristas were moderately friendly. The machine was normal, but had some modifications with a monitor on top and a wire running out of it into a small display. They didn't have multiple options on espresso, just the one I ordered. I was in search of great espresso, however, and I was told they have it. Marionberry, Cacao Nib, Tangerine Zest" did not matter to me. I wanted someone to make me great espresso on the merits of the brew.

The flavor was not memorable, but it was a very approachable and well done espresso with very little of the attributes that you find in most cafe espresso. I drank it very fast, which was disappointing to me. I do not enjoy the fascist nature of fast coffee, I like to luxuriate in my beverage. However, they did a good job. I would return and order coffee.