DC Coffee Review: Filter

Source:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andynash/5413168471

This is a Guest Post by Dave, who is currently living in DC and is an avid coffee lover.  If you would like to be a Guest Writer for Metro Espresso, please contact me at MetroEspressoDC@gmail.com

On my two visits to Filter Coffee, located one street off Connecticut Avenue on 20th between R St. and S St.  in the Dupont Circle neighborhood I walked away with one over-riding thought.  They sure can make a nice drink.  Not so rare you say?  Well, it kind of is rare these days as the coffee shop community blooms here in DC and the talent pool gets thinner and thinner.  The baristas who served me were friendly and very competent.  I could hear them answering customer questions with patience and with an interest in educating the novice, without being snobbish.  From the decor which is earthy and inviting,  accented by their signature warm orange espresso machine, to their focus on the coffee I quickly felt I was in a good place.  A lightly adorned exposed brick wall serves as the backdrop for a wide cross-section of the diverse neighborhood.

Bike messengers, coffee hipsters, tailored commuters, the self- and un-employed laptop addicts, and local office workers all can equally lay claim to this small semi-submerged oasis.  Just a few steps below street level one gets the sense of being a world away  aided by the sweet aroma of a large variety of pour overs, and the hubbub of conversations and swell music in the air.  Most days finds Rasheed, the owner, personally making the drinks or waiting at the pick-up end of the counter to smartly greet his large cadre of regulars.  I overheard a few of his speeches on fine dining and could see a real passion in him - a passion not fully realized in his shop as the selection of baked goods or food of any kind is surprisingly lacking. Upon leaving after my second visit was when I even noticed they offered anything.   This is either a bad oversight or a testament to their single-minded focus on the coffee.   I will need more visits (and more good coffees) to really know. It didn't bother me one bit.

Of their coffees I went with the Guatemalan suggested to me.  French Pressed.  It was simple, clean and mild.  A true crowd pleaser.  My next visit found me going back to the counter for second Americano for the road.  More please! One of the best Ive had in the city.  Their website lists Cafe Pronto of Annapolis as their roaster, a very competent and popular roaster that serves many shops here in DC.

As good as things were, I would like to see Filter move out of that box a little and multi-source their beans which I believe would back up their bona fides as a coffee-centric operation.  The bottom line on Filter is that its a wonderful coffee shop that knows its community and works hard to provide it with good coffees in a nice environment.  Coolness factor is high - you must check out the coffee icon bike racks out front. 

Metro Espresso Coffee Newsletter: Writers Wanted (Yes, that means you!)

(This is a printing press, though it does resemble a medieval torture apparatus.)

In seeking new ways to expand Metro Espresso, I will be creating a physical and digital coffee newsletter that will, hopefully, be distributed to select cafes in the DC-area.  It will be published once a month.  If you would like to write an article about DC coffee culture (highly encouraged) or general coffee topics (still encouraged), please contact me via email (MetroEspressoDC@gmail.com) or Twitter. 

It should be roughly 250 words in length or less.  Examples of an article could be a tidbit on the ongoing regional Barista championships or a review of a new coffee brewing device.  Can you submit coffee-related poetry and prose?  Yes!  If I receive a flood submissions, the one's that do not make it into the print edition will be featured on the blog as featured posts.  I am quite excited about this, and hope you can be a part of this project.  If you have friends who are possibly interested, tell them!

Are you a cafe who would like to receive the inaugural Metro Espresso Coffee Newsletter for your patrons?  Please contact me and I can set you up with a digital copy.

Is Illy Coffee Overhyped and Overpriced?

Before I influence you with my impressions of Illy, what is your opinion?  Is is priced reasonably in relation to quality?  What does it taste like?  How does the dark roast differ?  Post a comment now before reading any further.  (Technically, I have already biased you with my title.)

Two days ago, I broke down and purchased some Illy coffee.  Seduced by the premium price, fancy packaging a la tin can, and the curiosity of what I might be missing, I plopped my hard earned cash on the iconic red can.  Thankfully, the supermarket placed Illy on sale for two dollars less than normal!  Coming to 12.99 for 8.8oz of whole bean, medium roasted Illy coffee.

A pretty penny to be sure. 

Impressions:

Naturally, I am a big fan of fancy, intriguing packaging.  The reflective, circle tin can along with the simple Illy logo appeals to my appreciation for aesthetics.  Yet, a fantastic taste is what turns a first time customer to a return customer.  (We hope!)  After removing the metal seal, pouring the beans into the grinder, and firing up the espresso machine, I tasted the vaunted Illy brand.  What did I think?

It was a deflating "decent."  Perhaps, my expectations exceeded what I secretly knew.  No roast date, the coffee is being sold at a supermarket, and Italian coffee generally has a reputation for solid but simple tasting coffee.  In conjunction with the elevated price and only receiving 8.8oz of coffee it's difficult to justify buying it every week.   With that said, the espresso embodied a smooth and moderately bright taste which is quite pleasant, but leaves a small, but noticeable, ashy aftertaste.

I found Archer Farms' Peru San Ignacio a superior supermarket coffee, which at 4-5 dollars cheaper and more flavorful than Illy, would be my choice between the two.  Am I being too harsh?  Is my coffee palette not refined to marshal out the nuanced flavors of Illy?  Sound off in the comments section.  

Archer Farms: Peru San Ignacio Review

Coffee lovers, if there was one piece of advice I could give, it would be, "Don't buy hype."  Fancy hipster designs, 15-20 dollars for 12oz of coffee, or special certifications do not make good coffee.  Often peripheral points such advertising, price point, and organic designations can influence our judgments, i.e. "I payed 20 dollars for X coffee, it must good."  

Certainly, Archer Farms "Peru San Ignacio" coffee presents itself being a select roast.  It is packaged in a tin can, points out the coffee is directly traded from the farmer to Archer Farms (skipping over the middle man), and has a little card explaining where the coffee is sourced and what you should taste.  Cool!  Yet, the price point is key: 8 dollars.  While, the presentation is rather good, the taste backs up the marketing around it.  Most importantly, the coffee is dripping with flavor.

As an espresso, the instant the liquid gingerly washed over my tongue, it began tingling.  Pear notes and the medium body mixed together creating a pleasant coffee bath for my tongue (there's probably a better way to state this, but I like the image).  At the end, I detected some bittersweet chocolate flavors. The banana taste eluded me.  What surprised me was the tingly sensation and I considered it the standout part of the espresso!

The French Press mellowed the tingly acidity, and brought out the bitter chocolaty flavors (in a good way), producing a unique, well rounded cup of coffee.  Though, I am partial to the espresso manifestation of it.    

The blog Coffee Adventures reviewed this coffee, and came to a similar conclusion.  Archer Farms Peru San Ignacio impressed me with its nuanced and delicate flavors, all at an affordable price.  Available at Targets, I highly recommend it as a "go-to" coffee when you need to pick something up. You will not be disappointed, if you keep in mind the price you are paying for it.