What happened to the "coffee" thread? Have the archives been cleaned out lately?

I haven't looked for it lately but have been spending lots of time at www.coffeegeek.com these days. They now have an excellent free user forum for all things coffee and espresso related. It's a relatively new site and could use more participants but is already a great resource where much helpful advice is available. There is currently a multi-part thread in the "Espresso: General Discussions" category entitled "Northwest road trip - espresso report". It's my series of espresso cafe from a late August trip to OR, WA and Seattle. Lots of good pics included and I will be converting it to a feature article that will run on the home page of coffeegeek sometime in the next month or two (my first "published" article - I'm stoked about this!).

Hmmmm, do I smell the fresh roast of an advertisement????

No, you don't smell an advertisement. I'm a regular poster on this forum and have been for several years. I have no affiliation with coffeegeek.com but it is a free website that has loads of great info including individual user reviews of equipment. It was extremely helpful to me when I chose an espresso machine and grinder last year. There's a really nice, friendly and helpful community of coffee/espresso enthusiasts who enjoy exchanging ideas and helping other people learn. I have recommended chowhound.com and egullet.com in this forum on previous occasions as a good resource for those interested in food or restaurants. As with coffeegeek.com they are FREE and I have no affiliation with them. As for relating the fact that I'll have an article posted there in the near future.... I mentioned it because I enjoy writing and this will be the first time I've ever had anything published anywhere - to me that's exciting. I mentioned the series of espresso cafe reviews/travelogue simply because it was too coffee specific to post in this forum. T (not to mention that the photos can't be posted here in a text only forum). The folks who were reading and participating in the previous coffee thread here might find it of interest. Okay?

Whew, Owen, simmer down.
Guess I caught you before you had your coffee this morning, huh?

Actually, Owen, I thought Joe's post was rather amusing, myself.

Trouble brewing on the coffee thread?
Sorry. Couldn't resist.

101 days until "I wake up with Kauai coffee"...oops...spilled the beans.

Kal

ps...Waddya expect on a Weds p.m.?

Hey Owen! Thanks for the tip about coffeegeek.com. What fun. I'm stoked for you, too. That's great about your article for them. I will definitely check it out.

I can't find our old coffee thread on this forum anywhere. I guess the powers that be found it unrelated to travel. Imagine! I'll catch up with your coffee doings on coffeegeek. Thanks, Rebecca

What do you mean, coffee thread maybe not travel-related. I certainly would travel any distance to get my first AM coffee.

Owen, thanks for the information re: coffeegeek.com - I didn't know about it and I'm going to go check it out.

BTW, I'm headed to Chicago next month - any recommendations for coffee stops? Staying at the Hyatt on Wacker (Priceline, of course) and we will be in the Loop, Mag Mile, Water Tower Place, Gold Coast and Oak Park. Any inside info would be appreciated as this will be our first time here.

Congratulations on the up coming article - very cool!

Gail;

ME TOO!!!

RJ

Hey Joe-cuppa-bean - actually I did find your wording to be funny but did want to clear the air for those suspicious few who might look back at my original post and think I was just another spam artist shilling for their own website. I can't find the coffee thread either but oh well..... I now broke down and brought in my old grinder and one-cup Melitta cone to the office where I spend 8 or 9 days every month. Just finished a freshly brewed cup of Guatemala Antigua... mmmmm!

Oh - also - I'll be sure to post here again with a shamelessly self promoting post to let people know when I finally get my article finished and available to read {;-)

Owen: I was the originator of that coffee thread - the title of which was "Need Good Coffee" - it is indeed gone. The last time I printed it out was March 19, when you contributed the Torrefazione web-site address(www.titalia.com)
Other contributions were: Illy, www.torreo.com www.kauaicoffee.com www.bwanabobskonacoffee.com www.peets.com www.portico.com www.babys.com www.smellthecoffee.com www.rutamaya.net
I love both Peets and Torrefazione brands.

Re/ the question about good espresso and coffee in Chicago.... I haven't traveled there since getting fully immersed in espresso and the investigation of cafes as I travel. There are a few very knowledgeable coffee enthusiasts in the Chicago area and they rave about Intelligentsia. It's a coffee roaster who does whoelsale and retail from their downtown Chicago store (not sure if they have an espresso bar there or not) and they have an espresso cafe/coffee bar in Belmont. Be sure to try their Black Cat blend for espresso - it reputed to be "the bomb"!

Torrefazione Italis is now owned by a conglomerate who also owns Seattle's Best Coffee. I never tried their product before the acquisition but enjoy what they currently offer. The owner of the original Torrefazione was not bound by the non-compete clause of the acquisition contract and he has opened a new roastery called Caffe Umbria. If you TRAVEL to Seattle (see... this is about travel!) it's availabel for retail purchase at Di Laurenti's - a cool Italian gourmet Market by Pike and 1st. There's a French pastry place across the street by the same corner that sell their espresso and coffee by the cup and the Green Cat Cafe (cool little vegetarian restaurant going up towards Capitol Hill) uses it also. I tried their Gusto Crema blend and it's very good but a sliightly darker roast than I tend to favor.