It’s My Fault Baristas in Albuquerque Suck
April 5th, 2008
(OK, that might be an overstatement, but hear me out and you’ll get the idea….)
I love coffee. I adore a good pull of espresso. And yet, when you or I search Google for “best barista” albuquerque, you will get a post that I wrote on my older blog website about DENVER. Denver, fer gawd’s sake. I need to hang my head and beg forgiveness with that nonsense….
Instead of pumping up the abilities (good as they may be) of baristas in other cities, I should be using my knowledge and whatever influence I can muster up to improve the situation here in my favorite city, my adopted hometown of Albuquerque.
This morning I changed my Saturday routine slightly and avoided my usual bout of loitering and absorbing the scene at Flying Star over magazines and just so-so coffee, to spend some time at a much homier shop called Cup O’ Joe. I hadn’t been by in an embarassingly long time, but promptly said hello to George and got on with my espresso swilling, lounging decompression.
George pulls a really good shot – not perfect, but certainly worthy of a visit or two or three. And – get this – he charges a BUCK for a shot. How can you not come by and check this place out now?
Cup O’ Joe is on Eubank, almost at Montgomery, next to a Farmer’s Market store.
I’ve only been to one cafe so far where the barista pulled a good espresso — because the lady who owns it is very intense about getting it right. (The machine may have been fully automatic, though that doesn’t help Starbucks any.)
Comment by Christina — April 10, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
I am new to the area and live near-ish Cup O’ Joe. I was so excited to have a local coffee shop so near my new house! Support your local coffee shop! I tried to go three times, on the weekend, and they were closed. Give up I did not do, I should have though. I finally caught them when they were open. Oh my goodness. That was the worst mocha I have EVER had. I was so sad. I couldn’t drink it. I had to pour it out. I will never go there again.
Comment by Brittney — August 14, 2008 @ 9:28 am
Brittney, I’m sorry to hear that! George, the owner, is absolutely receptive to feedback. Let him know it was a bad mocha and I’d bet he’d try to win you back with a great one.
If you have a favorite local coffee spot, let me know and I’ll post about it!
Comment by Andrea Lin — August 14, 2008 @ 11:32 am
[...] another in the series of “Burque Baristas“, I need to draw attention to one particular favorite, a spot that has pulled a decent shot [...]
Pingback by Cool mornings need caffeine | Duke City Food — August 21, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
Brittney, I am sorry you had such a bad experience. Was it a mocha latte, mocha cappuccino, or mocha cafe? We typically use Guittard chocolate which is a very dark chocolate so tastes different than a sweet Hershey’s milk chocolate. I have found that everyone has a different coffee taste you may not have expressed what your true desire for a drink may have been thus your disappointment. I am also sorry about the hours, but I have had to go back to work full time and the coffee house is still an expensive hobby. If you happen to make it back I will gladly provide you with a drink you may find more to your liking, otherwise refund the money you lost.
Sincerely, George
Comment by George — November 26, 2008 @ 4:40 pm