148 replies to this topic

[jersey13]

Fair enough. Truthfully, it does the job when I'm headed down the 401. Beats Second Cup. But then again, how hard is that?

[Culatello]

I'm new to this forum , and I'd like to reply to this topic.
Being Italian and also in the restaurant biz. it's important to know your espresso, although we all have our different tastes . My favorite place for (un cafe) is Milano Bar in St.Leonard and Trattoria Gildone in St.Micheal Louie makes
a serious ESPRESSO !!! In Little Italy it's Cafe Zanetti they
use Segafredo. But like I said everyone has there own tastes,some like a lightly toasted bean like Segafredo mild,some like a perfectly toasted bean like Illy,I love Hausbrantd dark ,choclatey & smooth .It's a line that Dr.Illy
had started a while back.

[Tabatha]

In my humble opinion the best coffee is fair trade coffee. I like to take my caffeine with a clear conscience. So far, the only really tasty fair trade I've found in the city is Cafe Rico on Rachel (see above). You're dead on Champignon: a little Kawa in the Pavoni in the morning is sweet lovin'.
Ask yourself tomorrow morning: "Do I know where my coffee came from?"

[carswell]

Gee, I hope he uses real live beans (I actually bought some while I was there, though that doesn't preclude the pod theory).  I would feel a little embarassed if I thought coffee made from pods was that good.  I have to confess, however, that one of the better espressos I have found here in L.A. is at a place that uses an automatic machine (I believe it's a Cimbali) where you only have to press a button and the machine grinds the beans and pulls the shot.  (To some extent, it's a reflection on the poor quality of coffee here in L.A.)  Let me know what you find out about Benelo's coffee.

Yes, I like Sun Ra, but the arkestra is really for Horace Tapscott's Pan African People's Arkestra.  If you haven't heard of him and are into jazz, you should check him out.  See also Jon Jang's Pan Asian People's Arkestra, which incorporates some traditional chinese classical music.  Pretty interesting stuff.

Ari, on Saturday I finally got around to having an espresso at Benelo and am pleased to report that it was first rate: rich, sweet, good crema, long aftertaste. And there wasn't a pod or hermetically sealed envelope in sight; the coffee was ground directly into the portafilter. They special-import the beans, a custom blend, from Italy (don't recall the roaster's name; it started with an R). Their grinder and three-group semi-auto machine are made by Saeco.

Have had no luck finding the Arkestra disks you mention in Montreal, though the jazz rack at Archambault on Berri/Ste-Catherine has a divider with Tapscott's name on it. With unknown (to me) artists, I like to try before I buy, so I guess my initiation will have to wait until I'm next in NYC, DC or Boston. Thanks for the tip, though.

Edited by carswell, 15 September 2003 - 10:23 AM.

[arkestra]

Carswell, thanks for the update on Benelo. I am relieved that it turned out they use real beans and that you liked it. Living in the States, I miss the coffee I had there every morning. I hope to have it again soon and to try out some of the other places mentioned on this thread, like Cafe Italia.

As for the Horace Tapscott's Arkestra, his stuff is not always easy to find even in the U.S. If you're interested, you can listen to some samples on Amazon, though not all his albums are listed and the samples are too short. I'd recommend starting with either "Aiee! the Phantom" (relatively tame) or "The Dark Tree, Vols. 1 and 2" (a masterpiece, but the music is more "outside.")

Take care

[onionbreath]

My vote goes to caffe d'Italia because of their long history of serving consistent coffee.
For great coffee info check out coffeegeek.com or whotelattelove.com.

[Culatello]

No offence ,to people who like coffee from cafe Italia ,
but the coffee there is an example of what not to serve as a good espresso .I've been there often ,not because the coffee was good but of the ambiance. People look at the place and makes them think "this place is so Italian the coffee must be good".The coffee is too bitter,too liquidy and it's missing love.

If you want a good Cafe in little Italy go to
Cafe Zanetti on Shamrock
Cafe International on St.Laurent

In the East end go to
Cafe Milano on Jarry & Lacordaire
Tratorria Gildone on St.Micheal & Sauve

And in the West end
Opening soon 48 on Monkland

[carswell]

No offence ,to people who like coffee from cafe Italia ,
but the coffee there is an example of what not to serve as a good espresso .I've been there often ,not because the coffee was good but of the ambiance. People look at the place and makes them think "this place is so Italian the coffee must be good".The coffee is too bitter,too liquidy and it's missing love.

There's no disputing taste. But please don't ascribe motives to others when you, in fact, have no idea what their motives are. To tell the truth, I don't much care for the ambience, such as it is, at Cafe Italia. I go there because of the brew which, by any objective standard, is good: good crema, good aroma, good body and good flavour, to my palate balanced and avoiding the common pitfalls of bitterness and sourness. Have never tried Zanetti's wares, but I'll take an espresso from Italia over one from International any day of the week (plus your clothes don't reek of cigarette smoke like they do after 15 minutes at Cafe Italia).

And if you really want "an example of what not to serve as good espresso," try Starbucks or Second Cup. Their drinks absolutely require milk to be palatable.

And in the West end
Opening soon 48 on Monkland

Hmmm. How do you know what the coffee's like if they haven't opened for business?

Edited by carswell, 30 September 2003 - 08:25 PM.

[Kenk]

Cafe Italia has as good a coffee as can be had in Montreal. I have coffees at other places that are comparable and at time even better but slagging it is a bit much. I can believe that it may not be to the taste of some people, or that the coffee was not prepared the way you prefere it but hey!!!

I was there this week and although the coffee in my esprsso might have been a bit long it usually is just right. This is just being picky.

I was at the Bridgehead(coffee chain) in the new Mountain Equipment COOP(next to Krispy Kreme) and noticed they use FRANKE automatic machines. In my experience these machines given good ingredients and set correctly make very good espersso and capuchino. I didn't try the coffee. I had some good tea though. If there are any granola crunching coffee freaks out there that need a espresso/capuchino fix as they buy the latest in MEC fashions, how was the espresso/capuchino.

[champignon]

Cappuccino.

Anyway, I've recently been going to Benelo on Crescent and I've been very pleased. Ask for a cappuccino in an Illy cup or you'll get a gigantic tall glass, perhaps to your taste but not mine. Included is a delicious milk chocalate square, and a very toasty warm space to huddle in. Cafe Italia is all about ambience, not coffee, which I find to be just acceptable. Far better is the coffee at Olive et Gourmando, especially if you avoid peak lunch period. Order a brownie alongside and put yourself into orbit. Also the cafe latte at Reservoir is super, especially when it comes with brunch.

[Culatello]

Dear Carswell sorry for the comment I made about the motives,your right I shouldn't assume that of other people.

But tell me something ,how long have you been drinking espresso, how many different places did you drink espresso
in Montreal ,in how many different regions of Italy did you
drink espresso in, for your palete to avoid the pitfalls of
bitterness & sourness.

And for 48 on monkland
he also is the owner of Trattoria Gildone on St.Micheal

I'm not an expert on espresso but I've drank enough to know a good one when see & taste one.

I'm also not critisizing other peoples taste I'm just giving my
honest opinion and experiance

[identifiler]

Although you'll notice upstream my comments on cafe Italia, who makes a mean espresso. It is true that it is more liquidy and lacks love. I still think the espresso there is "mean" in cafeine content and boost but it is true that it tastes a bit watery some times. I can only explain by the fact that the water used is not filtered and that the bean grinding might be uneven with time. The ambiance, on it's own, does give a boost to the coffee.

If you are lucky to have the mother in charge of the coffee, then it does have a bit more love to it.

[Lesley C]

I'd love to hear what people consider the best restaurant coffee in town? I've had some majorly shitty coffee in restaurants here, save for one I had at Les Caves St-Joseph. The food wasn't great but the coffee was.

[Culatello]

Hi Lesley,
One of the best espresso I had in a resturant was at Le Latini back in 1995 when Moreno had the Illy before everyone else did .

But now I've kind of grown sick of Illy ,I preferer a more robust,chocolaty,rich & smooth like the one at Trattoria Gildone ask
your husband or even John L. they've had it.

[riboflavinjoe]

set correctly make very good espersso and capuchino

Cappuccino.

to-ma-to. to-mah-to.

Krispy KapuCheeno.

yuo knwo, it desont mttaer waht odrer yuo ptu the lettres in, or if yuo missplle, as lnog as yuo udnerstnad waht i am syaing. mmmm.... canneloni.

[Lesley C]

Culatello, I first tasted the coffee at Guildone back in 1996 when I was teaching near by at Pius X. We went there from time to time for lunch, usually chanterelle pasta.
And I agree about the Latini coffee, though I don't think Moreno uses Illy anymore. Ask Moreno about coffee and you'll get a 25 lecture.

[ABG]

And for  48 on monkland
he also is the owner of Trattoria Gildone on St.Micheal

Thank God... Monkland needs more coffee places for the hipster crowd.

[carswell]

But tell me something, how long have you been drinking espresso

More than 30 years now.

how many different places did you drink espresso in Montreal

Haven't been keeping count. 50? 100? (And what does Montreal have to do with it anyway? Throw in other places and we're definitely talking hundreds.) I also grind and brew my own espresso at home.

in how many different regions of Italy did you drink espresso in for your palete to avoid the pitfalls of bitterness & sourness

Only in northern Italy, unfortunately (or not, because from an espresso standpoint I prefer the northern style to the southern). But I don't consider an Italian pilgrimage prerequisite to espresso appreciation any more than I think one has to spend time in France to appreciate French wine or cooking. Coffee, like wine, can be and is judged according to objective criteria. Assuming one is using good beans, bitterness and sourness are symptoms of brew water that is either too hot or too cold respectively. Along with unwarmed cups, stale and/or inferior beans, improperly ground and/or tamped coffee and badly timed pulls, off-temperature water is one of the main reasons so much espresso these days is dreck. And don't get me started on milk-foaming...

[Culatello]

ABG 48 on monkland won't be a coffee place it will be a resturant.

Carswell so I see you have lots and lots of coffee knowledge . Your right about the stale coffee beans but I doubt that to be the case at Cafe Italia since they turn over a lot of coffees and the rotation must follow and about the water not being filtered I also doubt that because they have a water softner attached to the Cimbali , maybe the the grinder but that wouldn't affect the taste I think It's the blend to begin with the fact that she Pre-grinds the coffee and puts it into the wooden box & lets it run to much into the cup (not short enough).Which regions of northern Italy have you been in, and what where the different brands youv'e tried.

Lesley your right Moreno is not using Illy anymore. & he does give his philosophie on espresso and the cups that go with it.
Who would you go to Gildone with Chef Johnson And gang (just kidding)

[onionbreath]

Culatello:

Mali Cafe on St. Laurent sells machines and some private import coffees. They are knowledgable about blends and quality. Their coffees are milder than most espressos because they prefer lighter roasting methods.
I really admire their dedication to coffee but I truly hate the results. What i do like at Cafe d'italia is the real richness of flavour and subtle bitterness. Everyone there pulls a very tight shot. Their big weakness is some of their milk drinks, where they tend to start with a thin allonge.
I have had some horrible restaurant coffees here. I rarely have desserts or coffee at home, so it is a real bummer when some restos with very imaginative desserts DESTROY the experience by serving coffee that would have them killed in a civalized society. Two recent examples of this blemish are Lemeac and Brunoise.
Sending back $3-4 coffees to people who just don't get it is a very aggravating way to end a nite out.

P.S. does anyone sell culatello in Montreal or must I go back to Parma for a fix?

[Culatello]

Onionbreath:

I totaly forgot about Mali ,maybe because I was mistreated
the last time I went,I'll give it another try

I have nothing against the people at cafe Italia,I just think
there coffee isn't all the hype especially the CAPPUCCINO,
there has to be other places in this city we haven't mentioned.How about the place next to Fairmount bagels
that looks like it's opening soon.

About the Culatello you have to go back to Parma ,sorry but hopfully we'll get some in the future
if Health Canada approves thats on another threat,

[Culatello]

You guy's got to try the espresso at Latini ,Moreno out did him self again as I mentioned earlier he was the first to bring Illy to Montreal and now he's brought G.Frasi try it out the next time your in the mood for Italien.

[RwR]

Hi All, I really enjoy the coffee at Cafe Creme on Victoria. I believe they use Mokita beans...one of the best I've had at this early stage in life...YUM

[identifiler]

Oninonbreath, I have always been impressed with the coffee at Lemeac (it is true it is expensive). They use Illy, this must have been a one time miss from the coffee/bar. I wouldn't think this is normal for Lemeac unless it has changed the coffee set up or that a tune up is required on the machine...

[whitefish]

Best Espresso goes to Café Chivas, just outside Jean Talon market. They spent something like 6 years perfecting the blend. You'll want two in a row guaranteed.

Best café au lait Café Olympico (Open da Night) in Mile End. Cheap, very fast and damn good. Not a caffeine freak but the "double" tastes even better and it's still just $2.75. Screw you Starbucks!

[SteveW]

And in the West end
Opening soon 48 on Monkland

Have this place opened on Monkland yet? What's the exact address?

-Steve

[Culatello]

Steve W 48 on monkland is not a cafe I just want to make it clear.It's a restaurant

They should be opening very soon , there was delays do to renovations,I can't give the exact address but I know it's across the street from Tribeca and it was the old Digestivo

If anyone is looking for a job in the kitchen I know he's hiring the # is 361-6732
this a pager # leave a message or # and he'll call back

[cook-em-all]

I saw them working today, I was wondering what it was.
What is it?
I hope it's good. Monkland is a busy street, not a lot of parking

[Culatello]

From what I understand it is going to be, homestyle Italian bistro with quality ingredients ,since he is an Importer of Italian products. ( don't quote me )

let's put this way It's going to be good italian food that you don't normally eat in restaurants,good wines.This is the place real Italians go to eat.

You might know him from your days at med & sofia he also use to supply restaurants with mushrooms He's served some big houses in montreal.

Ask your freind Joe M. from Bronte

I'll get back to you with more details.

[cook-em-all]

I hope this doesn't mean Joey is going to be hanging around my hood.