I'm going to have to try this place again. I can always admire a place where the owners put a lot of care and attention to the finer elements of a cafe experience.
The space? Stunning. Deceptively low-key from the street, it's a work of art in and of itself. Wood-nymph themed, The entire counter looks like a tree trunk was ripped out of the English countryside and given a satin gloss finish. It's a stunner. The exposed mechanics lamps that make up the lighting in the space lend it an uber-cool industrial chic contrast. The back wall is a screen with black and white films being projected non stop. It was the 3 Stooges when we went.
The owners use the Stumptown coffee beans from Portland, Oregon. Stumptown's prerequisite is that they must visit each location and properly instruct the baristas how to pull the shots. This ensures the beans get the proper flavour profile the roaster intended. Thus, the only wrinkle for me.
I wasn't a huge fan. I'll be back to do a followup but the shot was INSANE! Dark, short and super intense. It must be my mellowing out after the hip replacement but I find myself preferring a more balanced shot and a lighter roast these days. Unfortunately, all I could think of was the scene in Mulholland Drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWWO3_v9kz8