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| - Stop # 1 on the Gory n' Pantz Espresso Run - West End.
As the first stop on the Espresso Run West End version, Greg (Gory) and I (Pantz) settle in to determine how we will order and what our criteria will be for rating.
We determine our standard order will be a short shot or ristretto.
As a side note, asking for a ristretto seems unbearably geeky and a might confusing to some of the counter staff we encounter that day (though not here, they speak the language). As the day goes on we have more success in just specifying a short shot.
We'll try to free-associate our impressions on appearance, smell, taste and then a final impression or overall rating.
For Blondies, I score as follows:
Look - viscous, oily syrup, with a light film of dark crema
Smell - metallic, burnt sugary notes
Taste - intense roast, an acidic tang and long finish of bitter cocoa.
Overall Rating - REM covers "How Soon Is Now"
The craft and care of the shot is there, but the roast of the beans may be too dark and perhaps not suitable for such an intense, short extraction. In short, it was enjoyable but challenging shot and perhaps not the best expression of the bean. I believe Greg rates the shot a little higher than I do, though it's hard to tell. Greg gets quite secretive and refuses to share his notes. For much of the rest of the day, he frequently mutters "nutmeg" and "cinnamon" into his phone's voicemail.
All in all, Blondies has brought some welcome barista cred to Parkdale in the form of Damien Zielinski. Many of the shops around town are pulling decent enough shots, but when I walk into a place, I'm looking for that intense "I just drank the Kool-Aid and I have seen the light" fervour. Damien has the intensity, the OCD attention to detail that shows in his product. He'll happily talk some inside baseball with you, discussing beans (they use Origins) grinds, degassing and other arcane barista wizardry.
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