Portola Coffee Lab is the Shiznit!

Pardon my expression utilized in the title (see urbandictionary.com for the definition if you’re over 50 years old) as I bring back some slang from my youth.  I first became aware of siphon brewed coffee at Aoyama Cafe in Walnut, CA back in 2006 when we lived in Rowland Heights together for a city minute.  After it closed its doors I discovered Blue Bottle Coffee (bluebottlecoffee.com) in San Francisco and New York City.  If you are a true coffee lover and you haven’t “sniffed in” on siphon brewed coffee you are seriously missing out.

Iced Coffee

Iced Coffee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will be hard pressed to find a smoother cup of joe anywhere.  So after I ramble on about siphon brewed coffee the truth is that it isn’t available today at the Portola Coffee Lab (portolacoffeelab.com).

Iced Java

Iced Java

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The menu differs between their retail stores so travel between them if you’re so inclined.

Urban and Hip Inside

Urban and Hip Inside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excuse the poor exposure but utilizing a flash would ruin the cool factor.

Industrial and Warehouse Design

Industrial and Warehouse Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I miss LA a little less when I visit destinations like this in the OC.

Open Air Cafe

Open Air Cafe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This leads to some pretty nice breezes passing through.

Cool Lighting

Cool Lighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My two favorite beverages here are the Kyoto Iced Coffee and the Brazilian Siphon Hot Coffee.

 

About as "Cool" as the OC can Become...

About as “Cool” as the OC Gets…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is more information on siphon coffee brewing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_coffee_maker

Check Yelp for coffee houses that might feature this style of java brewing in your hood.

THE END!

 

 

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About surrealist11

Writer. Born David J. Evangelisti in Colorado. David has lived in New Mexico, Colorado, Ohio and California. Enamored with movies from an early age, he enrolled in San Jose State University’s Journalism program. While studying journalism, public relations and filmmaking, he wrote and directed two films: “A Day in the Life of a San Jose Cockroach” and “Theft of a Shopping Cart” (in the vein of Vittoria De Sica’s “Bicycle Thief”). David earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, concentration in Film, from San Jose State University. He began working in the areas of sales and marketing as a writer. In addition, he has written travel articles, travel memoirs, advertising copy, comedy bits, feature film scripts, personal essays and short stories. To date, he has written three unproduced feature film scripts: “Treading Water”, “The Other Cinema” and “A Sympathetic Lie”. From 2003-2004 he was an official taster for the Royal Academy of Wine Tasters. The Royal Academy attempted to create an unbiased wine rating system available to every winery, vineyard or wine distributor across the United States and around the world. This blog is a compilation of the following: a slang dictionary; personal essays; comedic rants; travel memoirs; literary journalism; feature articles; recipes; restaurant reviews; wine reviews; slice-of-life vignettes.
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1 Response to Portola Coffee Lab is the Shiznit!

  1. Larry Urish's avatar Larry Urish says:

    I read this while catching a buzz on my El Cheapo Blendo brand of coffee. Time to check this place out!

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