Drink ordered:
Traditional Cappuccino
Loose Leaf Tea
The atmosphere of Aroma's is drastically improved from what it once was. No longer does it feel like a crowded study lounge, it is more spread out with an added leather couch and a bench made from an old church pew.
Their selection of loose leaf tea is in plain sight and is served in single serve French Presses.
Unfortunately, the lack of natural teas in favor of a mass of flavored tea varieties leaves much to be desired for the tea purist. Still. Loose leafe tea served in french presses is a huge step up in the tea market for Lubbock.
The coffee is from Panache Coffee of Portland, OR. The coffee appears to be roasted far too dark for flavor of origin to be a determining factor in the espresso blend. The beans were almost black, and were entirely coated in oil. To some, the ideal espresso blend.. for professionals, a bad sign.
The grinder's doser was completely full, and the person behind the counter (I'll not insult the title of Barista in this case) failed to perform and adequate tamp.
Traditional Cappuccino
The cappuccino was served in a traditional brown and white Italian-made ACF cup and saucer. Very cool. I wish more cafes in Lubbock gave a nod to the Italian tradition.
Upon first glance, the liquid was too dark with no sign of crema, and the foam was comprised of gigantic bubbles. Anyone who knows good coffee knows that big bubbles in foam is a sure sign of ignorance, apathy, or both of quality coffee.
Upon first taste, the espresso is thin, bitter, and some of the worst I've had in Lubbock. The milk was thin, with all foam being wasted as larger, flavorless bubbles which were, without my consent, dusted with ground cinnamon powder.
Sugar could not save this drink. The combination was so bad, it was beyond repair.
Grind per shot: no
Tamped: no
Shot time: NA
Milk froth: terrible
The only point given is for the nod to the Italian culture which gave us the beverage made from the very essence of coffee we know as espresso.
1 out of 10
Loose Leaf Tea
The tea is not served with timers for steep time, and the customer is left to guess when to press the tea leaves.
Using the stopwatch equiped with my mobile phone, I timed 4 minutes of steep time, which was a bit too long. I would not time past 3 minutes.
The tea, while loose-leaf and better than tea-bags, was a little on the stale side. Still, though, it's a better experience than other places I have visited.
pre-heated ACF latte (or cappuccino, depending on what is available) cups are handed out with the french presses.
Overall, the tea is good. Not great, but definitely good.
The lack of steep timers is an issue, as is the cleanliness of the french presses and lack of freshness of the tea leaves due, in part, to the storage method.
for Tea, Aroma's Coffee House (perhaps a change of name is in order) scores
7 out of 10
2 comments:
I think you should try aromas again, I think the espresso is best in town... Where do you think has the best espresso?
I have tried it multiple times. Is there a specific employee I should look for?
Unfortunately, I have not yet found good espresso in any establishment in Lubbock.
For the record, Espresso should not be bitter, black, or take 10-15 seconds to extract. It should be complex, smooth, sweet, reddish-brown in color, and take 20-30 seconds to extract, depending on the grind, dose, and temperature of the water.
Maybe I should add that to the introduction post.
Post a Comment