Comments on: Finding That Great Cafe and Snack Bar

By: Allevato

Allevato — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:06:21 +0000

I just recently found a new franchise on Long Island New York in Nassau County called Sonoma Cafe and I mus5 say ever since Starbucks went to that horrible pike non-sense that I find horrible and pretty much gave up on coffee till I tried this Sonoma Cafe and it was amazing, rich and bold on there Sonoma Specialty Blend it was not bitter at all and strong the way a great cup of coffee should taste.;

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:12:58 +0000

I just recently found a new franchise on Long Island New York in Nassau County called Sonoma Cafe and I must say ever since Starbucks went to that horrible pike non-sense that I find horrible and pretty much gave up on coffee till I tried this Sonoma Cafe and it was amazing, rich and bold on there Sonoma Specialty Blend it was not bitter at all and strong the way a great cup of coffee should taste.

By: Roast Master

Roast Master — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:02:39 +0000

I’ll have to look into that. My mother lives in Brantford, so I’m down there often enough. Do they actually roast coffee there, or is it just their name?

By: John

John — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:08:17 +0000

If you are looking for a cafe in Brantford, then you definately want to check out the Blue Dog Coffee Roasters….they have the best coffee in town.

By: Roast Master

Roast Master — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:53:23 +0000

ummm, nope, I’m talking about manual machines here….

Semi-automatic are still far superior to automatic, obviously, but the real gems are entirely manual. The barista as well is usually far superior when operating a manual machine.

By: swag

swag — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:04:16 +0000

Errr, I think you mean semi-automatic, not a manual, espresso machine. Manual espresso machines are out there in commercial cafés, but they are extremely rare and getting rarer.

A manual machine requires the barista to pull a lever and derives pressure from a manual piston. A semi-automatic requires the barista to grind and measure the coffee, seat it in the portafilter, and flip a switch to drive a pump that pours the shot.

A superautomatic, which is what I think you’re railing against here (and with good reason), is the kind that takes the semi-automatic a step further – often by handling the grinding and portafilter dosing portions as well.