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Back to the Grind—the Coffee Edition
Something happens around the equinox when the days become discernably shorter. We find ourselves reaching for our favorite cuppa Joe. The rich, dark flavor and that extra hit of caffeine help us stay motivated and in-step.
This issue is all about coffee, both for drinking and eating. We've got some fantastic recipes, and our list definitely leans toward desserts. Awake and sweet…what could be better?
Let's begin with some of our favorite coffee-based products.
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Tcho Choco Latte is a rich and bold coffee truffle-filled plant-based oat milk chocolate made with organic coffee beans from Blue Bottle Coffee. Creamy, caramelly, and energizing.
Hu Hazelnut Coffee Dark Chocolate is decadent and crave-worthy. Born from the need for truly healthy chocolate treats, this brand does things differently. Dairy-free and vegan.
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Gelataria Naia is a Berkeley company with an impressive list of local collaborators. They churn their distinctive gelato and gelato bars. Their Philz Coffee Gelato comes in both tubs and bars. Delicious!
Oatly Coffee, a non-dairy frozen dessert (aka ice cream) is a vegan, cold, and creamy treat. Oatly’s flavors are delicious, fresh, and taste like their natural ingredients. Try their coffee flavor with a not-too-milky, real coffee flavor.
Coffee-flavored Brown Cow Yogurt with cream on top is rich and satisfying. This yogurt is sweetened with cane sugar and maple syrup. The coffee flavor is a favorite.
Stonewall Kitchen Coffee Caramel Sauce can dress up any plain ice cream or add some jazz to your coffee. Undeniably rich and buttery with just a hint of coffee essence, it will help you create the perfect ending to a delicious meal.
Loacker Cappuccino Quadratini are cream-filled wafer cookies that are bite-sized treats filled with fine espresso cream. Perfect alongside your favorite icy treat or cup of coffee.
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If you are looking for a ready-made cold coffee drink, we have you covered. OMNI Vietnamese Coffee comes in both Traditional (with condensed milk) and black unsweetened (with an extra boost focus from L-Theanine). It is sourced directly from family farms in Vietnam. This delicious beverage is in our fridge.
And, for a flavorful, plant-based option, Oatly Stumptown cold Brew coffee comes in Original, Chocolate, and Horchata. Yum!
Buena Vista Irish coffee-inspired Stout is rich and roasty. You know that warm, buzzy feeling after downing a couple of Irish coffees? This is captured by Buena Vista, but with the refreshment of a cold, fresh beer.
| THIS MONTH'S NEWS AND EVENTS | |
The NorCal Renn Faire through October 22nd.
The event brings to life a village during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, complete with period costumes, refreshments, and entertainment. Watch the knights jousting, Shakespearean-style performers, sword swallowing, live music, and other entertainment. Old-world handcrafts will be on sale at the fair. Get the details and links…
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Fleet Week
Get ready for the buzzzzzzz. Fleet Week 2023 is coming. The waterfront event is headlined by The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and is the only air show in the United States with a commercial airliner, the United 777, to perform a fully choreographed act. Get the details and links…
| THIS MONTH ON THE COCKTAIL POST | |
Hawaiian Ginger Ale Mocktail
From our blog, The Cocktail Post
This all-ages Hawaiian Ginger Ale Mocktail is refreshing and delicious. Carefully boiling fresh ginger in water for a good, long while is the key to rounded, deep flavor.
Get the recipe…
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Cold Brew Negroni
From our blog, The Cocktail Post
The result of our Cold Brew Negroni recipe is a wonderfully caffeinated take on the classic, bittersweet aperitif. The flavors mesh perfectly with sweet vermouth and walnut bitters for a complex flavor profile. And, of course, you can always infuse your Campari with decaf if you prefer.
Get the recipe…
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Spill the Beans: Global Coffee Culture and Recipes
By Lani Kingston
A Cookbook Recommendation
Coffee is the world’s cup. Over 2.25 billion are brewed, sipped, and savored on a daily basis. A loyal companion and energetic facilitator of the everyday, coffee has sprouted an entire cafe culture and a booming industry. While the caffeine fix is hard to ignore, this beloved hot drink holds a rich and diverse history that sinks deeper than the bottom of the cup.
Penned by expert journalist Lani Kingston, Spill the Beans takes the reader on a journey through Ethiopia, Guatemala, Vietnam, and many other countries in between, exploring the myriad ways in which coffee is produced, traded, and enjoyed. Hipster baristas may be dreaming up the next seasonal latte at this very moment, but the story of how the humble bean became a global icon is ingrained in history. An essential title for armchair travelers, curious foodies, and cafe-hoppers alike Spill the Beans demonstrates that there’s a vast world of coffee beyond the ubiquitous flat white.
Lani Kingston is a food writer and consultant. She holds Masters degrees in Food Studies and Education, along with barista and pastry chef qualifications. Her first book, How To Make Coffee, is available in several languages. This is her third book on coffee, and the first to be published by gestalten.
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THIS MONTH'S STAFF PICKS
Kaveri Espresso Liqueur from Dissident Spirits Co. is a combination of hand-crafted coffee beans and spirits that gives Kaveri Espresso Liqueur a rich espresso flavor with rum, vanilla, and buttery oak notes fading into a deep mocha finish. Fantastic over ice cream or in cocktails. Read more…
Jeremiah’s Pick Chocatal BBQ Rub is an ultra-flavorful dry rub with a perfect fusion of flavors. It's fueled by Jeremiah’s Pick Chocatal coffee, the award-winning blend of dark, hand-roasted arabica coffee beans and cacao nibs. Cacao nibs are the dried and roasted heart of the cacao fruit that imparts true chocolate taste. Read more…
McConnell‘s Coffee Ice Cream is legit, steel-toed-boots-to-the-dome coffee ice cream. It’s built to the same specs it has been for decades. It’s a coffee fanatic’s combo of cold brew and house-made espresso, infused into fresh, grass-fed milk and cream. Pretty exciting. Read more…
Jittery John’s Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate is made from a blend of locally roasted single-origin beans and chicory. This special blend yields tasting notes of chocolate and citrus with an ultra, full-bodied flavor that is dense, rich, and smooth. It is crafted by hand from a unique recipe of SF-roasted, premium coffee beans and chicory. Read more…
| THIS MONTH ON THE KITCHEN TABLE | |
Ham with Red-Eye Gravy
Red-Eye Gravy is nothing more than fried county ham drippings and strong black coffee—aka the perfect breakfast. The bitterness of the coffee marries well with the sweet, smoky fat of the ham. The point of Red-Eye Gravy is to enjoy every last bit of the salty, sticky, meaty glaze left in our skillets after frying slices of Southern country ham.
Read the post and get the recipe…
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Coffee Marinated Fajitas
Brewed coffee in marinades is excellent as a tenderizer—which is key if you are using cuts like flank steak or skirt steak for tacos. A favorite recipe is for Coffee-Marinated Fajitas. It’s Perfect for feeding a hungry crowd of rabid football fans.
Read the post and get the recipe…
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Brie Toasts with Bacon Plum Jam
This recipe is a fantastic addition to a charcuterie board and is great in a sandwich. Or you can slice some brie and put it on toasted baguette slices or a cracker. Or, for the truly unapologetic cheese lover, just dollop a little bit of the jam on the brie bites and shove it all in your mouth…heaven!
Read the post and get the recipe…
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Coffee-Braised Short Rib Pasta
Short ribs are a favorite flavor as the weather turns cooler. You just can’t go wrong with slow-cooked beef. In an effort to branch out and try something new, here is a wonderful recipe for Coffee-Braised Short Rib Pasta. We love tasting what the coffee does to the overall flavor.
Read the post and get the recipe…
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Coffee Recipes from Our Archives
From our blog, The Kitchen Table
Here is a list of some of our favorite recipes that use coffee. It will come as no surprise that so many of them are desserts and cocktails that can arguably be classified as desserts. Note how beautifully the flavor of coffee marries with chocolate!
There is one outlier, our recipe for Coffee BBQ Rub. Rub it on your cut of choice and leave it for an hour or so before grilling—or even overnight in the fridge. This rub also can be used as a condiment on the side after cooking.
DECADENT DESSERTS
Mocha Pound Cake is moist and light, with just the right degree of richness. It's a tasty riff on the classic pound cake and satisfies everyone’s coffee and chocolate cravings.
Dark Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling—sprinkled with some powdered sugar or topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream, this cake is the perfect dessert.
Fudgy Bundt Cake is a simple chocolate cake recipe adapted from Samin Nosrat’s book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. It is one of my favorites because of its density of flavor and moist lushness.
Chewy Chocolate Brownies are a great way to end a meal. You can serve them with the ice cream of your choice on the top. Or, take it a step further and use the brownies as the base for an ice cream cake!
Mocha Chocolate Chunk Cookies are gooey from the oven but cool to something a bit chewier—like a brownie. One of these with a latte can change your whole outlook on life!
Classic Tiramisu is the kind of dessert you share with your favorite someone over coffee and great conversation after an amazing dinner for two.
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ICE CREAM TREATS
Affogato is basically vanilla gelato with a shot of espresso poured over it. It’s absolutely simple and incredibly tasty. the variations are endless!
Coffee and Coconut Non-Dairy Ice Cream recipe combines two favorite ice cream flavors—coffee, and coconut. The result is a treat so good you may never go back to regular ice cream.
Easy Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream (No-Churn) is a quick and easy, no-churn ice cream, inspired by Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It’s creamy, sweet and uses sweetened condensed milk.
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COCKTAILS
The Midterm Cocktail adds a little extra oomph and extra flavor (in the form of cold brew coffee) to the traditional Old Fashioned recipe.
Espresso Martini is a coffee-infused martini that could give you the boost you need to do what needs doing.
Irish Coffee is an iconic cocktail, and simple to prepare. It requires four common ingredients: Irish whiskey, rich black coffee, sugar, and whipped cream. It is an absolute delight.
Jamaican Coffee is great for a chilly winter night. This drink is perfect for coffee connoisseurs looking for a new way to enjoy their favorite drink. And, it works great with decaf for a cozy evening cup.
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SWEET COCKTAILS
Amarula Cocktail makes a boozy desert. Amarula is a cream liqueur from South Africa made with sugar, cream, and the fruit of the marula tree. It is similar to Irish Creme.
Maple Leaf Cocktail is a favorite brunch cocktail. It is made with bourbon, coffee, orgeat syrup, and bitters. Frangelico adds a hint of hazlenut. And don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!
The Mudslide is a variation on the White Russian—with part of the heavy cream replaced by Irish Creme liqueur. Also, check out our variation of the Frozen Mudslide.
Tiramisu Cocktail transforms this favorite Italian dessert into the perfect celebratory cocktail. What’s more, it’s simple to prepare and makes a deliciously rich dessert.
Toblerone Cocktail is a decadently rich drink inspired by the famous Swiss chocolate. It is nutty, creamy, and divine. It features three liqueurs, Kahlúa, Frangelico, and Baileys.
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Philz Coffee
Vendor of the Month
Artisanal and wonderfully delicious.
Philz Coffee is a San Francisco institution and a leading local member of coffee’s third wave. Philz Coffee brightens your day, wakes you up, and inspires conversation.
About Philz Coffee
Philz Jaber started on the corner of 24th and Mission where Phil converted his grocery store, Gateway Liquor & Deli, into a full-time coffee shop. Phil Jaber went on a quest 25 years ago to make a really great cup of coffee. He wanted to create a blend that was flavorful, complex, rich, smooth, and low in acidity.
Philz’s dedication to quality coffee has gotten them a devoted and rabid fan base. They have some unique custom blends that add amazing variety to our favorite brewed beverage.
Find out what we are currently carrying…
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Store Hours
Monday through Saturday from
9 AM to 8 PM & Sunday from
9 AM to 7 PM.
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Free Parking
4038 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 653-8181
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