The Affogato… Dessert has NEVER been better. March 6, 2011

There are so many ways to enjoy and experience coffee. Beyond the cappucino, black coffee, mocha and french press, there’s still a world of wonders waiting for you. One of its most seamless (and delicious) uses is in desserts.

Who hasn’t had chocolate covered espresso beans, or coffee ice cream, or one of the countless cookie and cake recipies with coffee dribbled in for extra zing? The love triangle between chocolate, sugar and coffee is no secret, but if you want something special… a dish that will wow, taste like heaven, look elegant and still take almost no work at all, then what you want is an Affogato.

Affogato is Italian for ‘drowned’ and it delivers a dish that is simple and completely, undenighably decadent. What is it? Traditionally, it’s a scoop of vanilla gelato that is liberally drizzled with a shot of hot espresso (or strong coffee-it’s less traditional but still works well) till the gelato is gently floating in a growing pool of creamy delirium. If that isn’t enough, you can dress up your dessert with the liquor of your choice (Frangelico, Sambuca or Grand Marnier) and a light sprinkling of crushed coffee beans, chocolate flakes or whipped cream.

Be sure to serve those Affogatos immediately (before they melt) in a small bowl or glass and be ready for the complements to start flying. If you don’t have your own espresso maker and don’t want to use regular coffee, stovetop brewed coffee is a great substitute or you can still make a killer dish and buy espresso shots from a local coffee shop (be sure to add a touch of cream or milk to the espresso to keep it from getting bitter) and refrigerate it till dessert time. It won’t be hot, but it will still be good!

Unfortunately, you can’t get the Affogato at many cafes but Amante Coffee in Boulder carries on the Italian tradition of drowned deserts. Take your pick of gelato flavors to pair with their rich, dark, Italian espresso (you can also add liquor for extra $). Glacer Ice Cream shop (only the Baseline location) also offers ice cream topped with espresso. Go ahead, drown those sorrows…

 

Directions Per serving:

1 shot of espresso or 1/4-1/2 cup of strong coffee
1-2 scoops of vanilla ice cream (or flavor of choice) into a bowl or cup.
Gently pour the hot espresso/coffee on top of gelato/ice cream
Add liquor (optional) to taste
Dress it up: biscotti, crushed coffee beans, whipped topping, chocolate flakes, etc.

Warning: Cupcakes from heaven and world class coffee. Bring your willpower with you! July 16, 2010

It’s a tiny little shop and yet it still manages to have seating, funky merchandise, a coffee bar and a desert bakery. This isn’t your average coffee shop. So, would you like to experience sensory overload on a cupcake? Do you need a custom cake that is delicious and made to order or feel like coffee from one of best roasters in the United States that calls Denver its home? If the answer is yes to any of these, (and it should be) then make tracks for Tee & Cakes in Boulder.

These people have to be magicians to create such an array of goodness in such a tiny shop. Maybe they are. This is one specialty bakery that takes on a “Ace of Cakes” vibe and creates custom cakes worth enjoying. They make beautiful wedding cakes but also venture out into the quirky and fun, like a stylized “Big Lebowski” cake. They’re good, but the real story for coffee shop hounds is the cupcakes.

These cupcakes are like edible pieces of heaven and can be a well deserved indulgence that won’t overwhelm your waistline like a whole cake would. The house favorites are the Banana Fudge (which is unbelievable) and the Coca-Cola but that’s only two out of an ever rotating array of fantastic (Red Velvet, Mocha, Triple Chocolate, Chocolate Mint and Strawberry Milkshake –just to name a few). For those who think that everything is better if it has chocolate or bacon coating it, Tee & Cakes has your number: a Chocolate Bacon cupcake (served on Mon. Thurs. Sat. & Sun.). The shop provides these little guys in adorable pink to-go boxes that make them a great gift idea… if you can bear to part with them.

Don’t stop reading; there’s more. This is the only coffee shop in Boulder that currently serves Novo coffee. Granted that you can find Novo in restaurants across Denver and in a growing number of high end coffee shops and restaurants across the U.S., having a coffee shop that serves their divine roasts in Boulder is a huge coop.

It’s possible that you haven’t heard of Novo. Surprisingly, they don’t actively promote themselves but even without real marketing by this small, family business Novo has been recognized in several journals (Forbes & Bon Appetit), newspapers (Westword, Denver Post), voted best Denver coffee roaster by Westword and online sources (MSNBC) as one of the top coffee roasters in the U.S.  After you have some of their Novo Espresso blend with its lighter, caramel, herbal flavor that is touched with nut and banana accents – you’ll understand why.

So stop by, but bring your will power with you. You’re going to need it.

Special Notes:Speed of Service and Cappuccino’s

Remember, it’s a small shop with a small staff and is focused on quality, not speed. Be prepared to wait if there is a line. Several cappuccino’s ordered from this location were very light on foam (only a quarter inch). So it may be a good idea to ask for yours “drier”.

Internet:

Not a good spot for meetings or working remotely. There is very little seating, but there are a few tables outside for nice days.

The Beans:

Espresso Novo and an alternating selection of Novo roasts for coffee.

Would you like a beer with that latte, perhaps a glass of wine too? June 12, 2010

If you are looking for a neutral meeting spot like a coffee shop that is trendy and doesn’t feel like a crowded bar, then here are a couple of great options in Boulder that offer coffee and alcohol. Sadly, the list is short, but Boulder does have two coffee co’s that offer both and (happily) they also have winning happy hour specials.

The Laughing Goat
1709 Pearl Street
The laughing goat is a great location to hit if you are near Pearl Street. Truly, this coffee shop has quickly become a Boulder institution. There is plenty of seating, live music in the evenings, great art and the coffee and latte art is well done.

Yes please, happy hour at The Laughing Goat.

Happy Hour: 4pm-8pm
Beer: $2 to $3
Wine: $3 or $5

What you will find:
The alcohol selection at The Laughing Goat is constantly shifting; currently they have a dozen types of wine (red, white, rose) and nearly as many beers to choose from. For those adventurous souls, The Goat hosts a very unique beer: the Mate Veza. Yes, it’s a tea/beer blend and worth a taste.

Amante
Amante has three locations in Boulder:
4580 Broadway St, Boulder – (303) 448-9999
1035 Walnut Street, Boulder – (303) 546-9999
4699 Nautilus Court South, Boulder – (303) 449-5114
Amante is an Italian style, uber trendy and modern establishment. TV’s play music videos or the favored sporting event of the day. The coffee is strong, the cappuccino foam is perfect, and they serve coffee cocktails along with beer and wine.

A stocked bar at Amante.

Happy Hour: 4pm-7pm
Draft Moretti: $3.50
Wine: $5.00
Martini/mixed drinks: $4.00

What you will find:
They have one beer on tap, Moretti, and three bottled options (two of those are Moretti). Amante also has 5 wines to choose from and a fully stocked bar for mixed drinks. Their signature espresso-mixed drinks are: The Tiramisu (a Martini), the Amaretto (a Martini), the Caldo and the Irish Coffee.

Need a last minute gift for Mother’s Day? Then make a bee line for the Brewing Market on Arapahoe! May 7, 2010

Time is quickly running out to find that little something for the mothers in your life… the one that gave you birth, your wife, your sister, your grandmother or perhaps a favorite unrelated mom! So if you are still unsure what to get for your special mom(s), have no fear – you can get yourself a cup o’ joe and snag a bounty in divine desert treats by Sunday.

Few coffee shops have a candy and chocolate section that can rival what you will find at The Brewing Market at 2525 Arapahoe Avenue. They have a large array of delicacies to choose from: rows of truffles, stacks of hard candy, shelves of mugs (not for eating of course) and a lot of other wonderful treats that you can hand pick and have arranged and boxed in the candy department.

Top picks:

1. Truffles from Seth Ellis. These are local, organic and amazing. If you are shopping for truffles, don’t skip these! (You can also find a more limited selection of their products at Whole Foods, Pharmica, Vitamin Cottage and at the Boulder Farmers Market) http://sethellischocolatier.foodzie.com/
2. A best selling Truffle: Death by Ganache –by Concerto’s Chocolate.
3. Filling a decorative mug full of candies. The Brewing Market has a lot of fabulous bulk candies to mix and match so you can personalize not only the package, but also the goodies inside it.

Feel free to treat yourself to a drink while your there. After all, you are being incredibly thoughtful. If you want to try something you can only get at the Brewing Market, give their in-house chai a taste. (I recommend the green chai or the decaf rooibos chai).