Tag: Blueprint Coffee

Blueprint Coffee – Ethiopia Bobbaasa at Blueprint Delmar Loop

MichaelLeave a comment

About the Cafe

https://blueprintcoffee.com/

Blueprint Coffee is a small to medium sized space located along the Delmar loop next to Mission Taco Joint and down the street from the Moonrise Hotel. The space exudes a professional modernity mixed with hints of the building’s older façade and exposed rafters. The storefront is mostly consumed by the coffee bar and merchandise space, with a handful of tables and a small high-top bar pulling double duty as a display for their retail bags of coffee. Just beyond is their roasting and packaging operation, where employees are fast at work filling orders and roasting beans.

One thing is apparent from the moment you enter the door; Blueprint is serious about coffee and are happy to share that passion with each and every customer. Their branding follows a similar theme with simple, mostly bright, solid colored labels with just the right amount of information about the coffee you’re buying. Blueprint Delmar is an open and inviting space to enjoy a few moments with a fresh brewed coffee and a sandwich from their menu. I love a good egg biscuit, and theirs delivered without being too heavy. Notably, the tomato jelly slaps, as the kids say. I’ll definitely be back to try some of their other coffee, and perhaps take part in one of their educational programs to help hone my palette.

The Coffee

  • Name of Roast: Ethiopia Bobbaasa
  • Bean Origin:  Suke Kuto, Sakisso, Guji, Ethiopia
  • Elevation: 2,100 MASL
  • Drank at: Blueprint Coffee, Delmar Loop
  • I sipped with: Egg biscuit
  • Preparation: Automatic Pour Over
  • Roast Color: 4/6
  • Price: $$ (2/4)
  • Notes from the bag: Blueberry jam, florals, grape candy, chocolate ganache, earthy
  • Aroma Notes: Fruity and acidic, like apple and tart
  • Flavor Notes: Citrusy and light with some complexity, hint of nuttiness on the finish from the roast. Somewhere between an apple and lemon for the citrus/tart flavor. The barista suggested notes of tobacco on the roast, which is present but more subtle. 

I’ll preface this by saying this was my third cup of coffee this particular day so I may be biased by the jitters. That said, I was satisfied by both my coffee and food selections at Blueprint. The coffee had some surprising notes, chief among them a tarty citrus somewhere between a lemon and an apple. Behind the initial flavors were a hint of earthiness and nuttiness imparted by the roast. Though there was some slight acidity to accompany the citrusy/fruity flavors, it is balanced overall and makes for an enjoyable and intriguing brew. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Blueprint Coffee – Santa Isabel at Roadcrew Coffee & Cycles

MichaelLeave a comment

About the Café

Roadcrew is an interesting combination café/bike shop located at the corner of Morganford and Connecticut just south of Tower Grove Park. It is a bright, modern space as suitable for working and sipping coffee as it is mechanical service on your bicycle. As this blog implies, coffee and cycling are two sides of the same coin, so the union is a natural fit. Stop in to fix up your bike and/or fuel up with some coffee. The large floor to ceiling windows also allows for an unobstructed view of the bike racks out front, which I appreciated as an added security measure if you happen to ride your bike to the coffee shop. The Café is equal parts bike shop and coffee shop and is perfectly inviting for either side of the business.

https://www.roadcrew.cc/

The Coffee

Roadcrew serves a rotation of coffees and on this day served Blueprint Coffee, a local St. Louis roaster located on the Delmar loop and off Watson Road in Lindenwood Park. Roadcrew’s staff are knowledgeable on both coffee and bicycles, offering informed recommendations on your selection of pour over or the merits of a particular chain lubricant. The coffee was served in a large beaker like decanter with a small clay cup which came off more on the hipster side but it works with the overall vibe of the café.

Taste

  • Roaster: Blueprint Coffee
  • https://blueprintcoffee.com/
  • Bean Origin: Santa Isabel, Cobán, Guatemala
  • Bean Type: Arabica
  • Price Range: $$$ (3/4)
  • Roast Color: 2/6
  • Brewing method: Pour over
  • Grounds/Water ratio: Unknown
  • Flavor Notes: Full bodied, Savory, Oily, Fruity
  • Aroma Notes: Smells like fresh baked focaccia
  • Tasting notes from the bag: Stonefruit, sugar cane, papayas, funky, chocolate, grapefruit

After decanting a cup, I was struck by the savory aroma of this brew. I noted it smelled like fresh baked focaccia in my aroma notes for lack of a better description but the resemblance was uncanny. The barista remarked that this is a “peppery” brew and it definitely delivered in that regard, but not in an unpleasant way. The peppery flavor came across more subdued than the aroma implied with a full bodied and complex taste almost like the nutty pungency of a hard parmesan cheese. I had to keep taking small sips to appreciate the complexity and nail down the flavors as I haven’t tasted much with a similar flavor profile. It was most similar to a light roast from Honduras I tried at Coffeestamp a couple weeks ago (and unfortunately did not review at the time) though not as light and floral as that coffee. Overall, it struck me as unique, flavorful, and satisfying.

Rating: 7.5/10