La Mill Coffee Boutique-Silverlake

My very good friend, and fellow coffee connoisseur, Dave, seems to always be able to find great coffee. Dave and I have grown to appreciate coffee as more than just a way to stay awake throughout the day. Coffee really is a culinary experience. Many of the same flavor profile descriptions that you might associate with wine are also potentially found in truly high quality coffees. Such was the case of a coffee that we tasted.

Recently, Dave brought into work an Ethiopia Idido Misty Valley from La Mill Coffee Boutique. While I have never visited this Silverlake (Los Angeles area) cafe and eatery, I was pleasantly surprised by the coffee that I was able to sample. This is especially notable because La Mill is located in the same neighborhood as the well recognized and well respected Intelligentsia coffee. In order to even come close to what Intelli is doing, you really have to have some serious chops. At the very least, La Mill aims to take what they are doing very seriously, delivering excellence in selecting and roasting their beans.

So Dave used our usual workplace method: Filtered water, French press and blade grinder. If it were not at work, the process on our end would be significantly enhanced: Conical burr grinder (blade grinders just wreck the bean), Chemex or vac pot (I like a French press a lot, too), better water filter (the one in the work room just needs replacing).... Even with things being imperfect, this Ethiopia really blossomed. Right at first nose, you are overwhelmed by the smell of blueberries. The taste was consistent with this smell and was combined with a full body. This was not your everyday workplace coffee. (Dave and I don't play that!!!) Had I not been in such a rush, I may have been able to really savor this coffee. In addition, Dave pointed out that the coffee was actually toward the end of the week off of roast. So I can't imagine how it would have tasted had we not only used our best case scenario brewing methods, but also if we had been able to taste the coffee within a day or two off roast. Dave did not even purchase it until it was a few days off roast.

This says something to me about what is happening at La Mill. While I am still moving out of "amateur coffee drinker" status, it is obvious to me that they have some idea about what they are doing. They were able to set up a deal with a great farm in Ethiopia and have been able to demonstrate a solid ability to roast a great coffee. I am anxious to visit La Mill in person, even if it means consuming some rather overpriced food and beverage. I have posted their web address below. Check it out yourself and then post your own comments about your experience here. Also, as an aside...if you are in Silverlake, make sure you take time to partake in truly one of the most amazing coffee experiences of your life...Intelligentsia. I have posted a link to their website as well.

It is what it is!!!

http://www.lamillcoffee.com/
http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/retail/silverlake