Fresh Roast: Espresso Dolce (Vivace)
Espresso Vivace has reached somewhat legendary status in Seattle. If you visit the shop, be prepared to know the protocol. Don’t order a grande or a venti anything. They don’t have it, and if you use those words, you will be instantly classified as “one of those people.” Yes, Espresso Vivace is a soup nazi kind of place. Fantastic coffee, with a bit of an attitude about the right way to do things. If you want to learn all about the right way, you can order one of their many books to learn.
If that’s not your kind of thing though, you can still get their great blends, and do things your own way at home. I stopped into their new downtown Seattle location a couple of weeks ago and picked up a pound of their Espresso Dolce blend for roasting at home. This was the only green bean that was available in the store, but you can order their Vita blend as well as a decaf blend at home. The Dolce blend is designed for ristretto and the Vita for making great lattes.
The unroasted beans are really gorgeous, large and fairly uniform. They tolerate heat very well, and I found that I had to reset the timer during the roast in order to get them to the second crack. The result is a richly roasted bean just on the verge of oily. With a very fine grind and a very firm tamp, I get an excellent cup. While it’s a bit sharp initially, it finishes sweet, nutty and smooth.
