The Daily Sauce :: A Daily Sip of Hip

April 9th, 2008 edition of The Daily Sauce: Food and Wine. Visit Our Food and Wine Archive.

Celebrity Coffee

There’s a new coffee on the shelves, looking all smug in its golden foil bag. Roasted locally and sold under the Celebrity Chef Kitchens brand name (a meal-prep franchise located in Olivette), the coffee is available in several different blends. In a quasi-scientific process (very quasi), we used three brewing methods to taste CCK’s Gusto blend, described as “a classic, Central American coffee roasted for a rich, caramelized taste [that] has a touch of smokiness, with a dark-roast sweet finish.” For each method, we used 2 tablespoons of medium-ground coffee and 16 ounces of water (6 ounces with the cupping method).

To discern the overall quality of the coffee, we steeped the grounds in a cup of hot water. Yielding a bright aroma, buttery mouth feel and creamy finish, we knew then this coffee was good enough to brew properly. The cone filter drip method produced a very smooth, drinkable cup with nutty flavor, but very little of that flavor lingered long on the palate. Our Bodum vacuum pot produced a sharper finish, as usual, but more complex, layered flavors,

probably because the vacuum method doesn’t filter out the oils.

But, as they say, results may vary and more research is needed.

Sauce pick: Celebrity Chef Kitchens coffee
Where to get it: Celebrity Chef Kitchens, 9200 Olive Blvd., Olivette
Info: 314.692.2433 or www.celebritychefkitchens.com

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