Simple Living

Double pour the same Vertuo pod.  It’s a nice way to get a better tasting cup of Joe.  I always wondered and this confirms that you can create your own version of an ‘Americano’ by first pouring a regular Espresso or Double Espresso pod then a second pour through that used pod yields mostly water to soften the harshness of the first pour.

I’ve grown tired of trying to find good coffee shops and spending $5-7 a pour.  So, I invested in a Nespresso Vertuo machine selling for $140 at Costco. It came with 30 pods and a $40 coupon that I used to buy 40 more pods at the Nespresso store.  I also bought another 100 pods online to get the welcome gift with 10 more pods and 2 free coffee mugs. In total, I’ve purchased 180 vertuo pods for this machine!  And at the rate of my consumption easily knocking back 2-3 a day and about 3-4 days a week.  So 6-12 a week.

Finally paid a visit to Otto Coffee in the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas.  It’s a very nice old world style establishment with dark wood panels and leather seating. I tried the Latte, Cappuccino and the Texas Pecan Sticky Bun.  All were excellent. I give this place a 9.0 out of 10 Cappuccino Rating. I’m taking notice and Otto uses the La Marzocco for espresso.

Change of pace and got a Boba Milk Tea from FULLL (yes 3 L’s).  It’s rated 4.6 stars on Yelp and it’s accurate, it’s good and good price too. I prefer mine minimal sugar and did 30% and less ice.  Yum. Tiger Sugar is #1 in Dallas so far.  FULLL is 2nd, but beats Tiger on price.

Mr Brown Coffee is one of my favorite canned coffee.  They are not gourmet and likely bad for me, but I love ‘em.  They finally brought out a sugar free version (or at least very low sugar) cold brew and it’s perfect. Sometimes, I just want a plain iced coffee, no sugar, no cream, plain black.  This hits the spot and at $1.49 is a convenience vs brewing and chilling my own.

I’ve had to change my drink order and gave Renew Coffee in Frisco a try and was pleasantly impressed by their hot Matcha Latte. I also tried their Iced Cappuccino and that was decent, but the Matcha Latte was the standout. Giving this place 8/10 rating for their Matcha Latte. So far there are 3 decent shops around Frisco, this is one of them worth a try. Summer Moon - Main St Starbucks Reserve - Legacy West Renew Coffee - off Main St

Wasn’t expecting anything special and was correct as I ordered a plain hot coffee.  The bakery is decent and enjoyed some walnut puff cookies. Their coffee is regular drip from a bunn brand machine, stuff you find in a Denny’s or McDonald’s.

I can never get enough of Magnolia’s and their espresso drinks have been good so far.  My second round of an Affogato and it’s like a perfect pairing between gelato and espresso.

I thought, A Buck 25?  Why not and picked up some bags of coffee from H‑E‑B.  Well…it’s meh at best.  I’ll give them they did the flavoring and aroma right, but it’s sub-par coffee. For those who drink coffee with cream and sugar this might be their jam.  Not for me.

Still searching for a good Cappucino in Dallas.  Tried Kona Reserve in Frisco and it’s meh.  They slightly burnt the espresso, but surprisingly that helped it not taste like a cup of warm milk. Excluding the coffee, place is very nice, friendly staff, great parking.  Most coffee shops in Dallas at least have that going for them…but still searching for a good Cappuccino. Cappuccino rating 5.5/10

How is Lemma Coffee rated 4.7 out of 5 on Yelp?  That’s the same rating as Summer Moon.  You can’t trust Yelp anymore even with 115 reviews. If they are giving high marks for location, ambiance and staff then yes it’s a 5, but the coffee…it’s a 3.8. So far the dozen Frisco Coffee Shops I’ve tried with exception of Summer Moon all seem to think a Cappuccino should taste like a glass of warm milk. I must be ordering it wrong? Cappuccino Rating ( 5/10) Update - July 2023 - Tried again.  Nope, espresso is just way too bitter. Core issue with Lemma is their espresso shot.  It’s just too bitter and difficult to drink.  Should be more creamy and closer to dark chocolate than just bitter. I’d have to drop the rating to 4 in 10 for espresso shot.

I had high hopes for Original Pancake House as I've enjoyed their Dutch Baby and other offerings at different locations, but the Dallas one was meh at best. I'm still on the lookout for a good breakfast spot for my bacon & eggs fix.  

I stopped by the Tous le Jous Bakery inside the H-Mart in Allen.  Got some groceries and took a break enjoying a cup of coffee and some pastries.  The pastries were better than the coffee, but the Cappuccino is acceptable. For more bread type pastries Tous le Jous is preferred over the sweeter donut style offerings at Paris Baguette.   Cappuccino Rating = 6/10  

Sadly, I'm not a fan of Ascension's Cappucino.  I've tried both their Addison and Frisco locations and both times they burned the milk.  I did get an acceptable Cappucino once at the Frisco spot, but my return trip was when they burned the milk again and I had to give up on this place. It seems very popular and the decor and food seemed good, but I cant trust them for my Cappucino fix. Cappuccino Rating = 2/10 Update - 9/10/12 Tried a 4th time (why…) and ordered a Macchiato and Iced Americano, both we’re gritty and bitter. I’m guessing this is a style of coffee some people prefer?  

Pax & Beneficia have two locations.  One near Grapevine Mills Mall and another in Las Colinas.  I’ve tried both and loved their Turkish Coffee. I’ve also had their Cappuccino and it’s decent. A great place to try something different. Cappuccino Rating = 7/10  

No Coffee Tour of Dallas is complete without a stop at the original location for La La Land Coffee. I’m not much for sweet drinks, but I’ve enjoyed the ones here at La La Land.

Tried it twice and both times they had consistently good Cappuccinos at Fiction Coffee on Bell in Dallas. Very cool vibe and clientele.  I like to compare all my Cappuccinos in Dallas with the ones they serve here. Cappuccino Rating = 9.5/10 (this is highest I'll give any Dallas Spot, best I ever had was in San Francisco).

One of the best and cheapest places to find a really good Cappuccino in Dallas is at White Rock Coffee near Preston & Royal. I was blown away at how balanced and perfect they’re Cappuccino for about $2.50 (early 2022). Update - 9/25/22 - Quality dropped , price went up It’s now $3.45 for a small Cappuccino.  The quality is still better than Frisco, but not the same as when I had it half a year ago…it wasn’t busy and they used whole milk, so not sure why? Granted there are so many factors into making a good cup of coffee, didn’t realize it would be so inconsistent. Cappuccino Rating = 8/10

There is ALOT more you can buy at Eataly in Northpark Center in Dallas.  Ive tried the fresh pasta, breads and also rely on this place for good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. But I’ve always gotta try their Cappuccino and they have a decent one.  The Panna Cotta was excellent. Cappuccino Rating = 7/10

A very cozy Coffee Shop in Deep Ellum of Dallas is Murray Street Coffee.  Excellent Cappucino and Kolache. Fun place to try out and sit upstairs and relax.  Feels like your hanging out at someone’s home. Cappuccino Rating = 8.5/10