Traveling Cowboys: Traveling in Style and Getting Our Espresso Fix on the Road with a Rocket R58

Good Coffee on the Road

It is incredible to realize just how bad coffee can be on the road. Some establishments give themselves out as coffee shops that should rather stay away from espresso machines.

We only feature positive stories, and we have to confess that it is difficult to find positive espresso coffee stories on our travels. 

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The real gems are when we find a lost master barista operating a hole in the wall espresso stand, for a few discerning customers. We wish there were more of them in the world. They are the morning coffee heroes that should be celebrated. In their absence, we had to make our own plans.

We invested in a Rocket R58 Espresso Machine, a little Rancilio grinder and fresh beans as we travel. Now we can make our own coffee on the road when we cannot find a good local spot with a barista in the know.

Observations

The biggest challenge with espresso on the road has enough electricity to operate a higher-end espresso machine. The Rocket works with 110V power, which makes it ideal for mobile operations. It has a little water tank that we fill as we go. It is a heavy machine, so we had to be sure that we have the right spot for it. You are not going to unpack it every time you use it. It needs a special place in our rig.

We've found our coffee solution for when we can not find good coffee in the destinations of our travels. Tell us about your favourite coffee spots, and we may just pay them a visit when we pass through.

Hendrik van Wyk

Rocket Cowboy

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Mobile Espresso

Hole in the Wall

Rocket

Setup

Good Coffee

o-CNN: Weta Coffee - Your Local Roaster in One Tree Hill, Auckland New Zealand

The First and the Last

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There should be two important and largely invisible people in every person's life. Ones with the power to make a person's day. They are people not usually noticed, but who are integrally part of our daily routines. Thanks to them, life can tick over with a familiar and predictable rhythm. Without them, it becomes just a little bit harder. If they play their parts perfectly, you don't notice them. If they mess up, everything is affected.

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Even when things don't always go to plan, these people provide you with a foundational stability and familiar comforts. Something reliable. They help to prepare you to face the next big challenge life may throw at you.

No, I am not talking about the people stocking your toilet paper. I am referring to the two unsung hero's of our society: The Barman, and the Barista. The one puts you to bed at night, and the other wakes you in the morning. The one pours you your favourite drink after a hard days work. The other, sets you up for greatness in the morning, with your first kick of caffeine for the day.

It is important that you choose these people carefully for a harmonious and meaningful life. Ask anyone that is married just how critical this choice is. Yes, it can be your spouse or partner. My preference is professionals for these paramount tasks.

The Professionals

This is what we encountered when we were graciously nudged on Facebook to pay Weta Coffee a visit in one of Auckland, New Zealand's more established neighbourhoods: One Tree Hill (also referred to as "None" Tree Hill - there is a story there for another time). Miles and Sandra at Weta are professionals. They know what to do to start One Tree Hill's folks off on a good day, every day of the week. 

Every corner store in New Zealand boasts an espresso machine. It is the land of milk and honey (and good coffee, generally). The bar is significantly higher in this part of the world if you want to stand out as a "hole in the wall" neighbourhood coffee spot. There are a lot of good coffee places.

Weta Coffee graduates with flying colours by roasting and blending their beans to the taste preferences of their loyal, discerning, and by now, very devoted clientele. When you drink Weta Coffee, you get One Tree Hill's coffee. A little on the stronger side, a bit more acidity, rich, with a lingering chocolate note as Miles Masters (Roaster and Co-Owner) prefers it. Above all, it is fresh because they roast and blend it themselves every Sunday afternoon. 

How do you judge the quality of a coffee shop? 

For the Two Cowboys, the coffee shop must occupy the vital place of being the (morning) heart of the community. Like your local brewery or bar, the coffee shop is the place where the people of the area come together to meet the neighbours, talk about the weather, kids and politics (if you have to), and to relax.

It is encouraging to see Myles and Sandra make a move from corporate to craft. Even more encouraging to find them producing a premium quality coffee in a small corner of One Tree Hill. A trip to Weta is worth the effort. We promise. 

If you want the taste of One Tree Hill but cannot get there yourself, you can order it online for shipping in and around New Zealand: http://wetacoffee.co.nz/. If you want to see them roast, see them. It happens on Sunday afternoons.

Hendrik van Wyk

Weta Coffee Fan

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o-CNN: Cowboy News Network - The State of Coffee in Canmore, AB

Cappuccino Hunting in the Bow Valley

Many people's dream lifestyle is to have a little coffee shop in the mountains, somewhere beautiful. 

In Canmore, Alberta we are in the mountains where it is beautiful. We have a lot of coffee shops. People are living their dream, for sure. The coffee is here, but is it any good?

Ten years ago, you probably would have had to drive over the border (to B.C. or way further South) to get a decent Italian coffee. Today, our little mountain town boasts two established, popular and recognized coffee roasters: Rave Coffee and Mountain Blends, and many coffee serving establishments.  

If that isn't enough, Calgary has seen some amazing roasting and coffee evolution of its own, over the last two decades. The likes of Fratello, Phil and Sebastian, Priddis' Crickle Creek Coffee and others are all working to raise the bar in prairie coffee.

You probably know that we've travelled the world as wandering fake South African Cowboys. Because of our time in coffee mad New Zealand we've become accustomed to some pretty darn good coffee. We therefore decided to do a bit of a review of some of the better known coffee you can get in Canmore. The big question that we asked was: 

"What is the state and standard of coffee in Canmore?"

We don't think we've settled the question yet, and you should stay tuned for further instalments. Calgary Coffee establishments be warned, we are coming your way too.

Observations

A coffee connoisseur once noted that everybody in the coffee value chain can do their jobs perfectly.

The right plants can grow at just the right place. The plants can get just the right weather to produce the perfect berries. A willing farmer and his family can lovingly treasure, work and harvest their crop. They can pick it at the right time, ferment, dry and sort the beans by hand in the blazing hot summer sun. Then, they can send their beans thousands of miles to destinations they've never heard of, or will ever see.

The beans can then be roasted with computer precision and timing for the ultimate perfect aromas to be unleashed. With years of experience, expertise and a sophisticated palate, the roaster can then blend it for the perfect delivery of the very best shot. And then it takes something as simple as a 21 year old hipster barista to fek&^% it all up in 2 minutes. Many not knowing their cappuccino from their macchiato, when it comes to making a good cup of coffee. 

Let's just say: "Canmore, the majority of your Baristas need some help." There are a few outstanding one's around (with Kiwi or Ozzie accents). The rest need a hand. Here is an idea: We are offering to send them to Barista school. We volunteer to launch a training trust fund for Barista's in Canmore. Let us know in the comments below if you are keen to get involved.

The second observation relates to the other half of a good coffee: The milk. Starbucks succeeded in making aspiring "expert" coffee mixologists of everyone that can plonk down a loyalty card for their next "Venti Skinny Soy Caramel Macchiato with Double Whipped Cream and Two Extra Decaf Shots To Go".

However, a real coffee comes with silky caramelly, rich and creamy milk. Granted, this is something which is in general short supply in deconstructed and reconstituted, homogenized and pasteurized chalky white water Canada. 

We are pleading with our coffee shop owners to pay particular attention to the milk they use. Yes, we know customers have preferences, but that is probably because they simply don't know any better. If it was up to us, every coffee would be made with Half & Half or something even richer. This is why New Zealand (the land of the many dairy cows) is so committed to their coffee. It comes with great milk!

Enjoy the video.

We look forward to bringing you more instalments, so coffee shops beware ;-)

Hendrik van Wyk

Flat White Expert

P.S. Send us an email if you think your Barista needs help. We know the right people: twocowboys@profiledproductions.com

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Brave Soldiers

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Needing Help