Coffee Review: Ristretto Roasters Beaumont Blend

The perks of having a well-traveled and generous (ahem) sister-in-law is being able to sample first-hand most of  her destination foodie finds. On her recent vacation from Portland, Oregon, lucky me was given (among others) a bag of Beaumont Blend from Ristretto Roasters. It's been quite a while since I did a coffee review, so allow me to share this one with you.

photo courtesy of pdx.eater.com

Beaumont Blend is a special seasonal roast that has full body, low acidity, and tasting notes of Baker's Chocolate, Clove and Dried Cherry. Straightforward and robust, yet surprisingly complex! An ode to Ristretto Roasters' opening its first minuscule roasting facility and cafe in the Beaumont neighborhood at NE 42nd & Fremont, Portland Oregon  in 2005. Since then, it paved the way for the full "flowering" (pun intended) of the roasting scene in the Rose City.

In 2009, Ristretto opened its second branch in North Portland, this time imbibing a sexier-hip appeal, yet still maintaining it's well-known warm and welcoming (not snobbish) ambiance.  The road still looks "rosy" for the them, thereby benefiting its loyal followers!

Best served as straight espresso, or brewed in a French press to unleash its full flavors. Happy sipping!

Chunky Choco-Chocnut Frappe

Getting your kid(s) to eat fruits and veggies is every parent's dilemma. Fool them once maybe twice, making it a healthy habit is a taller order. Fortunately for me, my soon-to-be 8 year old has a well-seasoned palette, enjoying healthy/nutritious dishes like pesto pasta, ampalaya (bitter gourd) omelette, minestrone soup (minus the beans), and most fruits available locally (apples, bananas, grapes, etc). My wife and I make it a point to make our dishes "creative", sneaking-in the healthy stuff either as an infused ingredient, sauce or as a garnish. We are also conscious not to define the dishes literally, at least not now, given a child's vast imagination in general. Case in point LENGUA (ox tongue) with mushroom sauce, which kiddo perceives to be "roast beef" is a dinner staple in our household.

For this new post, inspiration was drawn on healthy drinks easily prepared and served in the confines of one's abode - saving you time, cash and best of all the unnecessary calories. Ripe banana is "sneaked in" not only to add a healthy dimension to it,  but to provide added flavor, stabilized body and mouthfeel as well. Proud to mention that the finished product will be used as a Yuletide Signature Drink of a Five-Star Hotel starting next month, with a catchier name to it compared to mine.

Ingredients for a 16-ounce drink:

3 tablespoons (approximately 50 grams) Far Skyes Vanilla Frappe Powder Base
Double Shot Espresso (approximately 60ml), I'm using Boyd's Premium Roast Arabica
10ml Stasero Hazelnut Syrup
1 Ripe Banana
3 pieces Chocnut OR Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
10ml Stasero Dark Chocolate Sauce (for garnish)

Procedure:

Step 1 In a Blender dissolve 3 tsablespoons Far Skyes Vanilla Frappe Base with 2-shots espresso and 10ml Stasero Hazelnut Syrup

Step 2 Add 2 pieces Chocnut and 1 ripe banana and blend for 5-10 seconds

Step 3 Fill a 16-ounce tall glass with ice; pour into blender and blend until crushed & smooth

Step 4 Pour into tall glass and let your creative juices flow by garnishing with Dark Chocolate Sauce, and 1 Chocnut (I topped my drink with steamed milk froth and poured the Chocnut on top of it). Serve and enjoy!!!

Now who says delicious and healthy can't intertwine?! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

so easy to make even an almost 8-year old can do it!