Cafe Cortado

Cafe what?????? Despite aging in the coffee biz, and my almost-daily immersion with my coffee gods Tracy Allen of Brewed Behavior and Roberto Francisco of Boyd Coffee, this particular item on the menu board of Catalina Coffee in Houston Texas left me perplexed to the point that I had to order it to please my nagging curiosity. Nope, not in my past countless visits to the country of Uncle Sam have I heard of such... to think I've scoured the cafes of California, New England, and the Tri-State area.

For my regular blog readers, you all know well that I prefer my coffee strong - not watered-down, not drowned in milk, and definitely not too sweet or immersed with flavor of any sort. As I watched Catalina Coffee's artist/barista prepare my first crack at this particular brew,  I was pleased to learn that the espresso-based drink that's been a staple in my humble abode for the past 5 years is actually called a Cortado (Spanish word meaning "to cut/reduce") - that is, a shot of espresso (1-ounce) tempered with a dash of warm milk (2-ounces). Take note that "warm" milk is used instead of "frothed/foamed" milk, which morphs the drink into a Cafe Macchiato.

Coffee snob or not, it is humbling to know that despite our perceived industry expertise and/or age, indeed we discover something new daily. Cheers to learning!!!

Catalina Coffee, Houston Texas

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to find tons of excellent coffee joints in Houston, Texas... And like the MVP of an All-Star Game, CATALINA COFFEE in my humble opinion stood out as the best among the best. Aesthetically there's  really nothing over-the-top fancy about this independent coffee house, but if your end in mind is to seek great coffee (particularly in the morning to fill your barely-awake being) then this place is certainly one to impress!

nothing like a cup of Cafe Cortado in the morning
to warm one's barely-awake being!

So what really makes this place tick? First off the owner Max Gonzalez is hands-on in his business, and roasts his own beans under the company name AMAYA Roasting Company - nothing massive, just micro lots he himself hand-picks from Ethiopia and other green bean hotspots globally.

with the owner and master roaster Max Gonzalez

Next up is Catalina's skilled baristas who handcraft  various cup-after-cuppa joe's with scientific precision, each and every time resulting in a consistent caffeinated elixir worth lusting for.

And as a finale, limitless forms of latte art with cotton-candy-like consistency based on the Barista's mood and feel, thereby making each and every visit something to look forward to. Catalina's owner refer to his Baristas as "Artists", and true to their billing, each cup they make is their canvass of expression. Drinking, after all, begins as a visual experience... And in my visit, the experience was superb from beginning till end!

Long live independent coffee houses...


CATALINA  COFFEE
2201 Washington Avenue,
Houston Texas 77007