Osmium Coffee Bar - Chicago, IL

The Cafe

Name: Osmium Coffee Bar
Location: Chicago, IL
Address: 1117 W Belmont Ave
Serving: Dark Matter
Visit Date: November 11, 2015

The Experience
Cafe Aesthetic: 85/100
Coffee Quality: 80/100
Hospitality: 90/100
Overall Experience: 85/100

At the moment I'm spending much of my days building out new cafes. These mornings, I often let far too much time slip away before my first cup of coffee. On this particular Wednesday, however, I was resolved not to let this happen. Two birds were sent to glory with a single proverbial stone this morning as I entered Osmium Coffee Bar in Lake View. I've heard a lot about this particular cafe and I was excited at the opportunity to stop in.

I was greeted warmly by a pair of baristas who seemed to be in the midst of a pleasant morning. They immediately asked what they could prepare for me and I asked for an espresso. They let me know I was getting a single espresso with the strength of a triple espresso. I haven't heard this before and I was thrown off (thus forgetting to inquire of the origin - this will not happen again!). While the espresso was enjoyable, it was a bit bright for my taste. That being said, I would not shy away in the future.

After my espresso I inquired about their barrel aged cold brew which was served on tap. A concoction of Ethiopian coffee aged in whiskey barrels. I was given a small sample, which was just the right amount! The smell of whiskey shined and I could pick up on the scent when the glass was still on the table. As with the espresso, the coffee was quite bright and the whiskey seemed to accentuate the coffee and add to the brightness. I will say, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors found here. That being said, I would not be inclined to drink more than 4oz at a time.

An early morning started off right - good coffee & welcoming baristas. Osmium Coffee Bar delivered a positive experience and I'm looking forward to another visit.

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Congo Kivu - Roast House

The Coffee

Roaster: Roast House Coffee Roasters - Spokane, WA

Region: Kivu, Congo

Varietal: Bourbon
Processing: Washed

Demographic: Sweet, Rich, & Complex
Brew Rating: 85/100

Filter Brew

Location: Home Brew

Brew Method: Chemex

Ratio: 48g Coffee - 800g water

Time: 7:00

The Story

This review is coming to you all from the beautiful city of Spokane, WA... Well, actually, this review is coming to you from my quiet Chicago apartment as I wind up for a new day.

My first impression on this coffee came from exact the moment when the stream of water hit the freshly ground coffee. My nose was instantly filled with a think sweet-honeydew aroma that stayed with me for the entirety of the brewing process.

This Congolese coffee surprised me with a syrupy mouthfeel that reminded me of a tea sweetened with just the right amount of honey. This coffee delivered delightful sweetness as well as floral & citrus notes to make this a quite complex cup. As the cup cooled, the sweet & citric bouquet mellowed out and was accented by a slightly woody finish that I didn't love, but it didn't turn me off, either*.  Tasting notes from Roast House include honey, hibiscus, & grapefruit. These descriptors are on point for this coffee and they show themselves in a cup that demands to be shared.

¡ESPRESSO BREAK!

Espresso Machine: Classe 9 - Rancilio
Grinder: EK43 - Mahlkonig

Ratio: 19g In - 38g Out

Time: 22 seconds

This coffee as espresso was surprisingly bright (with above dial). The aroma was insane in espresso - that rich honey-dew smell was so delightfully strong I could hardly believe it. 

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Good news for all of us, is that this is just 1 of our reviews coming from RH!

Check it out!

If your interested in this coffee, please check the following link and support an artisan roaster!

(Coffee available as of 11/12/2015)

The Roast House Coffee - Congo Kivu

*NOTE: I forced myself to leave a few sips at the bottom for the express purpose of this review. 

This was extremely difficult as all I wanted to do was drink it all right now (then).

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Artisan Coffee Reviews is a collective of coffee professionals from across the country who drink an obscene amount of coffee. Our goal is to utilize ACR as a platform to both record and share our thoughts & help you find the best cup of coffee to bring home.