Coffee cupping

What do you do when you get a package containing three bags of Heart Coffee? Have a cupping session, of course.

We had the following three on hand: 

1. Colombia La Palmera
2. Ethiopa Chelba 
3. Guatemala El Amate 

It was a pretty impromptu and informal affair—we had to use espresso cups in lieu of cupping bowls, so the proportions were slightly off. I'll be the first to admit: I don't have the most discerning of palates (my commentary during wine tasting is embarrassing at best), but cupping helped me identify the differences between each coffee. My favorite? The Ethopia Chelba, by a landslide. It had a sweet, caramel fragrance, and it went down really smoothly and had notes of citrus.

Iacoli & McAllister

I've lost nearly every ring I've owned. I find bracelets to be cumbersome little things, to be taken off as soon as I get to a desk and at a computer. After a childhood of painful incidents involving hair getting stuck to little hoops, I swore off earrings long ago.

Basically, I'm not a jewelry person. But exceptions are to be made, and for me, it's Iacoli & McAllister. Founded by Jamie Iacoli and Brian McAllister, its designs are guided by industrial design. That means extra sleek, minimalist pieces—pieces that even the most jewelry-resistant people such as myself could not resist. The knotted and re-knotted leather cord (my little attempt at salvaging a well-worn piece) should be evidence enough.

Read more about Iacoli & McAllister in a piece I wrote for Handful of Salt (a lovely website that explores modern craft and design), here.

Brown Water Coffee

Unsurprisingly, my morning routine revolves around coffee.

Also, a bowl of oatmeal, with a healthy scoop of dark brown sugar mixed into it and a sprinkling of cinnamon and sliced almonds. And I can't forget listening to music—or, as of late, a certain addictive podcast—while clearing out the dishwasher. Maybe even a little bit of reading, if I'm in a particularly procrastinate-y mood.

But really, it's all about the coffee. And lately, I've been reaching for this bag of Nicaragua Regalo de Dios, courtesy of Brown Water Coffee. They very kindly sent me a bag of freshly roasted beans to try (and I can't emphasize enough just how fresh they arrived). It's got a sweet note to it, chocolatey and almond-y and just a little hint of floral, too.

Even better? Every bag sold helps provide clean water to someone in need. Good coffee with an even greater cause? That's definitely something I can get behind, every morning.

Atlas

I first discovered Atlas at a small denim shop in the Mission called Self-Edge. My boyfriend was trying on a pair of jeans, and I was browsing through the selection of magazines they had on a shelf. I liked the intent behind the magazine—it spotlighted American craft and curio, with the magazine itself being a testament to it.

I recently had the opportunity to contribute to Atlas, interviewing Samovar founder Jesse Jacobs at his newest tea bar location on Valencia Street. We talked about simplicity (and how hard it is), caffeine (and how bad it is), and distractions (and how tea can help overcome them).

You can purchase your own copy of Atlas here, or find a list of stockists here.

Strangers at the Museum

I headed to the de Young Museum last weekend to catch their latest Modernism exhibition. I also happened to do a fair amount of unintentional people watching while I was there, too—I couldn't resist surreptitiously capturing fellow museum patrons as they mulled over different pieces. Slightly creepy, I know, but as it turns out, I'm not alone in this practice. 

Visit: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, Calif.

Multnomah Falls

It only took a couple of hours after landing in Portland (not to mention, a quick coffee run at Heart) before we hopped in a car and headed to Multnomah Falls. And we weren't alone in our plans. I shouldn't have been so surprised—just a half-hour's drive from Portland, the towering 611-feet falls isn't a sight to be missed. And despite the crowds, we managed to find a few pockets of quiet scenes as we made our way higher and higher up the trail.

Heart Coffee Roasters

Coffee is taken seriously at Heart. From roasting to brewing to their menu offerings, Heart’s approach is precise, meticulous, and obsessive—and it more than pays off. Combined with a beautiful space—think whitewashed exposed brick, wood paneling, and plenty of natural sunlight—it's exactly the kind of space that you'd want to incorporate in your daily coffee routine.

Visit: Heart Coffee Roasters, 537 SW 12th Ave (West Side) or 2211 E Burnside St. (East Side)

Snapshots: Bernal Heights Park

Visit: Bernal Heights Park, San Francisco, Calif.