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Opening in Oct. 2009, James Freeman finally established a spacious home for his ever-growing Bay Area coffee empire. Here they host a small café for retail coffee service, but much of the space is dedicated to specialized operations such as larger batch roasting (with two large Probat roasters), daily cuppings (2pm), making baked goods for all of their outlets, barista training, and desks for buyers and all the other administrative details. This location is part coffee lab, given the test roasts and equipment trials they perform here, but also part museum - reflecting Mr. Freeman's enthusiasm for old equipment and electronics (Altec Lansing "Voice of the Theatre" Speakers, old Russian projector scopes included). There's several tall stools and tables for outdoor seating along Webster St., and indoors there is barely a four-person window counter to sit at. The retail coffee bar is small, but it's capable of great things with its three-group La Marzocco Linea. The resulting shot is extra potent and short without being overly syrupy. It has a textured, richer medium brown crema and a smooth, rounded, fresh-tasting, flavorful pungency of thyme, some pepper, and traces of smoke, honey, and cedar. An outstanding shot.
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