REVISITING BSB

Not much has changed since my prior visit to BSB one year ago.  In fact, nothing has.  Well that is not entirely true.  The operation has shrunk from two partners to one owner, Angela Patterson.  This has definitely hurt their coffee program, big time. 

Visualize dirty shot glasses, stale coffee, uneven dosing/distribution "methods", overly aggresive tamping, frothing two pitchers of milk at the same time by literally setting them down on the drip tray and walking away, etc...  Posted on the grinder's hopper is a note that reads, "Flat finger for doubles and curved finger for singles."  WTF!

My espresso wasn't bitter, but rather tasted dirty, thin and cold.  However, Julia found her latte enjoyable and her 11-year-old brother, Jordan, loved his mocha latte.  I suppose my line of work has turned me into a pretty tough critic. 

What a shame.  

The lesson is, hold on to good people.  Fancy machinery and freshly roasted coffee is just the tip of the iceburg in creating and more importantly maintaining a refined coffee establishment.  I'll most likely revisit again next year out of sheer curiousity.  Hope the same beans aren't still in the hopper!     

Nikolas Krankl, December 30, 2008   

Comment

I was listening to Nik discuss his disappointment at BSB on the ride home, and I got to thinking. What a surprise that there would even be a place doing espresso in a place like Kingman, AZ. Growing up in the nearby and equally small Bullhead City, AZ, we did not even have a Starbucks. I am fairly sure if I had ordered an espresso at any place serving coffee, I would have received a very confused look. In fact, we had a similar response yesterday as we checked out a Drive-thru coffee/espresso bar/car wash in-one-place in BHC. We ordered a "vanilla latte frappe" for my little brother and a "single shot of espresso" only to be given two frozen drinks, one with two "shots" and one with one "shot". When we asked the girl for espresso she replied, "what?". The only redeeming part of this story is when my little brother told me he preferred the mocha over the frozen sugar drink that made his stomach hurt. Ahh, developing a palate already. But anyway, I got off track of the point. Maybe instead of complaining at the mediocrity of coffee in small towns, I should be excited that there is even a coffee shop to begin with. We all have to start somewhere I guess.

Julia Tatum, December 31, 2008

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