4th of July 2023

We are planning on launching our online store just in time for this years 4th of July celebration. We have done extensive research and curated a quality list of coffee equipment such as the Baratza Encore grinder, the Espro Bloom Pour Over vessel, the Espro Bloom coffee filters, the Brewista Artisan Variable Temperature Kettle, and the Brewista Ratio Scale. Each one of these items we have carefully tested and so you can rest assured that it has stood the Rugged Coffee approved test.

Our mission with our options was to cumulate a list of excellent brewing equipment for home brewers, but without the high price tag that the mainstream items go for. We tested several different items in each category, side by side, to come up with our approved list. We tried the Timemore Mirror scale, which is flashy in appearance, but very inaccurate in weight registration. We tried the Brewista Smart Scale, which was smaller in size but also slower in weight registration; accurate, but slow responsiveness. In the past, we have tried the Hario scales, but they break too easily, and the Acaia Pearl scales, which are excellent scales, but way too expensive and their recharge port damages very quickly. The Brewista Ratio scale was the one that we landed on because it is has a very quick weight response, it has a brew timer, it has a ratio calculator on it, and it also reads in ounces.

The pour over vessel that we landed on was decided through a blind test of each vessel we tested. We did this by creating the best brew recipe for each vessel, then we brewed one each vessel using that brew recipe that we created for it, then blindly tasted each one. The Espro Bloom stood the test and was the best by far on the counter. We chose the Brewista Artisan Variable Temperature Kettle because it was a beautiful looking kettle, it has the gooseneck shape that we are looking for, and it gets to the temperature we set it to, while holding that temperature for an hour.

All of our equipment is white in color, other than the Brewista Ratio Scale and the Espro Bloom because they didn’t offer the white color option. We are always looking for new and better equipment, so if you have any recommendations for us, then please do not hesitate to let us know in the comments section.

BARTENDER

One thing that a ton of weddings and events look for are bartenders, but what do you do when a lot of your guests don’t drink or can’t have any alcohol? Coffee is a great alternative to alcohol and it doesn’t have to be an either/or choice, we like to work with the bartenders to make great alcoholic coffee drinks. An espresso martini is an amazing drink that will keep guests awake and in the party mood long into the night. Another drink that I see guests like to have is coffee or cold brew and Bailey’s. We are fun and like to make delicious coffee so that whatever drink that your guests want to make, you know it’s gonna taste good.

Drinks that are an alcohol alternative but still make you feel like you’re drinking a cocktail is a Mocktail. Mocktails are drinks that replicate cocktails, but instead of alcohol in the drink, it is replaced with coffee, such as, espressso or concentrated cold Brew. Some of our favorite mocktails are the Espresso Tonic, made with Tonic Water, simple syrup, and Espresso served over ice. Another favorite of ours is the Coffee Mule, made with Fever Tree Ginger Beer, concentrated cold brew, and lime juice that is served over ice. If you dont have guests that want cocktail replica’s or cocktails themselves, then that is where our Espresso Bar shines making espresso drinks down the board like Mocha’s, Lattes, Cappuccinos, and we even have Signature Flavored Latte’s that you as the host get to choose for us to carry.

If you’re going to have the cocktail bar alongside our Espresso Bar, then we’d recommend getting festive and having our Homemade Eggnog and mixing rum with it or you can get creative and add bourbon to your mocha, or there’s always the classic Espresso Martini. We like to have fun with our service and offerings, so if you’re guests have any other cocktail ideas that they want to mix with coffee, then we are always ready to help them make that drink spectacular.

COFFEE ROASTERS: TOP 3

PORTOLA COFFEE ROASTERS:

Portola Coffee is a coffee company that helped lead the way with the Orange County specialty coffee scene. Starting in 2011, Portola Coffee baristas took things seriously and to show how serious they were, they all wore lab coats as a sign to show that coffee was more than a drink, it was a science. Starting in Costa Mesa, California, Portola Coffee was ambitious and got started with opening many more locations throughout Orange County, coffee shops in Mission Viejo, Tustin, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine. Since opening, they have closed down a few of their stores, but only to revamp their coffee shop approach, so dont fear as their original location is still active and they have plans to open more in the future. Portola Coffee sources and roasts some of the best coffee around, so its no wonder why we like to use their coffee so often.

LION & LAMB COFFEE ROASTERS:

Lion and Lamb Coffee Roasters is a coffee company in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California. The owner of Lion and Lamb is an ex-Barista from Portola Coffee, so it’s no wonder why they are on our top 3 list and why they roast such great coffee. Lion and Lamb is a coffee shop on the side of Watermark Church and has the most beautiful interior decorations and wall murals. This coffee shop has all the latest and greatest in coffee equipment, from the new Slayer Espresso Machine to the Mahlkonig E-85 grinders to the EK43 coffee grinder. These machines really help the Baristas there to create some of the best coffee drinks that you will try. Lion and Lamb have some of the most unique seasonal coffee drinks and they donate all of their profits to charity. Go get your morning coffee there and know that your purchases help to make the world a better place for all. We love knowing that the coffee beans we purchase help charities across the world.

LAMILL COFFEE ROASTERS:

Just recently opening a brand-new coffee shop in Anaheim, California, this Los Angeles coffee company emerged in the Orange County coffee scene and has made a large impression. From the elegance of the interior to the machinery they use, this coffee shop screams class. With countertops and tables made of granite, a brass chandelier, and booth seating, this coffee shop sets itself apart from others. The machinery they are using has some of the most technological software in it, from the La Marzocco KB90 to the Simonelli Mythos espresso grinders, to the Mahlkonig EK43s, to the Poursteady that is a machine that makes a phenomenal pour over Hario V60. Not only do they have and make great coffee, they also have some of the best food around as LAMILL is known in the food industry by working with some of the top Michelin star chefs around. We only use top shelf coffee beans for our service so it is no wonder why we like to use their coffee beans for our services.