They should know your name what your preferences are, talk to you about the weather, the stock market, how Man United lost to Newcastle last night. They shouldnt be snobs either, reciting all the facts about these beans and what elevation they are from, when all you want is a cup of coffee to wake up to, he says.
Started last year, espressoLAB is the result of Leongs long-standing passion for coffee. It was about two-and-a-half years ago when I was looking for a business where I could bring in beans from the source, and serve them in a retail environment. Then I stumbled upon Third Wave Coffee, which brought in fresh roasted coffees, had great baristas, and from there I started espressoLab, bringing in coffees from Panama, Columbia, Brazil, Ethiopia and Indonesia.
Unlike coffee beans in retail and supermarket outlets, the beans at espressoLAB are roasted in small batches based on ! demand s o that customers get the freshest coffee.
When you roast coffee, they do get stale after a month, so I always advise people to get them as freshly roasted as possible, and in batches that they can consume within a month.
The beans sold here come from the worlds best coffee growing regions, with exotic names like the Ethiopian Sidamo, and Hacienda La Esmeralda. Some of them can cost a pretty penny too.
Just a few months ago, we brought in a Panaman bean called the Hacienda La Esmeralda, which produces a wonderfully complex cup, and its one of the best coffees Ive ever tasted. Its so good I cant do it justice by merely talking, he says.
For the past five years its been on auction, the price has doubled every year. But I say coffees the most affordable luxury in the world it may sound expensive to pay RM30 for a cup, but thats comparative to a glass of wine, champagne, or a single-malt whisky.
Brewing a better cup
After this, people should be able to go to a cafe, get a job, and produce a decent cup of coffee, says Leong. Additional levels would involve learning the finer points of coffee: understanding the beans, processes of roasting, blending and troubleshooting. He says those who are interested in taking up the classes come from wide variety of backgrounds, from home hobbyists who have an espresso machine at home, to professionals who want to know more about latte art pouring, roasting coffee, and pick up more soft-skills.
Ultimately, however, its not the amount of theory or expertise that makes a g! reat bar ista or a cup of coffee, but passion. I always say that were no experts in coffee; were all coffee enthusiasts with so much to learn and whatever we do with the coffee it has to be done with heart. I can teach you the skills but without the heart its really impossible, he says.
espressoLAB Coffee Roaster is located at D1-G4-6, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Duta Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-6211-0662. To find out more about espressoLAB, visit http://myespressolab.com or their Facebook page.
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