we wanted to take advantage of the very empty freeways. We had a free morning since TC had sports practice...
This was actually our first coffee stop of the morning, a small but "hidden" coffee shop on State Street. We were also actually here to view a particular mural on the Carlsbad Art Wall (that post is forthcoming) and didn't realize the artist had changed.
Back to the coffee...since it was the day after Christmas, most folks had the day off and were most likely sleeping in. It was so nice and quiet. Steady State Coffee Roasters is located behind EVR Bottle Shop. When you see this painted wall, just go down the alley (just like City Heights Coffee House) and follow the stepping stones...
We found the "Coffee Really" sign funny...
The view in the alley looking out towards the street...
Steady State Roasting is in the back of the bottle shop. They have their own roasting facility back here along with a bar and limited seating.
Crappily for us, just as we were about to order, a big group of people came in and took up all the spaces at the bar. But...on the plus side, we were able to enjoy our drinks outside with better lighting at the bottle shop's patio (it wasn't open anyways and the barista said it was additional seating).
This play on words involving Christopher Walken reminded me of the photo of Walken on the podium at Breakfast Republic in Liberty Station ("No Reservations, Walkens only", see that post here). This decorated card was next to the cream, sugars, napkins, etc.
Bert had their pourover while I chose a cortado.
Our barista was really nice; she said they also sold beans from Boogie, a local roaster from nearby Cardiff. When Bert asked her if she recommended any other local North County roasters, she highly recommended Global Coffee in Sorrento Valley. We made a mental note to go there this week.
I had some Xmas gift money so we splurged - Bert's pourover was the Panama Geisha at $8 a pop (yeesh), probably the first and only time we'll get an $8 cup of joe. I'd read before that Geisha coffee was supposed to be really, really, really, really excellent, so here goes. By comparison, Kirk's wife had a $10 cup at Bird Rock in La Jolla and enjoyed it. Below, my cortado with sparkling water.
And here's that Panama geisha pourover in a small carafe and one of those cool doubled walled glass (we first saw this type of glass at Public Square Coffee House in La Mesa).
Bert liked the "finish" to his coffee. It was more fruity than earthy and it was pretty smooth all around. It didn't need any additional creamer or sugar, which Bert really liked. However, he didn't think it was worth $8.
As for my cortado, it seemed like it was smaller that it was supposed to be. I was expecting 4 to 4.5 oz. and this glass was kind of small. The sparkling water glass looked like the size of what my cortado should have been or maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me? The roast was also medium and more fruity than I would've preferred, but overall, it was okay. I've had better cortados elsewhere but I was still glad we gave this place a shot.
Steady State Roasting
2680 State St.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 908-168
www.steadystateroasting.com/ fb page + the spare 11 reviews from you know where
Well now, since this was vacation for me, I could have not ONE but TWO coffees. Coffee #2 would be down south a few minutes away in Encinitas, which was also the site of the third Prince mural I wanted to see...
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