Alyshia Swenning of Weathervane Cafe wades into the latte art fray. (Emilie Rusch/The Denver Post)
We’re documenting our hunt for the best latte art in the Denver coffee scene, as well as expert tips on how to do coffee better.
Location:, 1725 E. 17th Ave., Denver
Barista: Alex and Lindsay Dalton, owner/operators; Alyshia Swenning
Pro tip: Try your hand at French press, Lindsay Dalton said.
“French press is a super affordable way to make good coffee at home,” Dalton said. “It’s better than drip methods because paper filters often hold back aromatic oils that are in the coffee.”
What you’ll need:
– Freshly ground coffee beans (ground fresh right before use)
– Filtered water
– Tea pot or goose-neck kettle
– French press
– Timer
For a 4-cup or 32-oz. French press:
1) Grind 4-5 tablespoons of coffee in your burr grinder or blade grinder. (If you have a scale, measure about 28 grams of whole beans.) Make sure the grind is course and even — this is harder with a blade grinder but totally doable. You don’t need to break the bank to buy a burr grinder.
2) Boil the water. Let water sit for about 20-30 seconds before pouring.
3) While the water is boiling, be sure to thoroughly clean your French press. Any old grounds left in the mesh filter will leave your coffee tasting bitter. Place fresh grounds in press, cover with half of the water. Stir with wooden spoon, then add remaining water. Place the plunger/lid on top of the press (but don’t plunge it down.) Set your timer for 4 minutes.
4) After four minutes is up, slowly press down on the plunger until it reaches the bottom of the press. Now, you’re ready to pour your coffee. Coffee will quickly turn bitter if left in the press too long, so be sure to pour in the first minute or so.
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