There is always a delicate balance between pretension and quality of product in the world of third wave coffee shops. Funnel Mill was found a way to circumvent to argument entirely by specializing in an almost unheard-of mix of rare siphon-brewed coffees and Chinese teas. Since this is a blog about coffee I won't go into any detail about their teas, but it is suffice to say if you enjoy tea you will have a good time. Similarly, with coffee they stock a wide and eccentric variety ranging in price from $4.25 for their estate coffees to $9 for seasonal and biodynamically-farmed estate coffees; all of which are single origin and brewed with a vacuum press aka siphon brew. For the exceptionally curious there are also pricier famous varieties such as Jamaican Blue Mountain or Kopi Luwak.
The siphon method is one of the more interesting to watch and makes probably the cleanest tasting coffee I have ever had. This could have been because of the method itself, but I would attribute it mostly to the owner's skill in brewing. The Peru estate I had was incredibly earthy without tasting at all muddled with sediment. I'm incredibly excited to go back and try more varieties such as their selection of biodynamic and seasonal single estate coffees.
The one thing that does worry me about Funnel Mill is, because they stock such a wide variety of coffees, I doubt any of them can be that fresh because it just wouldn't make sense unless they order or roast in very small batches. Coffee loses some flavor at about the one month mark and unlike the third wave shops I've been known to hang around, that information wasn't blatantly advertised because I doubt freshness is in their top three priorities and that's okay. I don't think Funnel Mill would be my morning coffee stop, but I will come back for their unique offerings.
Atmosphere: Zen, Relaxed, Dim
Beans: Various, Rare
Price: $$
930 Broadway Ste. A Los Angeles, CA 90401 Google map
http://www.funnelmill.com/
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