Pannikin

Rating: 7.5/10
Date visited: July 26, 2009
Party of Two
Brunch

Pannikin is right beside the La Jolla Farmers Market. We now go to the market every week. Last week we had coffee and a health bar at Pannikin, and yesterday we decided to do a brunch.

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Last weekend's meal: One double shot Americano, one double shot Cappuccino and a health bar to share.

We have been quite disappointed by the quality of coffee here in the US. Well, there are a few quality places, but they are hard to find and we have not found too many good places in San Diego yet. I guess we have been spoilt first by lovely coffees at Open Eye, Cup A Joe, and Cafe Driade in Chapel Hill, and then by the really good baristas in Australia, on almost every block in both Brisbane and Perth. I am told that NYC, Seattle, and Portland, OR, has quality coffees - it's to be tasted. As such, I find that most coffee places here in the US roast the coffee too dark and thereby enhance the bitterness. Or, may be the water temperature is not set right and it scalds the grounds while brewing. My husband is planning to write a blog entry on this issue - so I will leave the detailed analysis for him.

At Pannikin, the coffee was better than Starbucks and Bruegers, but still did not hit the mark. It was a bit too bitter for me, especially the Cappucino. The Americano on the other hand tasted too diluted. I suppose it is because of the cup size. We were served the Americano in a mug, about 12oz. An Americano (called a 'long black' in Oz) is best served with two shots in 8 oz water. The additional 4 oz ruins the flavor.

As for the cappuccino, my expectation is not to have to add sugar to the coffee. The milk in the coffee should beat the bitterness out of the coffee. Here it did not do so. And the froth was spooned over to the cup. My cup got a 6/10 from me.

The health food bar was good, really good. It is advertised as a vegan bar, and is choc full of cranberries, nuts, poppy seeds, oats, sesame, raisins and other seeds. It was a big bar - 4-inch square, enough for the two of us.
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This week's meal: One double shot Americano (in a small cup please) and the Huervos Panceros breakfast for husband, and one double shot Cappuccino and Greek breakfast for me.

Husband was pleased with his Americano this time. He gave it an 8/10, he's had better. The small cup, we think, did the trick. It was a 10oz mug with 9 oz liquid. My latte was good too - 7.5/10. It was still a bit bitter for me, may be it was the dark roast they used. But the balance of aroma and acidity was good.

Huervos Ranceros (mexican for Ranch Eggs) was a dish with black beans, scrambled eggs with mexican cheese, sour cream, quarter of an avocado, salsa, and a flour tortilla on the side. The scrambled eggs, they claim, is entirely steamed, no butter or oil used, hence a healthy alternative. The beans tasted good, may be they were out of a can, but they tasted better than that. My husband did not eat the tortilla, but overall it was quite a fulfilling meal. Avocados are so expensive these days, so a nice big slice with the meal was good!

Greek breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs with feta, diced tomatoes and basil over a toasted onion bagel. The scrambled eggs did not seem buttered at all - good! The basil looked a bit bruised, may be it was not minced with a sharp knife. It's all right - we liked the meal.

I have to say, getting a table to sit outside at this joint is tough. You have to keep a constant look out for someone planning to leave, and then run and snatch the place. We were on the lookout and then a kind gentleman let us share his table. (There is plenty of seating indoors, but on a lovely Sunday morning, who would want to sit indoors?!) There are many old-timers / regulars who come here, and it is very interesting to listen in on some of the conversations - this week there was a lot of chit chat on Sotomayor.

Address:7467 Girard Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037
Website: http://pannikincoffeeandtea.com/
Ph: 858-454-5453
Timing: Daily 6 am-8 pm
No liquor served