Lucky Goat Coffee

Lucky Goat Coffee

Lucky Goat is a coffee company with headquarters and a roasting operation in Tallahassee.

Their website shows 6 locations although we have only personally visited the Capital Circle location.

The First Leg of our Round Trip Coffee Florida to Texas Trip

On the first leg of our round-trip-coffee-florIda-to-texas, we arrived In Tallahassee, Florida really worn out. We landed at a Costco and stocked up on essentials for the week of travel ahead of us.

Covid, money issues and a stressful lifestyle (preceding our six hour drive on very little sleep) exacerbated the physical fatigue.

After Costco, we decided to hunt for some espresso unaware of the local coffee culture. Not far from where we shopped, we found an espresso cafe and roaster named Lucky Goat Coffee Co.

There is a story behind the name:

From luckygoatcoffee.com/pages/our-story:

The Legend Behind the Name

Lucky Goat Coffee Co

With relatively unobtrusive signage, we were glad to be there but unsure what to anticipate regarding coffee quality.

For a mid afternoon shift, they were doing a brisk business. As a barista, you learn that espresso equipment performs at maximum efficiency when it’s operating at volume. The temperatures and pressures are more stable and the extractions tend to be richer and consistent.

We’re talking about professional grade equipment, not the home variety espresso makers.

It had been a while since we were in an espresso cafe of this quality and the constant whirring of the grinders and the gentle hissing of the steam wands were comforting in a way.

It sounded familiar and safe somehow – knowing we had ”reconnected” to our coffee family – distant cousins perhaps, but definitely family – confident, professional baristas.

Before tasting the espresso, I accurately anticipated an excellent extraction.

Wow, wow, wow as Gordon Ramsey often says.

Really Good Coffee

The crema was chewy and thick. The front end was a kind-of-wonder-pucker. The finish was sweet, tangy and lingering.

My my my.

Happy tongue. Happy palate.

The staff is well trained and functionally excellent. Collectively, they exhibit clear craftsmanship. It’s a smooth running ship with good leadership. Truly the roaster is an artist.

What a nice surprise and contrast to the previous two years of underwhelming coffee. Prior to this, we had pretty much given up on coffee quality in Florida as the norm.

Later We Ordered 3 Espresso Blends for Home

Subsequently I ordered several pounds of whole bean espresso for use at home. And it was very good coffee:

• Lucky 7 Espresso
• Dark Lucky 7 Espresso
• Euro Espresso

Of the three espresso blends we sampled at home, the Euro Espresso was the smoothest – and our favorite – using our equipment. But  Lucky 7 and Dark Lucky 7 were also delicious coffees.

Our Lucky Goat Espresso at Home Did Not Compare – using the Same Beans

We made espresso using the Cafelat Robot manual unit I ordered for Teresa’s Christmas present. She insists that I ordered it for myself and that as far as Christmas presents go, it’s akin to giving her a vacuum cleaner.

Not so pleased.

In defense of my plan, my intention was to make her the best espresso ever at home as a Christmas present and the Cafelat Robot was an affordable means to that end.

So in that sense, it was totally legitimate.

The Bad Part of My Plan

In retrospect. the bad part of my plan was the execution of the espresso on Christmas Day. I made a mess of the coffee and it magnified the “vacuum cleaner” effect. Had the espresso been simple and delicious, the waves of dissatisfaction would have been minimized.

Unfortunately, the boat almost capsized from a large wave. This was magnified by my attitude after a multitude of unsuccessful attempts.

The “experiment” of making espresso with the Robot failed miserably. Not only was the finished espresso relatively disgusting. the whole preparation process was both time consuming and made a horrible mess in the kitchen.

Lucky Goat Coffee was not the culprit here.

It was my lack of ability to figure out how to use that machine. The wasted time and coffee (after 5 or 6 tries) – with coffee grounds everywhere – did not enhance the espresso moment.

As the Saying Goes: The Road to Hell, etc…

If I were to plan that Christmas surprise again. I would handle it differently.

• First, I would still order the beans from Lucky Goat.
• Second, I would either have practiced with the Robot machine extensively – prior to Christmas morning. This process required calling the machine supplier for advice (and the company was closed for Christmas). Or I would not have ordered the Robot at all. A three day cruise would have been a much better choice, for example.
• Third, I would not have taken for granted that three and half years on the espresso bar would provide me the ability to produce good espresso on the Robot without acquiring prior additional knowledge first.

Lucky Goat Coffee Was Not the Culprit

Both Lucky Goat Espresso and the Robot actually produced fine espresso after learning how to use it. However, this did not happen until after the Christmas break when the supplier was next open.

Our version (at home) did not compare to the Lucky 7 Espresso they served us in Tallahassee. Our equipment simply does not have the steady boiler pressure and heat capacity and there is truly a difference in the extraction. Theirs is WAY better.

We Need a Better Espresso Machine

Considering how much we love coffee, we’re going to have to remedy that situation with a much better espresso machine. It is high on our priority list.

Lucky Goat Lucky 7 Is Awesome Espresso

Lucky Goat Coffee Company truly produces a craft coffee.

What a pleasure and a positive memory. If you get that way, visit Lucky Goat, you won’t regret it.