Is there a connection between coffee and cycling? If you’ve never thought so, consider the findings of a University of Birmingham (UK) controlled experiment, which concluded that a double expresso sipped an hour before biking significantly enhanced endurance and the body refuel factor on the road. Caffeine, a stimulant in coffee that programs one’s body and brain for “action,” increases the heart rate and dilation of blood vessels, and generally excites the central nervous system, is one of the few performance-enhancing drugs that is perfectly legal to take while competing. Okay, I’ll concede that I’ve never seen Roger Federer downing a shot in between sets, nor Stephen Curry quaffing from a demitasse during time-outs.
That hasn’t stopped entrepreneur Sonny de Leon from purveying both bicycles and brews at Epic Coffee Roastery on 102 East Capitol Drive in Kapitolyo, Pasig. We checked out the lay of the land last Sunday, and while we didn’t really have a premium rush, here’s a glimpse:
The interiors were woody, and accentuated by brick walls. At the far rear, high-end imported bike brands like “Veloce,” “Focale,” and “Bianchi” were on display for the discriminating cyclist. No, we didn’t find anyone from the KATODA (Kapitolyo Tricycle Operators & Drivers Association) patronizing the cafe and giving the two-wheelers a thorough inspection.Hand-brewed coffee, so stylishly in, was available from a row of V60 cone-shaped glass drippers. Extraction from this method results in a richer, more even brew than traditional percolation, allowing the coffee enthusiast to taste all the complex layers of flavor from single-origin beans.The barista was chatty and friendly, and volunteered the information that both the java and the velocipedes (that’s biker-speak for, well, bicycles) were sourced from Indonesia, where the proprietor, an ex-Procter & Gamble marketing executive, used to be based. Sorry, but Epic doesn’t serve your favorite civet cat coffee. They do serve scrumptious sausages and a fairly wide range of wines over at nearby Poco Deli, which is owned by the same family.The Rollei Micron is a throwback to the point-and-shoot battery-operated cameras of the 1980s. A German brand, Rollei was established in 1920, and was famous for the Rolleiflex, a premier line of TLR (Twin Lens Reflex) cameras that pioneered the use of roll films.For dessert, we ordered the Almond Pudding with Amaretto Sauce, and paired with a Long Black, it did not disappoint. Granted, it didn’t quite “fuel my life,” but it certainly redeemed that weak Barako at Kanto Freestyle Breakfast, which is another story.A twosome of coffee aficionados ponder on the significance of a caffeine-laced life, and wonder why they aren’t pushed to pedal. Maybe the fuel was unleaded?To achieve a retro ambiance, some vintage items were on display, including this Akai Cross-Field X-355 4-track, double-channel stereo/monaural audiotape recorder, possibly of 1970 or 1971 provenance. The Akai Electric Co., Ltd. was founded in Japan in 1929, and principally manufactured reel-to-reel audio equipment until it collapsed in 2000.
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