Along with a smashingly good renovation, Caffe d’bolla has some notable holiday specials including its inaugural tasting class, a reasonably priced range of high-quality full-leaf teas, and a specially priced package on grinders or siphon brewers for customers who purchase one or more bags of exquisitely roasted single origin coffee.

The shop, located in the street level of the Stoneground Restaurant building, epitomizes the ideal of continuous improvement and innovation. Never tempted to rest on their laurels, owners John and Yiching Piquet are the unquestioned leaders in Salt Lake City and in Utah for the most exceptional coffee beans and coffee products that remain exclusive to Caffe d’bolla. In this state, you will not find comparable offerings.

And, recently, making the whole experience of coffee connoisseurship that much more rewarding for its customers, Caffe d’bolla pulled off a radical design makeover that incorporates many of the classically simple, warm elements common to the finest restaurants, cafes, and bars found in Europe and, most particularly, in Japan, a destination the Piquets regularly visit.

Customers entering the shop will immediately recognize the uniqueness of the Caffe d’bolla brand. The dynamic tricolor scheme of black, white, and cream serve to separate the main customer area from the roasting room, storage, and other elements in the back of the store, where the effect is stunningly simple in the strong presence of floor-to-ceiling black. The front area is marked by cream-colored walls with black trim while the drop-down structure over the counter area is textured wisely in white with underlying cream color. Indeed, the once-tiny-looking shop appears significantly more spacious as a result.

For the customer, the ambience is unquestionably intimate in its lightness and warmth. The wall colors contrast so effectively with the dark tables and the coffee bar. Likewise, gone is the old menu board and customers are now served tableside.

Another new offering will be tasting classes with the first occurring Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. The class, which will explore regional and farm-specific differences in the flavors and aromatics of coffee, will last approximately one hour. The class size is currently limited to six and is $15 for each participant. Customers can expect a gradually expanding slate of tasting classes along with sessions about how to brew coffee at home, starting in January and continuing well into 2011.

Thanks to its capabilities for direct sourcing, Caffe d’bolla has a broad array of full-leaf teas, which come in seven-ounce ceramic jars. The price range is from $11 to $27. As one who has enjoyed a good number of these teas from the shop, let me emphasize: These teas have excellent aromatic profiles, flavor, and prominent restorative and soothing qualities. This holiday season offering is a phenomenal value and will make a richly appreciated gift for tea lovers.

Customers who purchase bags of coffee that are roasted onsite with meticulous care can purchase, at a 10 percent discount, a three-cup Tokio syphon brewer or any conical ceramic hand mill. The three-cup siphon is the same brewer used at Caffe d’bolla. It has proven to be sturdy and easy to care for, even after months of (loving) abuse. The glass is specially made in Japan, so it can withstand the rapid heating and cooling of siphon brewing.

For more information, see here.