I’m a huge coffee snob. I’m normally totally excited about new coffee. Italian espresso is supposed to be as good as it gets, and Naples is supposed to the ‘the’ place for it. Maybe so far I’ve found all of the ‘meh’ places, but the espresso here is a solid ‘B’.
It’s not flawed, and its always served properly, but there’s simply nothing great about it. I get the sense that it’s sooo common to make/drink espresso here that it’s like a hamburger in the US. Most people are happy with crap, even though we pride ourselves as being decent at burgers and grilling. I see people weakly tamping, and not really looking at what they are doing when making it. Apathy about it is high. Just like the North End in Boston.
I’m guessing, that like many Italian shops in Boston, and all over, that the beans are old, they aren’t always freshly ground (that day, but perhaps an hour ago), and that the beans just aren’t blended all that well. I’m going to get a few pounds to take back home (since I don’t have to carry the paperwork for the conference I’m going to take as much as customs will theoretically allow). At least the espresso is cheap. 0,50 to 0,80 Euros gets you a drink generally. It’s cheap enough to have several times a day without too much penalty.
I’m looking for somewhere that is EXCELLENT in coffee.
So far, the best coffee I’ve ever had has been:
-9th Street Espresso in NYC, A+
-from a Chemex pot at Rich’s apartment (freshly roasted that week and ground of course), A
-Coffee at large in Portland, Oregon. They really care about their coffee there. A
-Diesel Cafe in Somerville. B. Not perfect, but solid.
-Anything Jarrod would pull at Torrafazonia, when that was the name of the place. A
Keep in mind that the average starbucks shot would get a C-, and anything from Dunkin Doughnuts or whatever like that would probably get an F.
I really want to go to Intellgensia in Chicago. It’s too bad all of the 100USD/pound Brazilian coffee is already roasted and drank, because I would have loved to try that.
So I’m a bit disapointed with the coffee so far. I want to try a cappuccino, and if they can best the amazing latte art that I’ve been getting lately in the States then I might change my review.
However, the Pizza… does rock.
