Cappuccino & Cigars

These days I've left double espresso behind, and after a macchiato phase, I discovered the art of cappuccino, brilliantly described and executed in this video! Ladies and gentlemen, I'm back on track!

Expect more magic bean reviews soon!

In the mean time, enjoy! Fall is back in NYC!

Cappuccino, Intelligentsia from The D4D on Vimeo.

Ella Cafe - Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Great for a Saturday or Sunday evening, this cafe has many things to offer. Great atmosphere, plenty of space to sit and enjoy food or coffee and of course, a decent espresso. Down Bedford Ave, a few steps off the Bedford stop on the L, is Ella Cafe. The first thing you will notice is the good selection of music, quite eccentric and good, something between Lykke Li and Punk Rock. Playlist included: The Knife - Heartbeats and Lykke Li - Little Bit.

I asked the two cute girls behind the counter for a double at $2.50. On the counter, a FAEMA E61 (3 groups) and on the cup Dallis Bros coffee, the New York Espresso Blend. I got my espresso fast and sat at the great concrete slab tables they have at the front of the shop, which made me feel like my middle school years, eating on the recess on concrete benches and tables.

The espresso had a good body, great color and smell, sort of a cinnamon aroma. I sipped and got some notes of heavy chocolate flavor and mild vanilla. I gotta say it was a bit dry, but good flavor overall.

The place has a great view outside of walking their dogs or their partners, and a nice lemon smell on the inside, good design on the interiors, a wooden bench that runs all the way to the back and good lighting on the evening + a great big space on the back, with big tables, good for a quick lunch. I must say the soup must be really good, I smelled one on my way to the back.

Ella Cafe Website
Map:


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VERB - WILLIAMSBURG

Walking around Williamsburg on a Sunday night a few weeks ago, I discovered this little place. Adjacent to a little market, this place is cozy and feels like the neighborhood place to be, at least for an outsider like me. (I'm thinking of moving to this area, so if anybody knows of someone needing a roommate, I'm the one!)

The dark little shop has a huge window facing Bedford Avenue, taking in the perfect amount of light to still keep the back discrete, which has a risen area with tables. I ordered a $2.50 double, and walked to the side of the counter to see the barista make my drink. He was quick and sharp, and I overhead he was an espresso artist! After a couple of minutes of watching him work drinks, he got to my espresso. He was doing everything right: Cleaning the basket and preheating the cup, and I saw that little mouse tail coming from the machine! I was excited to try it!

The espresso had a nice body, good color, and a heavy chocolate smell. I had the first sip, heavy oily sweet tobacco flavor and a subtle liqueur note. The last sip was like fresh dark chocolate with almond. No doubt, a very good drink!
The espresso machine in the counter is a not-so-new La Marzocco GB with 3 slots, and they brew a good Porto Rico coffee blend.

Verb Cafe interesting website: http://www.verbcafe.com/

VIA QUADRONNO

This Italian restaurant was rated as one of those that offered a good espresso, and I was curious about restaurants with espresso machines, so I decided to give it a try. The place is really cozy, low lights, good atmosphere and great furniture. I ordered my espresso to stay (later I realized it was more expensive to stay than to go) and waited in one of the side tables. Three waiters behind the counted worked fast and non-stop. One of them was wearing a cool t-shirt with the restaurant's logo printed on it large size, I thought it was a nice touch since places like Starbucks won't print their logo as large as possible on employees outfit; well this time it was done right.

Via Quadronno has a Schaerer Matic SM-3 espresso machine and uses Antica Tostatura Triestina blend for the espresso.
I got the shot after waiting about 2 minutes. The espresso had no body, which I notice when I swirl the cup before taking the first sip. I do this every time, and it helps me figure out the consistency. I do not judge flavor from this test, but it tells me a lot. The shot was somewhat dry, no body at all, just burned coffee. Although I could get some notes of nutty vanilla, it was hard to tell, no flavor was left behind. I was disappointed about the outcome, given the great reviews I had read about it. 
When it was time to pay...$6...I wasn't disappointed anymore, I was upset! Maybe there's more to try there than the espresso, but for now, I know I'm not going back.

Via Quadronno website: http://viaquadronno.com/

ESPRESSO NYC #5

EVERYMAN ESPRESSO

You wouldn't expect for a coffee place to be housed in the lobby of a theatre, but this one is, which is not a radical idea, in fact is kind of fun! Nevertheless, when is a bad looking lobby then it turns weird. 

What was funny is that the minute I walked in the barista was singing "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey as the music played in the back. Bad choice, and it kept getting worse, I mean music and coffee!

I ordered a $2.50 espresso, the guy behind the counter, with his British struggling accent took my money and told me to wait. After about 3 minutes of a bad song and while observing the barista making my espresso, I noticed something I had read in an espresso article by William Grimes in The New York Times (article here). He interviews Pepi di Giacomo about the things you have to have for a good espresso: ''The stream of espresso coming out of the machine should look like a mouse tail'' di Giacomo mentioned. Unfortunately, I saw nothing but dripping mud. From that moment I knew it was set to be a disaster.

The barista, with a chantey voice announced my espresso. I took it to my dirty table and, not so excited, was prepared to sip. 

The flavor, if any, was dry and bitter, no fruit tones, as if the coffee was burned. Maybe it was too much pressure, or tap water, but was no good. The color of the shot was dark, with a heavy body, but no flavor.

As for the look of the place, it seems like they need a little attention to detail. I keep seeing the same tendency of writing products and prices on glass or windows, which in some cases looks great, but here it looks a bit too much, although Local Milk always comes in handy.

 

 

 

Everyman Espresso website: everymanespresso.com

BACK IN FOCUS: NEW VENTURES COMING SOON!

MEANWHILE:

Espresso, Intelligentsia from The D4D on Vimeo.

Espresso NYC#4

Abraço

The Portuguese word for embrace, this little espresso bar is warm and welcoming. I found the place thanks to once again, Oliver Schwaner-Albright from the New York Times and his list of five great places for espresso: http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/new-yorks-best-espresso/

The shop has a distinctive neon sign that radiates to the outside subtly, and embraces the inside with electric red. The three people behind the counter seemed to know every single person that walked through the glass door, so I confidently ordered a $3 double and got it in less than a minute (I visited on late in the day so it was not as packed as I've heard it gets).

The shot had a great body, the first sip tasted like banana and tobacco, then it built into a leathery musty flavor, to finish with a slight note of sandalwood. I was impressed on how many layers of flavor the little shot had. It was one of those exotic experiences you have with food or drinks that you will remember for a long time. The shot was as fresh as it could be, as well as the place. I said a million thanks and left with a smile on my face. 

If you visit, note the great way they display prices around the store, seems like every coffee place competes for the most creative, attractive way to do it. Although one of the most creative ones I've seen is in the amazing town of Marfa, TX at the laundromat-slash-coffeshop named Frama.

Here's Abraço website: abraconyc.com

Find out more about Marfa's FRAMA here: FRAMA on Yelp