Kenntak Senior Member Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 57 Location: Florida Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Kyocera Hand Grinder
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 10:25pm Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
I have likewise found that espresso served in restaurants is at best mediocre and sometimes horrible. I keep trying it at different restaurants out of curiosity sake, hoping to find that one restaurant that does it well, but I am always disappointed. I recently ordered an espresso at an "upscale" pizza restaurant in downtown Tampa. The espresso was a crema-less, tasteless disaster. When I received the bill I was shocked to see they charged me $4.50 for that garbage of a drink. Unfortunately, getting a mediocre or bad espresso in Tampa, whether it be a restaurant or coffee shop, is all too common.
Posted Mon Sep 14, 2009, 4:15am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
Actually I have had decent espresso (not world-class, but drinkable) in at least one fine restaurant -- but of course it was in Varenna, Italy. :) The real surprise was that this tiny family-run operation used a 2-group Francis Francis X7! With the iperEspresso capsules, not ESE pods! So for restaurants that simply can't master pulling shots the hard way, for whatever reason, I would recommend going the capsule route. The staff would probably be grateful, too -- I know what it's like.
Posted Mon Sep 14, 2009, 4:58am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
For the most part I've given up on coffee or espresso to round off the meal in a restaurant since it's usually to varying degrees dreadful. Rapidly come to the conclusion coffee is an outrageous excuse to pad the bill.
My solution is order a brandy instead, you know what you are getting and it's usually only marginally more expensive than a cup of muddy brown water.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,772 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Sep 15, 2009, 10:03am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
Last week we had dinner at a mid/high end place (about $50 and up per person) and I started talking espresso with the waiter. I told him how I loved it and about my commercial setup at home. He asked if I meant that it was like his in the kitchen and I said that it was.
We then talked a little about coffee and I asked them what beans they used in their espresso and the answer came back "I don't know, we use those little packets of ground coffee (pods!)" You can only guess that the served espresso would be mid quality .... at best!
I bet this is true for many establishments, pods don't require a grinder, they take less training with the staff (just put the pod in and press the button) and most people wouldn't know the difference anyway.... at least that seems to be the case.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Tue Sep 15, 2009, 9:16pm Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
My main wish for espresso/espresso drinks in restaurants, is that they AT LEAST, learn to make microfoam.
After a dinner.. I would drink a latte if it was pod 'spro.
But, when its a pod to begin with, and then they pour dish soap on top of it, its worse.
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Wed Sep 16, 2009, 7:58am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
I am always happier when I see an upscale restaurant serving press pot coffee rather than espresso . . . not only will I enjoy it more, but I won't f*** up and order espresso by mistake, only to curse myself the entire drive home for -- once again -- making the stupid mistake of thinking I can get decent espresso after dinner in an upscale restaurant!
Posted Thu Sep 24, 2009, 9:49am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
steven_meyer Said:
I had a similar expierience. I had probably the best eating experience of my life at Manresa in Los Gatos. It was a three hour, I can't remember how many courses of the tasting menu. When it was time for coffee. I asked if they had espresso? Yes, they replied. What I got was espresso made from Illy Pods!!! This from a restaurant that is practically next door neighbors with Barefoot. I just don't get it.
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