danwing Senior Member Joined: 9 Jan 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Silicon Valley Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: two Baratza Virtuoso Drip: Technivorm MoccaMaster CD Roaster: Sightglass, Verve
Posted Wed Mar 12, 2008, 7:46am Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
I visited Spruce Street Espresso this morning, located at 1101 Spruce Street. They use Counter Culture beans, Rio grinders, and a 3-group La Marzocco machine with a bottomless portafilter. They also have a very small selection of pastries under the counter, Mexican Coca-cola, San Pellegrino sodas, and Fiji water. It's a small shop -- perhaps 1000 square feet with seating and tables for perhaps 6-10 people inside.
I enjoyed a very well-prepared macchiato and a great espresso, served with a glass of water on the side.
EricZeiler Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 51 Location: Los Angeles, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Espresso Grinder: Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: None Drip: None Roaster: Popcorn Pumper
Posted Mon Mar 17, 2008, 7:37am Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
Made it down to Philly and Spruce Street Espresso this weekend. Really spectacular place... nicest people, fantastic espresso. The machine they're using came to them via 9th Street in NYC... so I most likely drank many a tasty shot from it in NY.
I can't imagine that Spruce Street isn't the best Center City Philadelphia espresso at this point.
buckfush Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 18 Location: philadelphia, pa Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Fri Mar 21, 2008, 4:05pm Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
I just visited Spruce St. Espresso today. As the previous post said, it is a very small space, and quite bare bones. However, they do use high quality beans (counter culture) and the risettro shot that I had was made pretty well. The barista (1-woman show), did everything by hand, including grinding and tamping to order. I can imagine that this would cause for quite a long wait during busy times. Its lack of space probably precludes hanging out for long periods of time, especially for the claustrophibic, but it seems like a great grab and go place.
LarryLaurel Senior Member Joined: 3 Jul 2006 Posts: 57 Location: Philadphia, PA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: GS3 Grinder: Macap M4
Posted Sat Mar 22, 2008, 8:42am Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
buckfush Said:
Its lack of space probably precludes hanging out for long periods of time, especially for the claustrophibic, but it seems like a great grab and go place.
The windows open wide, and she told me they will have sidewalk seating when the weather gets a little nicer (it's snowing today in the north 'burbs). Those large windows will make the sidewalk tables almost seem like part of the inside cafe.
gabelucas Senior Member Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 124 Location: San Francisco, CA Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Lazer Wolf Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Vac Pot: Santos Vacuum pot mini Drip: bodum eileen french press Roaster: 1918 Probat 15 kilo
Posted Sun Mar 23, 2008, 8:26am Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
The barista (1-woman show), did everything by hand, including grinding and tamping to order. I can imagine that this would cause for quite a long wait during busy times.
We do everything at Ritual Coffee Roasters by hand, we serve up to 900 folks on the weekend, the wait is a bit loner if it's super busy, but man, when that customer picks up their drink it's tasty! The process isn't want makes the wait long, it's the fact that the line is out the door and more people keep showing up and we can only triple bar it at any one time.
one person on shots, one on milk and one setting up pitchers and pouring the drink and calling them out.
Gabriel Boscana Ritual Coffee Roasters San Francisco, CA
Capn Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 69 Location: NY/NJ/PA Expertise: I live coffee
Grinder: burr Vac Pot: yup Drip: pourover Roaster: me oven
Posted Mon Mar 24, 2008, 8:46am Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
So does Spruce St Espresso have a website or even a published phone number? I wanted to stop by yesterday as I had a few extra minutes but for the life of me, could not find their hours (i.e. I didn't want to go out of the way just to find it closed).
Capn Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 69 Location: NY/NJ/PA Expertise: I live coffee
Grinder: burr Vac Pot: yup Drip: pourover Roaster: me oven
Posted Thu Mar 27, 2008, 4:32pm Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
Just saw the blog and it's got the hours (whew). Gotta admit that "the new face of coffee has come to Philadelphia" is quite a boast for having just opened!
And I'm a bit confused as to why the coffees for March 24 is posted the day after on March 25? Are the coffees the same all week? If not, where's the rest of the week? Just curious...
Posted Fri Mar 28, 2008, 9:03pm Subject: Re: Grand Opening, Spruce St. Espresso in Philadelphia
I think it is meant to indicate the coffees for the week of the 24th, as they do get the coffees in every week. You could have posed your question on the blog itself. They may appreciate the opportunity to field the questions themselves and would probably also want the feed back if it is confusing to readers.
I don't think the statement is bold in the sense that you mean it. Are there any other coffee shops in Philly at this moment in time who only have 6 items on the menu, the largest size is 12 oz to-go, 10 oz ceramic, no single or triple, no small medium or large, no electric brewer but only pressed coffees, no house blend but only single origins, and no sandwich menu to fall back on? The line about the new face of coffee is more of a factual statement than a boastful claim. It's not like they claim the coffee tastes better than anyone else's, which would be entirely subjective. They mean that they are presenting the coffees in a fashion and setting that is simply not being done anywhere else in the city right now.
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