Where can I get real espresso in this city?
I've sort of always understood that the espresso I get around here isn't quite right. In part because most everyone spells it with an "x," like the Cuban "expresso," instead of the Italian "s." Also, there seems to be a local consensus that espresso shouldn't be served on its own, but as the base for another drink, like cafe con leche. In fact, often when I order it as a drink, baristas will keep pulling shots until a standard coffee mug is filled-to-the-top with espresso.
My point is, barring obtaining my own espresso machine, learning how to make proper espresso, or moving to some other place where they know how to make it, is there ANYWHERE in the Tampa Bay area (or even the state of Florida) where I can get a proper shot of caffè espresso?
update: I've made more effort to find the answer since I posted this. As a consequence, I've learned more about espresso than I cared to.
The bottom line is, last week I was at a coffee shop in Seattle that set my expectations for espresso astronomically high. I've since learned from their website that the cup of coffee I had was from fresh beans that had been roasted on the same day. Furthermore, the reason it took them 10 minutes to pull my shot is because they have a world-champion barista who will grind and re-grind and re-tamp and go into a meditative state until the perfect extraction is achieved.
So now I'm moving to Seattle. C-ya, jerks.
OR can anyone tell me about a coffee house here that roasts its own beans? I think the Harry Waugh Dessert Room does. Hm.
update update: thanks to your motivation, I may have answered my own question. According to Google maps, there is a place on Kennedy called "Buddy Brew" that roasts its own coffee and serves it the same day as espresso. Hopefully by the time I get there tomorrow morning, it will not have gone out of business.
update update update
Found it.
This is from the Buddy Brew place, for some reason it was entirely different than the coffee shop that purports to serve Buddy Brew beans. I'll still check out your other suggestions when I have time, but this is pretty close and pretty awesome. Thank you for you help.
My point is, barring obtaining my own espresso machine, learning how to make proper espresso, or moving to some other place where they know how to make it, is there ANYWHERE in the Tampa Bay area (or even the state of Florida) where I can get a proper shot of caffè espresso?
update: I've made more effort to find the answer since I posted this. As a consequence, I've learned more about espresso than I cared to.
The bottom line is, last week I was at a coffee shop in Seattle that set my expectations for espresso astronomically high. I've since learned from their website that the cup of coffee I had was from fresh beans that had been roasted on the same day. Furthermore, the reason it took them 10 minutes to pull my shot is because they have a world-champion barista who will grind and re-grind and re-tamp and go into a meditative state until the perfect extraction is achieved.
So now I'm moving to Seattle. C-ya, jerks.
OR can anyone tell me about a coffee house here that roasts its own beans? I think the Harry Waugh Dessert Room does. Hm.
update update: thanks to your motivation, I may have answered my own question. According to Google maps, there is a place on Kennedy called "Buddy Brew" that roasts its own coffee and serves it the same day as espresso. Hopefully by the time I get there tomorrow morning, it will not have gone out of business.
update update update
Found it.
This is from the Buddy Brew place, for some reason it was entirely different than the coffee shop that purports to serve Buddy Brew beans. I'll still check out your other suggestions when I have time, but this is pretty close and pretty awesome. Thank you for you help.