My wife and I found the Seattle location a few years ago when searching for the best espresso shop in town. This is where the locals steered us. Primarily a commercial roaster and training ground for other espresso shops, they have this one retail shop that's open to the public. The founder, originally from Italy, has trained with artisanal roasters throughout Italy and brought back his expertise to share with us. I have to say the cappuccinos here are the best we have ever had. They are ultra creamy, perfect foam, no harsh bitterness, and full of rich coffee flavor. The single chocolate they give you alongside, we drop into our mugs, and when the drink is finished the chocolate has just started to melt and you use the little spoon to scoop it out! The espresso shots they pull are perfect, or they pour them out and start over.\r
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New to Portland, and located near Lloyd Center, this new location is a bit more stark than the Seattle shop (more like a Starbucks). The good news for us is they have the same great espresso. If you have been searching for the very best espresso or cappuccino, this is it....
Pros: The coffee, perfect execution.
Cons: Not as cool as the Seattle spot, but same coffee.
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