Good espresso in L.A.?

[arkestra]

Why is it so hard to get a decent, not to mention good, espresso in L.A.? Actually, I'm not really interested in answers to that question as much as getting recommendations for places that make a good espresso. I'll start by mentioning a few places and hopefully others will enlighten me with their recommendations.

I have had some excellent espressos at Alto Palato (Italian restaurant on La Cienega), including one a couple weeks ago that was the best one I've had in years. Unfortunately, it's a restaurant (a pretty good one at that), so it's not the type of place I would run into to get a quick espresso.

As for cafes where you can go just for an espresso, I would mention:

1. Cafe Balcony, a little coffee place on Rochester, just off of Santa Monica in West L.A. (http://cafebalcony.com) They do a good job, though I find the coffee to be a little bitter.

2. Cafe Metropol in the loft/artist district of downtown L.A., just east of Alameda, between 2nd and 3rd (in the same structure as R-23). (http://www.cafemetropol.com/) They have an automatic machine, which pulls a consistent cup and works surprisingly well. It's not Italy, but it's better than most L.A. espressos.

So help me out and tell me about some other places I should try (anywhere in SoCal).

[kitwilliams]

In Long Beach: Aroma di Roma on East Second Street between Pomona and Santa Ana in Belmont Shore. Tim (the owner) worked at S******k's for a few years but then went to Italy and Spain for an extended period and learned from the pros. He paid attention. I must tell you that I am not an espresso drinker (I know, I'm a lightweight -- I need some milk) but I know some serious espresso drinkers and they are all regulars at Aroma di Roma. And Tim's foam is awesome.

They serve terrific panini as well. And decent gelato. Try the fig.

[arkestra]

Thanks Kit. I'll give it a try one of these days when I make it out to Long Beach.

Fig gelato? Now that sounds interesting!

[kitwilliams]

Thanks Kit.  I'll give it a try one of these days when I make it out to Long Beach.

Fig gelato?  Now that sounds interesting!

Mmmm. Nice big chunks of fig. But at the moment I'm thinking about heading down to Haagen Dazs as my nephew told me that they now have Tres Leches ice cream !

[grandcru]

I just have to second Kit's recco on Aroma di Roma. They pull an honest espresso, confirmed by my recent travels in Friuli, and their gelati (including the fig, which I had on my first visit) are very tasty. They're a welcome exception to the mediocre clutter that plagues Belmont Shore.

[tsquare]

In Long Beach:  Aroma di Roma on East Second Street between Pomona and Santa Ana in Belmont Shore.

Wow - 3 blocks from where I grew up! But a long way from Seattle. (TMI?)

[kitwilliams]

I think we need to have an egullet get-together at Aroma di Roma ... affogato anyone?

[alanamoana]

this may sound like a strange recommendation, and i may be a bit outdated, but have you tried espresso from any of the il fornaio restaurants? i know it is a chain and mostly just a restaurant, but at most of the restaurants they have a little retail cafe. this was my first real cooking job (before i decided to attend culinary school)...i worked in the kitchen and then in the cafe. so for a while i was a barrista and was trained pretty vigorously on the proper technique, etc. on making espresso. granted, this was in 1995...i worked at the il fornaio in irvine (off the 405). but there are a couple in the la county.

also, their ciabatta (when fresh) is the best. i could eat an entire one pound loaf with evoo by myself in about 10 minutes!!

again, my disclaimer, this was a while ago and i think the original owner sold his interest in the company (based in northern california).

give it a try and let me know

[russ parsons]

as an utter espresso freak (don't ask how much i've spent on coffemakers, grinders, beans, etc), i am constantly appalled by the quality of coffee served in even very good restaurants. two exceptions: osteria angelini and valentino. i showed up at angelini early one morning to do a story and the maitre d asked if i wanted a coffee. i said sure, not expecting much. when he pulled a blank espresso to preheat the portafilter, i was very happy (coffee geeks will know what this means). he then pulled one of the very best doubles i have ever had. this has been repeated every time i've eaten there. in fact, i'd go so far as to say i have never even had an "average" espresso at angelini. at valentino, of course, excellence is expected.

[arkestra]

After such high praise, I will definitely give Angelini a try. (I was there 2-years ago and I always have an espresso after dinner -- unless I'm pretty sure it's going to be horrible -- but I don't have a distinct memory of it. I guess it's time to try again.)

I haven't had great espressos at the Il Fornaio outlets I've been to, but I agree their ciabatta is excellent. I, too, can eat a pound of it, even without olive oil.

Kim, one of these days, I'll make it down to Aroma di Roma. My kids love saying (and eating) "gelato" so we'll probably combine it with some outing in Long Beach. I'm also game for an egullet get-together if your volunteering to organize

[kitwilliams]

Kim, one of these days, I'll make it down to Aroma di Roma.  My kids love saying (and eating) "gelato" so we'll probably combine it with some outing in Long Beach.  I'm also game for an egullet get-together if your volunteering to organize

I am happy to organize an espresso party for any eGulleteers interested. And I'd be delighted to supply desserts or we could make it a pot-luck dessert buffet for the Southern California eGullet community to showcase their baking talents. I'll talk to Tim (Aroma di Roma's owner) and see what we might be able to work out.

[arkestra]

I'm game. Don't go overboard with the desserts so there'll be room for the fig gelato

[kitwilliams]

Don't go overboard with the desserts

It is obvious, from that comment, that we have never met!

[kitwilliams]

I spoke to Tim this morning and he'd of course be thrilled to have new guinea pigs in to experience his product(s). His only suggestion was that, depending on the amount of egullet interest, we would probably want to consider a week night rather than Fri/Sat/Sun when they are very busy in the evenings.

Or, if people would rather have a jump start to their morning, we could do an A.M. thing with breakfast pastries rather than dessert. Don't worry, Ari. They will bring out the fig gelato just for you.

What say you all? Is there interest here? Should I start a new thread?

[arkestra]

Kit: Looking at it from my self-centered perspective, a weekend is preferable. I think that would also be better for others who don't live in or near Long Beach. I would also suggest a daytime thing, perhaps lunch. And yes, a new thread is probably a good idea since I'm not so sure "Good espresso in L.A." will attract too many hits.

[grandcru]

Kit, sorry I'm tardy in revisiting this thread, but I'd be game for an AdR meet-up with no arm-twisting needed! Weekends would be better for me, but my proximity (Bluff Park) would also allow a weekday scheduling. I'll keep my ear to the tracks.

Kriss

[arkestra]

For those interested, here is an article from today's L.A. Times by Russ Parsons about a local barista:

barista

[kitwilliams]

A bit off topic but I was at Aroma di Roma this morning (not that there is ever a morning when I am NOT there) and tried their new Breakfast Pizza. Yum. They call it an individual pizza but it is generous. Crisp crust, light on the pizza sauce, cheese, diced sweet peppers and scattered with bits of scrambled egg. It sure hit the spot, along with my usual double latte. The flavors are very well balanced and it is not at all heavy.

Once again, yum.

Just one thing: it is Grand Prix weekend. Unless you are already coming to LB for the race, I'd avoid it today and tomorrow!