About

Espressolovin is a site devoted to good coffee in nice surroundings.

If you are a coffee purist – not a double-mocha-skinny-soya-frapi-dappy-cino kinda person – then this site will give you some ideas of where to pick up a great, short, black coffee – or where to avoid.

Approach

Avoid large chain coffee shops. You know what you’re going to get there, so you don’t need my advice!
I’ll sample a simple, single espresso, with one sugar. All other coffees are at your own risk. If the base material – the espresso – is rotten, then there’s not much they can do.
I’ll rate the coffee on my own personal preferences, which might not match yours. Sorry. I like mine really quite short and strong, almost treacle or molasses, with a dash of sugar to take the edge off. I’d call this an Italian-style espresso.
I’m not a big fan of ‘French’ espresso, which is longer (more water) and thinner (less strong), but that’s my personal preference.
I really don’t like paper cups – it’s like having wine in a plastic mug. I always ask to ‘drink in’, and will note if the place doesn’t have that option. Seriously, if you’re drinking a single shot of coffee out of a plastic-lined paper cup, stirred by a porous wooden stirrer, are you getting any real coffee taste?
If it takes too long to get to me (seriously, baristas – it’s called an espresso because it’s supposed to be FAST, so serve the frikin’ thing already, don’t leave it standing there to get cold while you boils some more milk!) then I’ll be grumpy. Cold espresso = yuk.
As well as the coffee, I’ll say what’s nice (or otherwise) about my experience – the service, the surroundings.
Oh, and the cost. I want to indicate what I paid, as that makes a difference – if it’s a great coffee, but costs the same as a main meal, then you should know.

I hope you’ll find this useful. I’m trying all these places so you don’t have to! If you’re in an area you don’t know, check the site and see – is there a recommended place to stop for a coffee? Enjoy, relax, and take in the atmosphere, just for a few minutes.

That’s lovin’ that espresso moment!