Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,785 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Mon Oct 10, 2005, 10:55pm Subject: Re: Any café’s in Pittsburg?
Cannon,
The best in the 'Burgh is La Prima (as Teme suggests) except I hardily recomend the original La Prima just a few blocks outside of downtown in the Strip District (the location of the traditional wholesale food businesses: meat, fish, produce, etc.). This La Prima is located on 22nd St. between Liberty and Penn and is the one La Prima most frequented by native Italians. You will be especially well served if Ilyo or Sam are on hand. Also, they use their Bar Blend at this location while they use another blend called: La Prima blend at all other locations. The reason for this is that there is more straight espresso sold in the Strip bar while the other locations usually sell caps and latte.
Aldo Coffee (also suggested by Teme) has had a lot of good talk - though I have not yet visited them.
Another worth visiting is Coffee Tree Roasters. Like La Prima, they have a few locations throughout the city - but the best is at the original location in Shadyside on Walnut Street - but they have another location in Mt. Lebanon where Aldos is located.
cannonfodder Senior Member Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 873 Location: Dayton, Oh Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ElektraA3,Faema2G, Isomac,... Grinder: Cimbali, Mazzer Vac Pot: Dont smoke pot or vac it. Drip: Press pot Roaster: Hottop, drum roaster
Posted Tue Oct 11, 2005, 7:46pm Subject: Re: Any café’s in Pittsburg?
Thank you for the pointers. I plan on hitting as many as I can. My SQL class get out around 4:30 so hopefully they are all open into the evening. I will try to take a few photos and submit my opinions.
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,785 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Wed Oct 12, 2005, 7:15pm Subject: Re: Any café’s in Pittsburg?
cannonfodder Said:
Thank you for the pointers. I plan on hitting as many as I can. My SQL class get out around 4:30 so hopefully they are all open into the evening. I will try to take a few photos and submit my opinions.
I know that the La Prima Strip ocation closes at either 4:00 or 4:30PM. You ought to try to make it there during the day...I wouldl like to hear your opinion. The others should all be open in te evenings.
cannonfodder Senior Member Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 873 Location: Dayton, Oh Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ElektraA3,Faema2G, Isomac,... Grinder: Cimbali, Mazzer Vac Pot: Dont smoke pot or vac it. Drip: Press pot Roaster: Hottop, drum roaster
Posted Wed Oct 12, 2005, 7:34pm Subject: Re: Any café’s in Pittsburg?
I am driving out this Sunday. I will have to look up the hours on the web, may be able to hit them Sunday if they are open. Otherwise, it will be an early morning. I can find my way around with no traffic, makes navigating around on a motorcycle much easier.
cannonfodder Senior Member Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 873 Location: Dayton, Oh Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ElektraA3,Faema2G, Isomac,... Grinder: Cimbali, Mazzer Vac Pot: Dont smoke pot or vac it. Drip: Press pot Roaster: Hottop, drum roaster
Posted Sat Oct 15, 2005, 5:38pm Subject: Re: Any café’s in Pittsburg?
I got a nice email and invite from Melanie, owner of Aldo. They are open late and even have real panini, they have a very informative web page. Best of all, they are only 4 miles from my hotel and serve BlackCat. I will defiantly be stopping by and snap a few photos if they will allow me.
I will have to look up Coffee Tree. Unfortunately, due to the hours of operation at La Prima, I may not be able to visit them
Len, if you are free one evening maybe we could meet at Aldo. Espresso is so much better with company, first double is on me. Send me an email if you can.
cannonfodder Senior Member Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 873 Location: Dayton, Oh Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ElektraA3,Faema2G, Isomac,... Grinder: Cimbali, Mazzer Vac Pot: Dont smoke pot or vac it. Drip: Press pot Roaster: Hottop, drum roaster
Posted Mon Oct 17, 2005, 6:27pm Subject: Re: Any café’s in Pittsburg?
Went to Café Aldo this evening. It was pretty good, not perfect, but very serviceable. My post is to long for this forum. Check out my Blog for the big story.
Excerpt
'Then I heard it, not the whoosh, bluble goosh of dry nasty foam, but the soft and delicate pssst, fssst of someone making microfoam. YES! I shout to myself, I love this woman, wonder if she is married. I ordered up a hunk of cheese cake to go with my massive mug of espresso and retired to a table to sip away. It was not perfect latte art quality foam, but very acceptable and better than anything I have had outside of Chicago or my home.'
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