Location: 2475 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley
Reviewed: February 10, 2008
Espresso: Cafe Med uses coffee from Barefoot, specifically the Sweetness! blend. They do a reasonable job with it: grinding and tamping to order and deliberately taking time with it. The result was a perhaps 2oz. drink (this being a double) in a white ceramic cup of perhaps twice that volume. The crema was thick and persistent, although not particularly dark. It tasted of upfront berry-tones fading into a more bitter note. Syrupy, although not heavy-bodied.
Atmosphere: Very old (since 1958) and very bohemian, this is a large shop with lots of space, a half-balcony across the back, mismatched tables and chairs (that can wobble). Of note (if only for trivia parlor games) is that this very shop is rumoured to have invented the caffe latte.
Verdict: Can this lay claim to the best of Berkeley? Possibly so.
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2 comments:
I have treasured Cafe Med since the 70's; so glad it's on the planet.
I went here on 12-27-08 and expected to have an espresso drink on the same level as Verve on Santa Cruz/Capitola. I was dissapointed. The coffee was a little bitter and the milk was frothed to a temperature well above 140 deg. It was more in the 160-170 range breaking down the sugars in it. Will try again with a different barista.
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