Ahhhhh, coffee. As a proud Italian, the caffeinated drink depended upon by so many of us every morning almost holds a sacred place in my heart. It comes with no surprise that my standards when it comes to coffee are high, the general dogma being that the best is always found in Italy. Until now.
First Impressions
Coffee shops are more than an espresso machine, cash register and the odd bag of burlap overflowing with dark roasted beans from across the globe. No, coffee shops possess a certain soul to them, an atmosphere you simply cannot replicate with mere market research (sorry Starbucks), which brings me to the most noticeable aspect of this place: the inherent conviviality. The general vibe is indescribable, almost as if someone wanted to recreate traditions of old coupled with a youthful flair that only creative chalkboard paint walls could provide. The staff themselves, the people who bring life to the four walls, have always been genuinely smiling and more than ready for the occasional banter or technical discussion. But while looks certainly contribute to the experience, there is no sense in admiring the decor if the coffee is burnt or watered down.
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The only proper measure of a good cup of joe is the infamous espresso. Probably the most difficult coffee to make due to the minuscule details affecting the outcome (packing of the ground roast and water pressure are only a few), every single mistake is exacerbated by the lack of milk or sugar to mask the coffee itself. With that in mind, I made sure to order a plain espresso first to see how it would hold up to my expectations.
The first drop of the unadulterated brew on my palate confirmed the hype I had received: this coffee was exceptional. It was bitter enough to remind my taste buds of its authenticity, but not overly so as to hide the aroma brought on by the oils contained within the beans, and the thickness of it all was on par with any of its Italian espresso counterparts: not like Turkish coffee, but thick enough to give it that conciseness many crave. Ok, so their espresso induced a paradigm shift in my conservative views towards caffeine, but what about their other beverages? Needless to say, all of the variations based on the classic espresso have yet to disappoint me. Both their cappuccino and chocolate-infused mochaccino have left me delighted, the expert foaming of the milk giving the beverage a nice thick and creamy texture.
Oh, and if you are a fan of latte art, the staff have always awed me with their ephemeral artwork.
Spreading the love
Unlike many shops I have seen, Boréal actually sells lots of the gear they use, most notably the almost alien-looking Aeropress (which I use almost daily and highly recommend) and countless other pieces of precision equipment to satisfy your coffee purist desires. They also organise tasting days and instructional seminars teaching you how to make the most of your coffee experience, all of this free of charge. Even though its only a small detail, its more than enough to get a well-deserved thumbs-up from my part, because nothing is more important than community, one in which I am proud to call myself a member. See you all there!
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