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US coffee mecca, and yet...
Mar. 1st, 2009 06:55 pmSo...I wrote about my day at Pike Place Market on my other blog.
But I have this little bit that I'll share here.
Lisa and I went to this French cafe...she gave me a choice between having coffee somewhere near her place in Capitol Hill, or going to this French place. But she seemed to be strongly leaning toward the French cafe, and it looked so very french (even the menu was in french) that we finally couldn't resist.
They brought us menus and offered us wine, but we said we just came for coffee. Lisa ordered a cafe au lait. I ordered a macchiato. Or so I thought.
Now, I've had many a macchiato in Europe. I order them occasionally at Starbucks. I know what one is supposed to look and taste like. The ones I had in Europe always came in a tall glass and were more steamed milk than espresso, but pretty similar to a latte (and I guess they are actually called Latte Macchiatos when they're more milk than espresso, but I never called them that).
What they brought me was a tiny tiny cup of very strong espresso. Really really nasty, and not a drop of milk to be seen in it, which is kind of the point of macchiato. My spoon could've stood up in it. I put 3 sugar cubes in it and it was still awful. This was NOT a macchiato. Not in any sense of the word. And I mentioned it to the waitress and she looked at me like I was crazy.
I tried to drink it. Really, I did. But I could not. I think eating plain coffee beans or coffee grounds would've been less disgusting.
Finally, I flagged down another waitress and just told her that it wasn't what I ordered and just ordered a latte. That, at least, was good. Very good, actually.
I've learned my lesson, though. I'll never attempt to order a macchiato at an American coffee shop ever again. Starbucks macchiatos have caramel in them, which is OK sometimes. I don't see macchiatos on the menu at other places, and in fact had to instruct a barista at Seattle's Best Coffee once how to make them. Guess I'll just stick with lattes.
ETA: I already know that there are two types of macchiatos: latte (more milk than espresso) and caffe (vice versa), so no need to tell me that. My point is, this was neither of those.
But I have this little bit that I'll share here.
Lisa and I went to this French cafe...she gave me a choice between having coffee somewhere near her place in Capitol Hill, or going to this French place. But she seemed to be strongly leaning toward the French cafe, and it looked so very french (even the menu was in french) that we finally couldn't resist.
They brought us menus and offered us wine, but we said we just came for coffee. Lisa ordered a cafe au lait. I ordered a macchiato. Or so I thought.
Now, I've had many a macchiato in Europe. I order them occasionally at Starbucks. I know what one is supposed to look and taste like. The ones I had in Europe always came in a tall glass and were more steamed milk than espresso, but pretty similar to a latte (and I guess they are actually called Latte Macchiatos when they're more milk than espresso, but I never called them that).
What they brought me was a tiny tiny cup of very strong espresso. Really really nasty, and not a drop of milk to be seen in it, which is kind of the point of macchiato. My spoon could've stood up in it. I put 3 sugar cubes in it and it was still awful. This was NOT a macchiato. Not in any sense of the word. And I mentioned it to the waitress and she looked at me like I was crazy.
I tried to drink it. Really, I did. But I could not. I think eating plain coffee beans or coffee grounds would've been less disgusting.
Finally, I flagged down another waitress and just told her that it wasn't what I ordered and just ordered a latte. That, at least, was good. Very good, actually.
I've learned my lesson, though. I'll never attempt to order a macchiato at an American coffee shop ever again. Starbucks macchiatos have caramel in them, which is OK sometimes. I don't see macchiatos on the menu at other places, and in fact had to instruct a barista at Seattle's Best Coffee once how to make them. Guess I'll just stick with lattes.
ETA: I already know that there are two types of macchiatos: latte (more milk than espresso) and caffe (vice versa), so no need to tell me that. My point is, this was neither of those.