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Rating: Standard, lower-end & over-hyped Roman coffee
This cafe, the La Casa del Caffè Tazza d’Oro, and the Sant Eustachio cafe nearby are the two principal reasons this website. You read over and over how great their coffee is, and then, when you’re in the place, you’re let down. The reviews seem to talk more about the shabby-chic charm of the place, than of the coffee itself. My hunch is that the place’s locale, mixed with the post WWII tourism industry coupled with some glimpses of marketing prowess are the real reasons for their success. Without giving this place a glowing review, or waxing on about this or that, nor giving it a free advert (as their website is fairly well made), let’s go on to the coffee itself and quit the hype.
After being told to go to the cash-register to pay first, this is what I get:
Presentation: No water offered, as we’re in tourist-land. I’m sure if they thought I was Italian, they would have obliged. The barista was kind and not rude, that’s a high point. The cup was very slim, tall, and interesting. Sort of a throwback to the 30s. The profile of a naked girl, very… hmm… out of date.
Temperature of Cup: It was at a very good temperature. Here’s why:
They have a cup cleaner and warmer. The tons of tourists with thick lipstick means that the cups get caked in grime that won’t always come off. Here the warm water works it’s way through that in a different way, and also, importantly keeps the cups at a tight temperature. Nice touch!
Quantity: As you can or ‘can’t’ see, the espresso was short. I had to search for it down there in the tall tubular cup.
Temperature: Will admit that yes, it was at a perfect good temperature. Meaning, for me, on the lower side of the brewing spectrum.
Volume/Consistency: Here comes the real deal, it was a very watery, weak and thin espresso. Quite runny and disappointing.
Crema: Light crema, persistent. Ok, nothing special at all honestly.
Odor: None really, and I wasn’t surprised. Only in the roastery area did I get a faint whiff of warm roasted coffee.
Taste: Bitter, very bitter. Watery, bitter, not rancid, but leaning there quite heavily.
Overall: Since it wasn’t off right horrible, nor putrid and rancid, I can’t say it was crap. It wasn’t. But if it wasn’t for the business of the place and the disneylandesque flaire of the tiki-room cum cafe, I would say that this is just a normal coffee… However, because of it’s marketing power, its ‘repute’ and prime locale and history, it doesn’t add up. It’s just a lower-end Roman coffee…
The setup: They had… well I didn’t count how many machines, but at least 3 full three to four-group La Cimbali machines, with lots of Jolly Mazzer Grinders, all set up for success …. The coffee being served at the machines was the “Regina del Caffè” blend.
Since this has ample website presence, and so much hype, I didn’t buy their coffee, nor will I linger on about their roasts. I’ll let the brochure and the pictures do the talking. The in-store Probat roaster was a nice touch.
When you walk in, here’s the roasting room looking at you:
This is what you can buy:
Below is their in-store catalog:
La Casa del Caffè Tazza d’Oro
Via degli Orfani 84, 00186 Roma
