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Rating: Standard, lowerish-end Roman coffee
The 146 Bar Caffè as its only sign on the outside says (since its name is officially “Le Dolci Fantasie”) is one of those places I’ve been salivating, and waiting with expectation to taste for a while. I’ve known of it for over a year and yet was waiting for the right time to try it. It’s a place that similar to the ‘Friend’s Bar’ is a super locals-only. It’s not on any kind of busy avenue, and you only know about it if you’re right in front of it. Walking into the place I was greeted by a very tall middle-aged blond Italian barista ‘cum mom’, who was arguing with her parents, who were sitting to the left of the bar against the wall. Then, on the other side of the bar itself one could see her scantily-clad teenage daughters watching TV and itching to lave the cafe to go hang out with boys. This is as authentic a non-challance & Italian family run cafe as you can get. The decor inside is from the solid late 70s, and there’s a decadence to it that’s hard to express.
Asking for a coffee got this on the counter:
Presentation: No water placed on the counter, but would have been given if asked, this is for sure. Cup was clean, crisp. The spoon sat at a fun angle, stuck in there between the saucer and the handle, I liked it. Made you aware of the spoon and that it’s there to be used. So this gets us to the fact that most Italians drink their espresso with sugar… so maybe I should start trying these shots this way no? In any case, the barista was enjoying serving me a coffee as it gave her a respite from the bickering with her parents.
Temperature of Cup: It was super hot, damn was it hot! I had to wait, and wait before being able to get at the darned coffee.
Quantity: Given the large cup, it was a good shot size, it was solid espresso length.
Temperature: Once I waited long enough, I was able to drink the coffee and it was decent temperature.
Volume/Consistency: It was watery, runny.
Crema: Thin, not persistent, and burnt.
Odor: Smelled like lunch was being prepared in the back room. Even though the coffee was ground fresh for me (the basket was empty when I came in so the barista started to grind beans for about a minute). Yet, no smell.
Taste: It was not horrible, but it was very bitter, not deeply bitter but superficially bitter and bordering on rancid.
Overall: Given the above, I was still able to finish the espresso and was not regretting it. So it wasn’t horrible, nor poor, it was just a lower-end experience.
The setup: They had a Danesi marked E-61 based espresso machine. It was clean, crisp and kept up OK. Their grinder was a Mazzer mid size, and the coffee was of course, the Roman based, Danesi Caffè.
As you can see from the interior, they were proud of this by having all their bright yellow bags on display on the shelves (also a decal on the outside of the cafe), and a ‘danesi’ clock on the wall I didn’t dare photograph.
I would come back to the place if only for the charisma of the barista who’s family attitude makes you feel like you’re welcome and were expected to walk into the door. And that’s no small feat in my book!
Bar 146 Caffè,
Le Dolci Fantasie di D’Orazi M. & C. s.n.c.
Via del Forte Bravetta, 146
00164 Roma