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Rating: Standard, low-end Illy coffee served
Some cafes I actually don’t review, because when I walk into them, I realize they’re not a cafe, but a restaurant, an alcohol bar, or a bakery. And I hesitated before entering this one because it did have the name ‘Bistrot’ quite prominent. But the Saffi Bar and Bistrot in Trastevere does indeed place ‘Bar’ (i.e., cafe in English) first in its name, at least it did in one of the awnings they had outside! And by the looks of it, it’s a spanking new establishment (or newly redecorated, etc). and it’s a welcome change from the rather low-end cruddy stuff littering Trastevere. But, on the other end of the deal, it’s a very nose up, highfalutin dainty place for middle-upper class folk, or older people wanting a clean delicate atmosphere. Either way, it’s pleasant, clean, and apparently brand new. And oh, yes, it does seem to be a catch-all mix of bakery, bistro and cafe. But, yes… let’s just see what was going on with the coffee.
When I walked in a super nice (and extraordinarily tall) barista dwarfing over the counter gave me the following with a very soft-toned voice:
Presentation: Well… there was a hiccup. When the barista pressed the button to start extracting the espresso, he turned his back on the machine and prepared the beautiful plate with a cookie on it. Yet, when he turned around my espresso and another client’s had overflowed and the machine just kept on going. So something was up with the calibration/programming of the machine. Let’s keep this in mind. So he went on to do another shot just for me and this is what it was. Water came up automatically, and with the cookie, things were looking good.
Temperature of Cup: Good. solidly good.
Quantity: It was a rather large full espresso. Large quantity to help you down your sweets. I would say anything more than this and it’s almost a double.
Temperature: The temperature of the coffee was immaculate. Great, yet again. Second time’s a charm, as they say.
Volume/Consistency: It was thin, watery, and no body to it. I was taken aback because the temperature was right on the dot, and usually that gives us a good healthy espresso. Not here.
Crema: It was uniform, looked like spanking fresh wet acrylic paint, and almost as if I was staring at a magazine ad for Illy. All in order. but it was lightish in color and yet persistent.
Odor: Here’s a rather rare occurrence, I smelled a woody coffee smell to the drink. I was happy, it was a warm greeting from the old days the coffee was still hanging on a limb…
Taste: Hmm… very bitter. Yes, with the woody smell, it became a dark bitterness, no rancid taste. Just straight up bitter. No field of depth, no space to move and explore the taste possibilities.
Overall: Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the best Illy I’ve had, nor on par with any good Roman coffee (i.e., see the Arabo Caffè a few blocks away). But as a friend says, one should use the three times rule, if after three tries the coffee is still poor, then there you form your opinion.
The setup: And here’s the reason why. Look at this espresso machine! Holy cow! It’s a beauty! All digital and able to control parameters of the espresso to the 100th of a degree (or something like that, at least that’s what they want you to believe). Either way, the machine is great and the coffee being spit out of it, should be better. Of course, they were serving Illy Coffee.
The interior is white, delicate, and they had soft jazz music playing in the background.
Saffi Bistrot and Caffè,
Saffi Bistrot SRL
Viale Aurelio Saffi, 5-9
00153 Roma
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