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Rating: Standard, very good Roman coffee
Getting out of the amazingly hectic Termini station, and moving just to the north-east you'll run into the Caffetteria Giuliani. It is in an old classical Roman building, and its interior speaks of 1940s design much akin to the most famous cafes of Rome. But unlike the usual unremarkable coffee at these more popular places, the Caffetteria Giuliani serves quite a really amazing cup of coffee. One of the best I've had here in Rome so far! Let's go see what they're up to.
Presenting a receipt at the counter and asking for a coffee got me this:
Presentation: Nice and clean cup. Crisp, not over used nor abused. The spoon was clean and fit the size of the cup just right. No water was offered to me, but it was very quickly given to a couple who asked for it. They called the blond barista by his first name, 'Valentino', and he responded immediately with water and a smile to them.
Temperature of Cup: It was just right, not cold, nor wet, nor scalding hot. A warm cup that helps the espresso blend in to the touch of the lips.
Quantity: Given the size of the cup, it was a rather a short compact shot. I'd say on the spot.
Temperature: Ah, yes, warm, but not hot. Neither cold, nor tepid. It was at a lower brewing temperature, ca. 90-91 degrees Celsius. It was great, the coffee opened up in my mouth with this temperature.
Volume/Consistency: Very thick, creamy, palpable taste that fills your mouth like a deep hot chocolate. the silkiness was amazing on this shot, you could run your tongue across your upper palate and feel the thickness of the oil in the brew.
Crema: It was dark, rather thin, and not necessarily persistent, but nor did it disintegrate into nothingness. It stuck around, thin, but there.
Odor: A darkly roasted coffee, nothing quite strong, but ever so subtly present. I was happy!
Taste: It was deeply intense, very bitter, but nowhere rancid. It was very complex all in the limited range offered by the Roman typical roasts and blends.
Overall: It was such a surprising experience. The more I drank it the better the coffee became. Each sip opened up a new parameter of the coffee and it got richer as I went through it. I was expecting a cup full of tar, but got an thrown an amazing Roman espresso. This is by far, one of the few, very few so far, that I've had here in Rome that have left me very satisfied.
The setup: First off, the barista, Valentino (yes the middle aged blond Italian you see below) seemed to know what he was doing. He was quiet, courteous, and concentrated on kicking out the espressi. He had a times 7-8 people waiting for coffees and he counted all his ducks and spit each espresso out with the desired combination the client asked for (latte, macchiato, etc., etc.). The machine was a Faema E91, and the grinder, I assume, was also a Faema as I couldn't see it. The coffee, this is what blew me away, was Caffè Negresco (Yeah, the link is still broken). This is a local Roman coffee roaster that usually is represented by really bitter, near rancid coffee. But here, it was in its element. It was amazing!
The cafe is rather large, and full of sweets, tables, and very courteous staff. It's always busy, and fortunately, the coffee is really amazing. Bravo!
Caffetteria Giuliani
U. Giuliani S.R.L.
Via Volturno 60-62
00185 Roma