MOKADÌ CAFFÈ, VIA MERULANA 132-133, 00185 ROMA

Rating: Standard, mid to low-end Roman coffee

I had seen this locale of the Caffè Mokadì online somehow, I don’t know, I stumbled on it. And I thought it was the flagship store of this South-Roman based roaster (In Ciampino actually). So I go happily to it, and realize that, no, it’s just a store that uses this coffee, and they decided to name the café after the coffee they serve. And that is brand loyalty, and also, dedication to the coffee they’re brewing. That’s admirable. When I walked in, I realized I didn’t have a full .90 cents, or even an euro of change in my pocket. I told the barista (a guy almost ready for retirement, or past that age already), hold on before making my coffee, I don’t think I have enough. Lo and behold, I had only .85 cents. The barista said that’s not a problem, took my money and came back with a receipt showing I paid .85 for my coffee. Very nice. The Caffè Mokadì is a traditional Roman café, where you have a mix of mirrors, vinyl and aluminum furniture, and high ceilings. A very 1970s early 80s looking place. Light in here was a mix of ‘au naturel’ which meant it was seeping in from the big windows, and some diffused green and white lighting, it gave a feeling of it being dim and cool. Overall, it was a place that was relaxed and the barista was keen on making folk who walked in feel that way.

The coffee he served me was the following:

Presentation: Yup, water immediately and without asking, even after I showed I didn’t have change for a tip, nor even for paying full price for the coffee. The cup was nice, clean, and had the Mokadì logo. A brand I hadn’t had in a long while.

Temperature of Cup: It’s odd, the cup was very warm. And I say this is odd because I had the espresso machine directly in front of me and I could read the temperature and pressure dials, they were both quite low!

Quantity: I’d say it was a bit shorter than an ounce of coffee. So a short espresso probably at a 20ml vs. the normal 30ml.

Temperature: This was also odd, it was hot as heck, so maybe it was the cup cooling off onto the coffee and making it warmer? I don’t know – either way I had to wait a good minute or two to have the coffee be at a lower temperature.

Volume/Consistency: It was thin, powdery, and yet not chalky. It was a light espresso. No heaviness.

Crema: It looked slightly over-extraced for the length. It was white on one side and dark on the other. So I’m taking it as being too little coffee in the portafilter, or not having tamped it properly and thus major channeling occurring inside the coffee puck. You let me know. It wasn’t persistent and didn’t participate in the drinking experience.

Odor: Yes! Lots of dark-roasted coffee smell, it was actually quite pleasing and very powerful.

Taste: It was bitter, very strongly bitter, not as strong as others, but packing quite a bite, then it made my tongue tingle like some other coffees here in Rome do. I’m always a bit nervous when that happens, as well… I’m just not into thinking something could make my tongue numb! But the positive was the nutty aftertaste. Once you let the flat coffee seep down, and the finish is very smooth, you start getting a nutty taste developing. Not bad.

Overall: Since it was too warm, had crema that fluffed away, and wasn’t particularly heavy nor colorful- I felt this was a mid to lower end coffee here in Rome. There’s some great cafes just around the corner from here, so, you be the judge. The location, near St. John Lateran church couldn’t be nicer.

The setup: It was utilitarian, elegant, and quirky. The La Faimac espresso machine was nice. It was three E-61 groups that are built for creamy brewing, however, here that didn’t happen. The grinder was an Astoria-Mazzer in Red. Lovely! The coffee of course was supplied by Caffè Mokadì, the roaster working in Ciampino (south-Rome).