American tourist discovers excellent coffee in Europe
An American tourist travels to Europe and discovers we know how to brew and serve coffee.
Sadly Julio Vincent Gambuto fails to write about coffee, more of a rambling about his sad life. And was it wise to travel to Europe from New York in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic?
I was reminded of a couple of American tourists in Athens who clearly knew nothing about coffee, thought coffee began and ended with Starbucks, that coffee was drank out of plastic as a takeaway. Or was it a parody of the American tourist in Athens, I could not be sure?
Or when In Prague a couple of years ago, I was sat on a wall on the edge of a large square. Nearby an American tourist drinking from a Starbucks takeaway coffee cup. Typical American uncivilised way of drinking coffee. From way across the square came homing in another American tourist: Gee whizz, can you tell me where I can find a Starbucks? It was like a hawk had spotted a rabbit from a mile away. I let out a long low groan.
It may come a surprise, there is excellent coffee served in Europe. Europe is now ahead of the game with America lagging behind. The exception is the all too ubiquitous Starbucks and their local clones, Costa and Caffe Nero, Coffee Island, Coffee Berry.
Montenegro I cannot comment on as I have never visited, Athens I can. Sit at a table in one of the top coffee shops in Athens, there are now around a dozen, no sooner do you sit down, and it is table service not takeaway, a glass or a bottle of ice cold water will be brought to your table. It is not a chaser, nor to water down the coffee, it is because you will be thirsty and in need of a drink. It is called service.
The coffee served in Athens is excellent. [see Guide to Athens coffee culture]
In Berlin, excellent coffee shops, excellent service.
Cyprus is one of the exceptions. Everywhere, appalling undrinkable bad coffee, service a rare commodity. Water rarely brought to the table without requesting, and when it is, will be charged. Every chain have heard of and many wish had never heard of, all serving bad coffee. The independent coffee shops are as bad, me too look alike Starbucks serving bad coffee.
But in Cyprus it is now starting to change. In Larnaca within the last couple of years four excellent coffee shops. In Nicosia, a handful of specialty coffee shops.
In England spoilt for choice as long as avoid the corporate chains and the greasy spoon cafes masquerading as coffee shops. Every town will have two or three or more excellent coffee shops. Find one, and ask, they will direct to the others.
The only way to enjoy coffee is to sit and relax at an indie coffee shop with coffee served in glass or ceramic. Anything less is to not respect the coffee.
Takeaway only if a cart or a kiosk.
I am though surprised the comments on New York. New York has excellent coffee shops. Check out Drift Manhattan edition. Not fair to compare prices with Montenegro, as the rents in New York will be sky high, wages higher, living costs higher. [ see Drift vol 10 Manhattan edition]
Gilly Brew Bar, not in New York in Stone Mountain, is an absolute must visit.
