smooth and concentrated, not bitter — ask for a splash of cream if you want it richer

medium-rare, ask for the chimichurri or peppercorn sauce — fries should be thin and crispy

foam should be dialed in, dense not airy — that's the test of a real espresso bar

sleeper menu item at a lot of cafes, often beats any of the pastries on offer

1:1 espresso to milk, the perfect midday pick-me-up without the bloat of a latte