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Date: 24 Jun 2006 09:17:33
From: botanical@n0spaam.gmail.com
Subject: Espresso Recommendations for Barcelona, Spain
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I am going to Barcelonia in a few days for a week and I would like to
know if anyone has any espresso recommendations within the city of
Barcelonia. Yes yes, I know to visit the Gaudi sites (seems like
everyone tells me that), but I have no idea about espresso. I read on
this newsgroup that espresso in Barcelonia is akin to espresso in
Italy. If that is true, then I'm going to be very happy.
I live in NYC and the type of coffee I judge all against is
"Seattle-style", so I know what's up. No instant or super-automatics
for me.
If anyone can recommend specific cafes, that'd be great to. Let me
know if there is something to look out for, such as a specific brand of
coffee advertised in the window. Will Lavazza and Illy be good out
there? Here in NYC, if Illy is served, I know what to expect, but no
one drinks espresso in New York, so what can be expected is something
"drinkable". Places that serve Illy in NYC generally use
super-automatics (which is good considering someone without one
produces garbage... and I mean garbage).
Thanks!
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Date: 24 Jun 2006 15:48:47
From: 12ants@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Espresso Recommendations for Barcelona, Spain
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Hey there,
My wife and I were just in Spain for 3 weeks, and Barcelona in
particular.
As to espresso? I found none worth talking about or repeating. We
stayed in the old section, right on the Rambla. The best advice I can
give you is to enjoy the moment, try new stuff, and compare it to what
you know sparinly.
Overall, every thing was drinkable, just not memorable. Food overall
was great, and you can easily have all your meals at the Boqueria.
Enjoy!
pete
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Date: 24 Jun 2006 18:23:07
From: bernie digman
Subject: Re: Espresso Recommendations for Barcelona, Spain
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12ants@gmail.com wrote:
> Hey there,
>
> My wife and I were just in Spain for 3 weeks, and Barcelona in
> particular.
> As to espresso? I found none worth talking about or repeating. We
> stayed in the old section, right on the Rambla. The best advice I can
> give you is to enjoy the moment, try new stuff, and compare it to what
> you know sparinly.
> Overall, every thing was drinkable, just not memorable. Food overall
> was great, and you can easily have all your meals at the Boqueria.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> pete
>
Ah, La Rambla. It was about this time of year thirty years ago exactly. My now wife and her son
(who I adopted-and am now the grandfather of his sons) traveled there from our home in Spraitbach,
Germany. On a '54 Beemer with a Steib TR500 sidecar. Two other friends rode down with us and we
camped along the way in back fields in southern France and wherever we could pitch a few tents. We
got to Spain and it was hotter than hot. Miserable.
I still remember my son becoming a little sick and the medication we gave him made him a bit
groggy. Sort of the "we can't be good parents if we do this sort of stupid stuff..." Well, he
survived and with a PhD I suppose the brain damage wasn't too much. We camped along the beaches and
I had the best Paella I've ever had. Served in huge bowls which the six of us couldn't finish even
having eaten little for a few days. One day we went to La Rambla for the stroll. The place was cool
and wide and colorful and exotic. Beautiful women and men hand in hand in a tradition of strolling
that was enchanting for a couple of rubes from the desert. Grandmothers peeked from behind
hundred-year-old wooden shutters on the second floors watching their granddaughters with hawk eyes.
They knew. Mothers and fathers walked behind the young couples at a respectable but effective
distance. The young couples were enveloped in a dense, warm, safe and loving embrace of family and
community. They were loved and they belonged. You could sense it in the relaxed way they comported
themselves and the easy manner with which they teased each other and the moms and dads doing what
moms and dads do. The scents in the air were real flowers that hung from street lamps and were
packed into the stalls. Real cinnamon, nutmegs, allspices, rosemary and other common and exotic
spices in baked goods and sprinkled on pasteries. You walked around knowing this was a smell that
craft had carried across the Mediterranean for eons to these folks. We stopped and sat for a while
at little tables where lovers had stopped for generations. We ate ice cream and had wine and knew
life lay ahead like a huge La Rambla. A wonderful walk. A stroll through the magic of living.
I don't know about the espresso, mi amigo, but in the right frame of mind any you get can be
magic on La Rambla. Be safe and be well.
Bernie
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Date: 25 Jun 2006 18:15:12
From: Danny
Subject: Re: Espresso Recommendations for Barcelona, Spain
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bernie digman wrote:
-snip great tale-
We did the same a few years ago, but on the Honda Blackbird. We
toured round the mountains in the north, stayed at a small gotel in La
Franc, near Gerona, and rode to Barcelona often. Being September, we
often rode back in the late afternoon, when we frequently encountered
hail storms - not much fun - even the police bikers pulled over (were
they chasing us...) :) Even almost got snowed in up in Andorra (and a
freezing 5 hour ride back to the hotel, at night, and with a surly
night porter who wouldn't get us any form of drink, hot or cold).
La Ramblas was central to our trips. Great buskers, shoe shine
stalls, and street cafes. Got the motorcycle boots properly cleaned
there. Forget the espresso, just enjoy a cafe con leche, or a cold
chocolat de freyo (sp) or a glass of wine with some calamares, fresh
bread and ali-oli.
--
Regards, Danny
http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)
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