A strange location, diagonally opposite Lidl, on the main top road through Protaras.
The best that can be said a contemporary design. It then goes downhill, rapidly.
Yesterday a very weak almost cold cappuccino in a too large takeaway cup.
Today, driverless, I walked. Try the same coffee in a ceramic correct size cup.
Late afternoon, I note as I walk in, almost empty.
As I walk in awful music playing. The norm for Cyprus. But at least not to loud.
I would have preferred to sit outside, but in the shade, sun going down and turning cool.
Walking to the coffee shop I had crossed the road to catch what was left if the sun.
Asc
As I walk in I also have confirmstion of my conclusion of yesterday of poor quality coffee, bags of LavAzza sitting on the counter. The girl who serves me tries to convince me quality coffee, look it is Arabic from Colombia, it is not Robusta. Yes, true. But still poor quality coffee, it’s LavAzza.
Asked what size cappuccino I want, I ask for correct size in a ceramic cup not a takeaway. You want it in a glass ? No I want it in a ceramic cup. And again I point to the ceramic cups. She did at least choose the correct size cup. Maybe random, 50:50, toss a coin and correct size chosen.
Passes order to a guy. He does not attempt latte art. He does what traditionalists would regard as correct. A white filled circle enclosed by a narrow brown circle. [check out alleged origins of a cappuccino]
As before, nearly cold, weak but not as weak as yesterday.
They must have learnt, coffee should not be served hot and have gone to the other extreme, serve almost cold.
I call the girl over and ask her how many shots? One. I thought so, explains why so weak. I tell it is too weak, Needs two shots. She argued with me, no only one shot for a cappuccino. No, not true, I am often offered one or two shots. I leave to the barista to choose.
On reflection. It may not have been the shot. It may have been under extraction.
A rough looking guy came cover, asks what’s the problem. Oh dear trouble brewing. I hazard a guess, the owner.
No problems, I am trying to understand the coffee and the concept of the coffee shop. I point to an empty chair and invite him to join the conversation. He declines. Tells me he is a busy man. He invites me to join him at his other coffee shop at ten in the morning though sounded more like a demand then an invitation. I decline. I will be having breakfast.
He tells me the girl is his manager, orders her to answer my questions, then leaves. A busy man.
She is quite rude. Refused point blank to talk to me. A marked contrast to the polite pleasant guy of the day before, who when my driver went in to grab the coffees, the guy brought out his machine for me to pay by phone.
Sunday, the day Cypriots go out to a coffee shop to meet their friends. The coffee shops are packed, would be lucky to find a spare table, or even a seat. Fabrica by contrast almost empty, though to put in context, busier than I have seen Starbucks.
Attempt at good design, reasonable equipment (the girl said even better in the week), but then fail to source good coffee. At a guess, LavAzza supply the equipment, though girl said no.
I was tempted to have a coffee at Patisserie Amelia. A San Remo Racer, excellent grinders, the girls know how to use the machines, the coffee LavAzza. It would have made an interesting comparison.
Cyprus is infamous for bad coffee.
For excellent coffee, a trip to Larnaca. Local bus to Ayia Napa, then intercity bus to Larnaca.
– Koffea
– Paul’s coffee roasters
– Nick’s Coffee Bike
Or if wish to venture further afield, a trip to Nicosia.
…. to be continued ….
Like this:
Like Loading...
Keithpp's Blog 