AutoGrill and Fast Espresso
I found myself longing for Italy recently while standing in line at a local “café”, with a wait going on ten minutes for two cappuccinos. This particular café has changed owners and the new folks still don’t have the espresso machine mastered. The number of movements required to grind the coffee, brew the espresso, steam the milk and combine it made no sense. Grind, dispense, tamp, look, look confused, grind some more, stop, add beans, grind some more, dispense, tamp, look. Now, move the filter towards the machine. Hmmm, too many grounds. Scrape some out, tamp, … There’s more, but I’d just being inflicting pain on an innocent reader. Surely these folks can see that customers will stand patiently for a few minutes, and then observing the glacial pace behind the counter, wheel around and march out. Given that, why not get training on how to run an espresso machine? Or for god’s sake, get an automatic machine if the big brute you inherited can’t be tamed?
While closing my eyes against the horrors being inflicted on my unsuspecting cappuccinos, my mind wandered longingly to some of the wonderful espressos (and cappuccinos) Laura and I have enjoyed on the Italian Autostrade. While Starbucks has the throughput thing pretty well covered, Starbucks espresso tastes crappy compared to an espresso you would find in Italy. A good espresso should be creamy and almost sweet. Try to find that at a Starbucks – be ready for burnt and bitter. AutoGrill, the Italian equivalent of a Quik Mart or Seven-Eleven, has gas and snacks, but also a deli with terrific paninis and a full espresso bar! Behind the bar are baristas (always men for some reason) running “big iron” espresso machines, creating a culinary work of art with every cup they prepare. You can find great espressos everywhere in Italy, but who would have thought that some of the best and most accessible are found in gas stations? And they are fast…!
– Chris
