Caffe D’arte is a Seattle based company that roasts its own coffee and has several retail locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. It was started by an Italian family in the 1980s with the goal of duplicating styles from northern, central and southern Italy. “Firenze,” which they say is in the northern roasting style, is D’arte’s lightest roast. It is a bit darker than the beans coming from Portland's local microroasters. I like its balanced flavor, and it yields amazing crema, but it does not have the citrus/nut/sweet notes found in some of the other beans I have written about here. They also have an alderwood roasted bean that I am curious to try.
Their store on NE 15th Avenue between Broadway and Weidler has a bit of multi-unit retail aesthetic that values consistency over personality, and a couple of flat screen televisions in the corners are always turned on (why do bars and restaurants increasingly do this? It's out of place everywhere but a sports bar.). But there are a few reasons I keep returning here. First, it’s walking distance from my home. Second, the people are unfailingly nice; and, even though the store is part of a (small) chain, it has the feeling of a family run business. Third, they sell a pound of well roasted and reasonably fresh coffee beans for about the same price that you would pay for twelve ounces of a “gourmet” brand in a supermarket. And, you get a free coffee drink when you buy that pound.
But the true reason I Like Caffe D’Arte is the way they serve an espresso: long white plate, with cup, spoon, chocolate(!) and water all in a line. The shot is pulled on a big Nuova Simonelli, which does a fine job. Espresso is made with the Firenze roast. The attention to detail never fails to put a smile on my face.
