Espresso

While walking around, I had a few minutes to kill before a train. I recognized the grinder in this cafe and walked in.
There is common knowledge in coffee that people make the best espresso today in homes, not cafes, because cafe service moves too quickly for pedantic optimizations such as using distribution tools on ground coffee.
So, I was surprised when the barista began using a distribution tool, and calibrated the grind three times before serving me coffee. The result was the best espresso I have had in a long time, perhaps since Substance Cafe.
On the way out, I nervously asked if I could take a photo, which they said was okay. The result is this: my favorite photo I have taken this trip.
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