According to CoffeeRatings.com, Ritual Coffee Roasters makes the best espresso in the city. When I read this, I had to try it out. Our friend Kristin warned us that this place was “a scene.” She was right. We went to the Mission today (Sunday) and had a great burrito at Farolito. After that, we walked over to Ritual: it was crowded. People were camped out with their laptops; everyone was studying. I noticed some folks studying the same Calculus textbook I used. “Studiousness is the new vice,” I commented to Sara. John Haley enjoyed the music they were playing. Anyway, we couldn’t find a place to sit but Sara sat down at someone else’s table where there was an empty seat. The other person there was listening to an iPod and reading. Sara got a soy latte, which wasn’t as sweet as she likes them. It had a strange texture and she thinks she might have gotten dairy (this would not be a good thing).
I had a single espresso. In the past, I usually got doubles but since I’m trying to cut back, I prefer single espressos now, especially after reading that it’s the reference drink for tasting. I thought my espresso pour was too short. Although I have heard that in the U.S., an excessively long pour is common, this cannot have been even half an ounce. The taste was quite good for three tiny sips of liquid. I can’t say I’ve learned to differentiate the constituent tastes of a cup of espresso yet. One of these days, I’ll have to do a tasting so I can really get it.
Ritual Coffee Roasters is not worth a special trip to the Mission, although we had fun doing it just this once. I may give them another chance, midweek in the middle of the day when they’re not so rushed.
