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It’s refreshing to see different cafes in such a traditionalist country as Italy, however I see some improvement points here.
I admit that while reading the overall scoring I thought that reviews might have been unfair. It’s of course not your average cafè, but here the question is not price (which sometimes people tend to complain about but pointlessly because even before ordering, you see exactly the full menu and can always chose not to buy), but rather quality, which I don’t think matches the price (I am talking about coffees).
This place seems to sit somewhere between a potential chain café and a specialty coffee spot. The branding is strong, and this is typical of successful chains —they even sell apparel and gadgets—and the menu includes drinks that are not very traditional in Italy, such as matcha lattes and flat whites - which is refreshing. However, starting off with a bang in terms of branding might be very risky if you’re not certain of having a solid product.
In line with other reviews, staff wasn’t too friendly nor smiling. I always try to be kind and show empathy, but the attentive customer remembers how they were treated (or not). It’s all in the little gestures and a smile goes a long way.
I ordered a flat white knowing what I wanted to have as it has been years that I’ve ordered it outside of Italy (because this is not something typical of Italy) - and here is important to note that people who live abroad or had good ones outside, can very easily spot the flaws in it. I’m used to flat whites having a noticeable coffee intensity, as they’re typically made with a double shot of espresso. Here, however, I could barely taste the coffee. In all honesty, it was so mild that it resembled more a café latte (not too different than moka caffè with milk). I wouldn’t even call it a cappuccino, since the foam wasn’t thick enough.
At €3.50, it felt quite expensive for what it was and this was a pity, because I was hoping for a different outcome considering the price.
Additionally, while I understand the small-business mentality, charging €1 extra for alternative milk feels excessive in Italy—especially considering that €1 is more than half the price of an espresso here. For some people, alternative milk isn’t a preference but the only option. So maybe it’s worth to offer the lactose-free without charge.
I didn’t try their pastries, so I can’t comment on that, however, as they are not cheap, I am not too enthusiastic about eating in a place with limited seating, no toilet (because they’re takeaway) and all in paper containers. This is of course not something to blame, in the end it’s about the experience you want to have.
Overall, three stars are given for the branding and the ambiance (my chair was comfy, music was good, and the place wasn’t noisy), however quality needs to be improved to fully justify prices. Service could be a bit more smiling or friendly.
