Small town's Espresso

[espressme]

Hey folks the countryside is learning
I went today to a little ma and pa sandwich shop by a river in the rural Wisconsin country side. Downsville, the town has 240 residents.

On the counter was a LaSpaziale Grinder and a plumbed in two group programmable LaSpaziale EK2 Machine. The PFs were in the groups. The beans were fresh 3rd day. The owners had re-programmed the machine themselves.. The grind was close.. and ...The espresso was good. Better than I've found at any coffee specialty shop within at least a 40 mile radius. They are learning and the only way they will go is better!
They did it because they love coffee!

Not yet the "Black Sheep Coffee Cafe" in South St Paul MN. but great for here in the boonies! And not a 75 mile drive either!!
What a find!
Best regards
Richard/ Espressme

[Worldman]

Richard,

It sounds like a great find! How is it that the owners of the "ma and pa" shop became interested & knowledgeable in coffee?

Len

[espressme]

Richard,
It sounds like a great find! How is it that the owners of the "ma and pa" shop became interested & knowledgeable in coffee?
Len

Hi Len, ( warning- long!)
They are retired!?! and run an unbelievable [sic]accurate decor one room victorian B&B, small sandwich/ice cream shop, and video rental, along a hiking trail and with a river inner-tubing landing (*see below.) Easy highway access too.
He is a landscape painter (good) and she runs the store. He bakes the specialty items and does the outrageous malts. She does the "eat with a knife and fork" organic sandwiches and runs the LaSpaziales. There seems to be an itinerant coffee and equipment salesman that travels the area and he has partners that do a fair job of roasting.
I shall find out more next week. This is going to be one of our revolving lunch destinations!!8) 10 minute radius!

Would this be a good topic to move to a different title and have others chime in their favorite finds? Or how would we get a list of "off the beaten path" finds started? Vacationers and day trippers might enjoy it ! Could there be a state by state listing.

The "Espresso Map" http://www.espressomap.com in Resources on this List is great and the taster's call is better than superb. But, what about those of us that would settle for a "real" espresso or coffee drink that is good middle of the road or better and hidden in a picturesque place? Too many of the coffee specialty shops are espresso/fast in name but serve vile brews to us as the "best in the area!."

*Tubing is renting an inflated truck or tractor inner-tube upstream of a river destination and riding upon it, wet butt through it, down stream to a landing beach. On arrival you may sight-see and catch a bus ride back to where you left your car. At six miles an hour, a ten mile tube ride is very pleasant. Something we "Cheese Heads" do in the off season! Often with an extra tube holding the beer cooler!
Think about it!:lol:

Best to all!
sincerely
Richard / espressme
PS I'm not the best cupper in the shop! I do enjoy coffee in any form that leaves me with a nice afterglow and feeling that I've had a good day!