Tag: good coffee

Caffè Rainer

Posted on by sommercr

I walk into this tiny café and see do-gooders.

What is Caffè Rainer?

The happy owners: Rudolf and Sylvia

The coffee shop is a reminder of my petite hometown in South Carolina. It’s simple. Slow-paced. Warm and familiar. There are shelves on the wall filled with books—give one, take one, kind of deal. There’s family history sharing the same space: the owner’s coffee grinder from her grandfather. An old menu. Copper pots on the wall are from Sylvia’s home in Padua. A black and white photo of her and her lively husband. They are happy, laughing and cherishing the moment between two wonderful souls.

A true treasure of a coffee and pastry shop near where classes are held is the spot to be. Put together by husband and wife, Rudolf and Sylvia give their unique lives to make this cafè a safe place for anyone traveling through, or the common study abroad student such as myself!

Foodie, are you?

The crunchy yummy goodness

My stomach roars like Simba while walking to this café. Probably because it knows where I am headed and can taste the delectable, fluffy pastries. Rudolf wakes each morning just before the sun rises and starts working on his treasures. The sweet pair is reflected by the patisseries made. A good croissant is chewy without being tough, and when you break open that flaky top, your nose is embraced by butter-land! There’s also cakes, biscotti, chocolates, and savory sandwiches. All of which is greatly troublesome to say no to. I often don’t!

Why does this place feel comfortable?

Warm and familiar

I always like to walk up to the counter, smiling graciously at the barista and say good morning in my best Italian accent (which isn’t all that great) and ask for a cappuccino and an almond croissant. I take my sweet pastry and take a seat in the corner and set up my computer or notebook to get to work. I cherish this time. In the states, you are expected to sit and work while you drink your coffee. In Italy, it is expected to stand at the counter and drink your coffee before being on your way. This place allowed me to stay and tend to my schoolwork without getting strange glances. It is a safe place for me to do what needs to be done without having to worry about offending the culture… or embarrassing myself!

This caffè is a warm and welcoming place to be. It is reliable and pleasant. The owners are constantly moving around each other in a dance of tango. Soft smiles, small touches, and an overwhelming sense of love. It is absolutely cherishable to be in the room that emits a charming glow of affection. It feels like a toasted marshmallow melting over creamy chocolate–everything sweet and good. The desire to be here, more than to eat or drink, but to feel those admirable moments is sumptuous in itself.

Who is the coffeemaker? 

The person that works that magical, shiny espresso machine is a lovely Italian woman. She is patient. She is funny. She is hard-working. Every time I go into Caffé Rainer, I ask about all the pastries and what kind there are. She beams and laughs, already knowing what I was to ask. She’s very careful with her English as she tries her very best to describe to me the various types of opportunities. Nevertheless, I always pick almond (because, honestly, there’s no better kind). Oh, look! It’s already plated for me.

The mastermind behind the counter

Beautifully tanned skin, dark long hair, and lips that curve into a smile. Her voice glazes over words in an elegant gown of profession. She has the grandest smile, one that should be displayed in the Uffizi gallery. I wonder her name, even though I frequent this small spot of delicacy. I wonder why she feels the compulsion to run around in a controlled panic. She is particular–her delicate, deft fingers pulling levers on the espresso machine like dropping pennies in a fountain. Perhaps my hidden gem is not the place itself, but the souls who run it. The girl, with hair pulled back, reminds me of me. Delicate, like a peony in the wind, dancing a silent tune. The owners, joyful and passionate, are heavily inspired by each patron–to show their appreciation and love.

Hands moving in swift movements, feet stepping over the mess spilled, voice softer than the foam on my cappuccino. 

Where can I find the Caffè Rainer?

La Citè – Liberia Caffè

Posted on by swee

La Citè- Liberia Caffè

Something about the faint melody from the record spinning or the muffled chatter that leaks out of the slightly ajar door draws me into the cozy atmosphere of La Citè. This quaint coffee shop is almost unrecognizable after sundown. The quiet and concentrated nature of La Citè transforms into a lively atmosphere. La Citè is a local’s favorite for that mid-morning cappuccino or an evening nightcap.

This sign hangs proudly on the front window.

 

Is this just a coffee shop? What makes it so special?

Tucked away, far from any tourist traps, La Citè is in a world of its own. A tourist might stumble in for coffee, but a local knows it is so much more.  This café is not meant to just satisfy your caffeine needs (although it can, I recommend the Almond milk latte), rather it is also a bookstore and wine bar. Unlike most coffee shops in Florence, La Citè urges its customers to sit down and stay awhile while drinking their morning coffee. Which isn’t hard to do at all with their sprawling patio and infinite couches adorning the space. Starting from my first visit there, I found myself right at home. The familiar bald man with the Polish accent, I now know as Robert, treats all of his customers like family. His generosity is endless—from covering my coffee when I forgot my wallet simply stating, “don’t worry about it” to even returning my sweater after I left it there. Chances are if you walk past La Citè, he will be out there, cigarette in hand, urging you to come in.

The layout is open and inviting.

If you’re looking for Barnes and Noble, go somewhere else.

Used and new books scatter every corner of La Citè, making it irresistible to not pick one up. La Citè actually has 5,000 literary texts available to purchase in the café and in their online catalog. Although you don’t have to buy them, customers can enjoy the books free of charge while in the space. La Citè even offers free wifi (yes and it works) to access these online texts. This unconventional café supplies only the most unconventional books, as they are aiming to support local and independent titles. La Citè is open to suggestions if there are any novels you would like to see on their shelf.

When does the wine bar come into play?

When dusk arrives the music roars a bit louder, chatter becomes more fervent, and the coffee mugs are exchanged for wine glasses. La Citè believes reading and tasting go hand-in-hand and that is a notion we can get behind. They believe that one of the most “dangerous” effects of a fabulous glass of wine is individualism and passion. I dare you to attempt to order a glass of the Gewürztraminer Südtirol Alto Adige or if that is too difficult, just say the “sweet, white wine” to Robert (he’ll know what you are talking about). Don’t be mistaken, it is not sweet at all, but it is still the best glass of wine I’ve had in Italy. Their wine list has been carefully composed using the criteria

Don’t forget to try the Almond Milk Latte.

of fair trade, local, and organic. They only purchase wine from organic vineyards that do not use any synthetic chemicals or herbicides. Try asking a La Citè employee about the amount of sulfur in the wine or how long the wine fermented in oak barrels. They truly care about what you are putting in your body and pride themselves on the quality of wine they serve.

What else do they offer?

To put it simply— experiences. No matter what night of the week, you can find philosophers, authors, musicians, or really any type of creative thinker performing or hosting forums. This is a chance to get conversation flowing and debates sparked. They also have live music multiple nights a week and the nights they do not offer entertainment, they always have records spinning. This place is the definition of eclectic.

One of the very many cozy corners of La Citè.

I’m sold. Anything else that makes La Citè memorable?

No experience at La Citè is ever the same and that is what keeps me returning day-after-day and night-after-night. It doesn’t matter what time it is, the ambiance is always dynamic and just what I needed. The layout of La Citè allows for privacy in the upstairs rooms (if easily distracted like me) or can be quite the opposite if you choose to socialize downstairs. La Citè can be whatever you need it to be and somehow it always leaves me wanting more.

Where can I find La Citè?