With Abraço around the corner, the coffee competition is rather stiff in this part of the village and so the natural question is, "What would possess someone to opt for this new kid on the coffee block?" Naturally, the fact that Elsewhere Espresso provides seating of some variety lured me in and I was pleasantly surprised, though the establishment's baristas are still perfecting their craft, leading to a product that falls short of the coffee benchmarks set by more esteemed coffee institutions.
Light and spacious, the space is perfectly welcoming for one's coffee needs. That said, there is a lot of open space relative to the seating, which seems like a waste in a neighborhood in which seating and space are most desirable commodities. Though the barista initially struck me as a bit curt, I began chatting to him during the course of my coffee consumption and, as it happens, he's an incredibly friendly chap with whom I was able to share war stories regarding my triumphs on the front lines of my Brooklyn coffee engagements. Intrepid coffee explorer? Not at all, I'm just another asshole who takes the stance that - as long as I'm not drinking coffee from a chain - I am better than you. That said, I know not of what I drink.
So what about the coffee? Elsewhere Espresso has an excellent pour over selection and - at $2.50 a cup - this is a great deal cheaper than the $4 which is typical of such delights. However, having opted for some Indonesian variety, I was rather underwhelmed as the product tasted burnt and was certainly not up to the standard set by a place like Sweetleaf, which produces a perfectly delicate and rich concoction. That said, the baristas observed that they are still trying to optimize their techniques and, if they are able to improve their results over the upcoming months (they've only been open for approximately six months), they could become an interesting competitor, given their selection.
Conclusion: At this point, the coffee results may be hit or miss. Regrettably, though the coffee was okay on the day, it was nowhere near the pour over standards set by my favorite coffee shops. While, at this point, I would not become a regular, with friendly staff, a good concept and a pleasant-enough storefront, I hope that - with time - the coffee comes to be a consistent player in the ensemble. If the lines at Abraço are horrendous and you're looking to be a guinea pig, as the baristas refine their coffee-making expertise, you could do worse than giving Elsewhere Espresso a try. read more