Under Gutenberg’s watchful eye – a latte macchiato is provided free of charge to anyone who can spot the bust of the old printer – Massimo Maieroni aka Yosef (his stage name as a musician and visual artist) moves slowly and deliberately as he works his shiny Victoria Arduino espresso machine from Turin with its Belle Époque silhouette. Converted into the specialty coffee game after a stint at Parlor Coffee Roasters in Brussels, this level-headed barista (formerly of Eden and Pierre Papier Studio) also operates a V60 dripper from behind his counter, adorned with burlap coffee bags. With speakers bolted to the wall, Marantz amps and an old record player, the sound is 100% analog here – Spotify beware. And his impeccably curated, eclectic playlist – featuring Madvillain, Guy Cabay, The Yussef Dayes Experience – can be enjoyed a variety of ways: in the morning, at lunchtime, or in the afternoon while nibbling on a pastry from the Eléa bakery (cookies, brookies, cannelé, lemon poppy seed cake…) located right next door; or even with a craft beer (L’Ermitage, Brasserie Surréaliste, Cantillon) at apéro hour. // Salty Litchi
The hidden gem: An Indonesian coffee fermented in an oxygen-free environment at Parlor Coffee Roasters (€5.20 for a cup of pour-over coffee made with the V60).
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