I have been watching the construction going on at 166 Bedford Avenue for a few weeks now, curiously awaiting the return of Vittoria Cafe to Williamsburg. I was not around to patron the original shop (opened in 1969) but now that they are officially open again, I can say I’m a patron to the new one.
I wandered in with some friends who were in the mood for tea (many of Williamsburg’s best coffee shops don’t offer tea) and ordered myself a cappuccino. I was a little disappointed that their caps came in two different sizes but alas, it might just be time to let that pet peeve go.
My cappuccino came out more like a latte (as has become the norm with American milk steamers) but it was delicious just the same. They pull their espresso out of a gorgeous Italian Faema E61 Jubile. I had never actually seen an E61 before — I guess I thought they didn’t exist anymore. They are something of a legend in the espresso machine world. First released in 1961, the E61 revolutionized the espresso machine industry as the first machine with enough pressure to create a perfect shot of espresso. What did people do before 1961?
Anyway, Faema reintroduced the design as the E61 Legend in 2001 (I remember the rumors) followed shortly by the E61 Jubile (automated) model but I still never came across one until yesterday. The E61 Jubile keeps the fascinating stainless steel design of its famous ancestor and adds a few little technological upgrades like the built-in volumetric pump, the settable thermal balancing system and the low emission LEDs.
OK, enough geeky rantings…
I enjoyed my cappuccino/latte and will certainly be back — especially since I work just around the corner. I’ve even heard rumors that they plan to open a wine bar in the back — a lifelong dream of mine that I will definitely follow up on if/when that happens.
