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In a Trader Joe's mini strip mall off 101, this café only seems to attract the attention of the locals despite the heavy wine tasting traffic along Vineyard Dr. Joseph & Isabel Gerardis opened this café two years ago after running their successful local roasting operation in nearby Atascadero. The loft-like space has a tall A-frame ceiling at the entrance and a service area just behind it and a good half-dozen tables. (There's also two tables for outdoor seating in front under parasols.) At the bar, they offer Melitta bar ("Brew Bar", or pour-over) coffee. Joseph, who has been around the block compared to most baristas, operated their three-group La Marzocco GB/5, using three different Rio and Astoria grinders for the various roasted coffees they have in rotation for espresso and French press. Although there seems to be a slow turnover on customers here, due to the limited traffic, it's encouraging to see the variety. For espresso, their house blend is Michael's Folly - rated here. Joe pulled shots with a medium-to-dark brown textured crema as a slightly large pour in white Nuova Point cups. It is surprisingly a little thin-bodied (and has varied better in repeat visits), but the cup is expressive at the bass-note end of the flavor spectrum: some unusual (and pleasant) kick of spice with a somewhat complex smoothness and balance. Quite a good shot, and one of the best in the region. We followed that up with their "Guest Espresso" ($2.50), which was The Works: a supposedly darker, more chocolaty blend. We found the cup to actually be a little more meek and subdued, and the shot again served slightly high and a touch thin on body. But it had a much creamier texture and some bolder notes around chocolate. Perhaps a better shot to hold up to milk - and they do offer rather decent microfoam.
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