Espresso A Mano

I LOVE this place. Staff is great and courteous. The large garage doors are a nice touch. I love the location too because you can relax and there is amazing outdoor seating also.

Grabbed a cappuccino here, and it was pretty good and reasonably priced. Their sweets looked good but I didn’t have any. Seating is pretty tight. It was crowded yet not chaotic. Not sure if I would come here to linger and people watch for hours. It seems best suited for all the happy couples in Pittsburgh, but it’s always good to have a nice independently owned coffee shop in the neighborhood.

Stopped by for a coffee after dinner. Probably the best dang latte that I’ve ever had. I drink a lot of coffee from a lot of places, so that means something. Not sure what they did or how they did it, but I’m impressed. Me likey. Me likey a while bunch.

Espresso a mano is the top rated coffee spot in the Burgh. Is it worth the hype? I would say so. First of all, it’s adorable. It’s a little down the street from the «hot spot» of Butler Street, so it’s a little more quiet. There’s outdoor seating, a modern large garage door that they open when the weather is nice, and decent, but also tight, seating inside. Personally, I wouldn’t come here to study– it’s a little too tight for me and there’s always a ton of people here. On the other hand, I will go out of my way for a delicious drink. My boyfriend is currently obsessed with their standard unsweetened iced green tea. He says it’s the best green tea he has ever had. I have to agree that it’s very delicious. He also enjoys their coffee, but is not too fond of the cups. They are pretty flimsy and cheap. Maybe it’s purposeful, as a way to influence customers to bring their own cups? I’m not sure.
The past two times I have visited, I tried their iced caramel latte– which is strong & delicious; as well as their iced lady grey tea. I am an avid earl grey drinker (M-​F multiple times a day), so this tea intrigued me. It was delicious. It may have benefited from a little bit of sweetener, though (mine was completely unsweetened). I also tried one of the donuts they had on the counter from Gluten Free Goat Bakery– chocolate orange cardamom… it was vegan and gluten free and let me tell you, you could not tell. It was incredible & was still delicious the next day.
I am digging this place a ton, but I won’t go as far as to say it’s my favorite coffee shop. I just love Big Dog too much. I do think it is worth a try & you will most likely end up coming back twice in one week like I just did.

There isn’t a lot to say that hasn’t already been said. Espresso A Mano is fantastic. Their drinks are beautiful, delicious and a wonderful treat to enjoy. They offer a quality product, and they are no doubt one of the best in Pittsburgh, hands down. If you haven’t been here, you are really missing out!

Espresso a Mano does a good job. You can tell because they typically have a decent line on weekends. The line moves pretty quickly.
I’ve been a few times. They always have good options for coffee as well as espresso.

Cute coffee bar in Lawrenceville. We’ve been trying out new places for a latte in the burgh (its actually fun trying new places every Saturday!)
Their menu was simple and priced great. All shots are double. My boyfriend ordered a large caramel latte & added an extra shot (realize that’s 3 double shots!) I told him he didn’t need that extra shot since they were double. He was oblivious til he tried his drink. Hahahahaha. Luckily he added a nice amount of cream and it helped with the 6 espresso shots
I ordered a dirty chai. It was OK but very basic. I was expecting a rich, creamy chai but it wasn’t anything special at all :/​
All of the tables were taken up inside and no one seemed to be leaving anytime soon. We decided to take our drinks and leave.
I probably wouldn’t drive out of my way again to come back, but it was a cool experience and I’ll be sure to try it again when I’m in Lawrenceville.

Went there on a Saturday morning around 10am with a group of three other friends. It was started to get a bit crowded, but it wasn’t completely impossible to find seating. It’s a pretty neat space, but nothing that distinguishes from other coffee shops with plenty of tables that are perfect for groups or an individual wanting to work on the next great American novel.
I got a chai latte and was very pleased with it. It’s been awhile since I had previously had one so maybe that’s why I’m thinking it was so good, but either way I was not disappointed. Next time I go, I’ll probably get a coffee. My friends who got some were happy with their drinks as well.
The staff was friendly and fast. It was a great place to stop in while exploring Lower Lawrenceville. I definitely plan on stopping by some other time the next time in the neighborhood. It’s a great coffee shop and definitely more appealing than a Starbucks as a place to get work done.

Espresso a Mano seems to be the top rated café in Pittsburgh and with good reason. My roommate and I stopped here for breakfast on a cross country drive yesterday and I was expecting it to be good but I was still impressed.
The staff are fast and friendly and clearly care about what they do. I ordered a chai latte and got latte art on it without even requesting it. It was slightly heavy on the cinnamon for my taste on its own, but I had it with one of their croissants which balanced out the flavor well. I think they must make them themselves or get them from a local bakery because they’re richer in flavor than your typical croissant and not hard or dry either. My friend also loved his coffee.
Atmosphere is open and clean and not annoyingly loud or busy. When we visit Pittsburgh again we’d love to come back.

I stopped over here after lunch to check it out. They are very reasonably prices. They have all types of espresso, coffee, hot chocolate and even iced beverages. You can get your coffee or latte in three different sizes. Since today was an unusually warm day I decided to forgo the coffee for now and settle for green tea. They also have pastries to choose from. I decided to indulge in a chocolate swirl scone.
Most of the people come in with their laptops to do work or they just hop in, grab what they want and are on their way. The green tea is your average blend. The scone was both filling and very good.
They also serve small sandwiches if you are on the fly. There is a line but it moves fairly quick. Staff is friendly and helpful. I don’t get to this side of Lawrenceville often but it made for a nice visit and a chance to sample a couple of their offerings.
They also sell like most vendors small coffee kits for purchase.

Finally a coffee coffee shop the way it should be. Comfy, quiet and quaint. Simplistic style with a focus on quality. Most places like this would have gauging prices just because of the unique atmosphere they provide. However they keep their prices quite ‘Pittsburgh’, seemingly making marginal profit off of their product. They could make it more expensive and I would still stop by.
The exposed brick and wood flooring is comforting and the staff exemplifies those notions by being kind and warm themselves.
The coffee and food are just above average but nothing to write home about. It is ultimately a place to grab a good coffee at a great price with an excellent atmosphere.
A writer and reader’s spot for sure.

Chic little Lawrenceville coffee spot offering a nice mix of high quality caffeinated beverages, decent décor/​vibe and free wifi, which always fills these places up. In general, these sorts of places are a tad undersized when it comes to seating options, and this is no exception — the place was full on a mid morning Tues in Feb during my visit.

Espresso a Mano is within walking distance of my house, and it is a serious problem. I come here way too often and I just can’t help myself. This coffee shop is perfect in every way!
The atmosphere is very cozy and inviting. There’s a large garage door in the front of the shop that lets plenty of natural light in, and they open it in the summer which is really cool. The coffee shop interior has exposed brick walls and nice wooden furniture; it has a very warm vibe. They display artwork on the walls from local artists that you can purchase, which is always great to see.
Okay, now onto the good stuff: the coffee itself. I consider myself a bit of an amateur coffee connoisseur… the first thing I always do when I get to a new city is scope out the local coffee joints and try them all. Espresso a Mano has the best mocha I have had in Pittsburgh, and truthfully the best one I think I have ever had in my entire life. There is a smoothness to the espresso here that I just haven’t experienced elsewhere. The mochas are rich but are not overpowered by neither chocolate nor espresso. A perfect balance, and quite the impressive feat. In the summertime I enjoy the iced caramel lattes which are also fantastic. I cannot say enough good things about the espresso-​based drinks here. Oh, and the scones are delicious — try the lemon blueberry scone ASAP!
Consistency is absolutely on point here. Each of the Espresso a Mano baristas is expertly trained, which is made evident by the fact that the taste of each specific drink is always exactly the same no matter how many times I order them. I have never once had a «burnt» tasting espresso drink here, which I don’t think I can say for any other coffee shop I have frequented. The baristas here clearly take much pride in their work. Not to mention the fact that the latte art is absolutely beautiful and adds a great aesthetic.
Espresso a Mano, I love you. Take all my money. This is, in my opinion, the #1 coffeeshop in Pittsburgh. I will be hard pressed to discover a coffee shop that I could ever love more than I adore Espresso a Mano!

Ordered a hazelnut latte and a cranberry scone here while waiting for my table at Coca Café down the street. Pretty much nowhere else was opened, so my friend and I stopped here for coffee. Inside is pretty much your standard coffee shop atmosphere: cozy, small tables, brick walls. My latte and scone were good, but I’ve definitely had better.
Taste | 3
Atmosphere | 3
Presentation | 3
Service | 3.5
OVERALL | 3

Good coffee. Period.
It’s always good to start with the basics when you’re trying a new coffee spot, or really any spot, for the first time. The coffee will really say it all – it’s like reading the restaurant or shop’s tarot cards. But it’s important to test the coffee without masking it so that you can get a sense of the quality of the coffee they’re serving.
The coffee itself was fantastic. No, I really mean it. I kept taking sips and announcing how delicious it was!
Not only was the coffee great, but along with the music it really sets a great, inviting vibe that encourages you to stop, sit, and enjoy.
The baristas were friendly and helpful when I had some questions about the brew.
Overall the inside of the shop is wonderful and reminds me of Stumptown in Portland, OR. I can see myself escaping to this spot to transport me back there again.

I was pleased with what A Mano is putting forth. The espresso was smooth with a hint of sweet which really rounded out my Capp. The setting is hipster-​esq, with a trend towards the NYC state-​of-​being, yet still keeping to its’ PA roots. Charming and hip at the same time.
I was not feeling pastry the day after TurkeyDay, but their selection was rather varied and my feeling of their ‘nearness to The Strip’, bodes well for the quality of what they were serving.
So far, this is probably the highest quality I have come across in regards to beans & their subsequent preparation via The Burgh.
I will return!

This coffee shop is really popular amongst my classmates. I decided to try it out to get some work done after having brunch down the street one Sunday morning.
The vibe is great — people are working, coming in and out. There are babies and other small children and people with pets which really makes this place feel homey. I got my first «artsy» cappuccino here, which was really fun. Although, I’m a bit amused by the garlic bulb design I got… (did I look like a vampire? was I stinky?). The staff is very nice and friendly though :)
Seems like their coffee beans are popular (one man purchased about 6 – 7 bags). Patrons were also getting pastries. The one thing I found odd was the choice of dixie cups for to-​go beverages. just didn’t seem to fit the vibe.
Even though it was Sunday and the tables were routinely all full with busy-​bees, I got lucky and a table opened up while I was in line. Could pose a problem if that doesn’t happen — but that’s true for every coffee shop in the area.

Fantastic place to get some work done with the free Wifi. Dropped in because I’m a big fan of coffee. In general, this is a great place for it. They have your basic set of drinks, including espresso, mocha, iced coffee, americano, and the such. They also have some baked pastries, sandwiches, fridge drinks, and coffee bean bags if you’re interested in that. I ended up getting a mocha and I have to admit … their coffee game is so on point. Taste was fantastic, not too heavy, just right. I also ended up getting one of their ham & prosciutto sandwiches, which was delicious (meat used tasted great and melted cheese = love). Great place to meet up with friends, esp. in the summer when they have that garage door pulled up. The ideal place for a meet up. I will return.

4 stars for an excellent ambiance because who doesn’t like a good local coffee shop? This place is cool, it opens up in the warm weather with outdoor seating to people watch the eclectic mix of people in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. I had the chai tea latte which always tastes better when it looks as good as they make them. My friend had to get an Americana because it was the only decaf coffee drink they had, which was disappointing.
The main reason for the lack of one star is the service isn’t always with a smile to say the least. Also, the amount of coffee shop squatters here is pretty high. At one point no seats were available for the people with fresh coffee just wanting to drink it! I guess some of their customers get really comfy… Which is a good and bad thing! Hope you find a seat, cheers!

I stopped by with CM on Thurs. night. Given that I was coming from an event in the Strip District, that I had a City Dining Card for a free coffee or espresso, and that this shop is open until 9pm, it seemed like a good place for a rendezvous for some hot beverages and casual conversation.
Since I’m not a coffee drinker, CM took advantage of the City Dining card offer, and I ordered a medium chai latte ($ 3.65), based on Rachel C.‘s recommendation. Usually, I’m hesitant to award 5 stars based on only one drink or food item, but if ever there were a perfectly prepared chai latte, this was it. It came with beautiful latte art (see photo), the foam was rich and well-​spiced with chai, and the drink was well-​balanced. If you enjoy chai tea or lattes, you’ll definitely enjoy this drink! Unfortunately, I forgot to try one of their pastries, as I intended to do, given that many reviewers have spoken highly of them. I’ll definitely have to return to try one, as well as their hot cocoa. If CM and I come together again, I’ll have to ask the barista to put a heart in his drink! ;-)
The atmosphere was very appropriate for a non-​chain neighborhood coffeeshop, with indie music playing loud enough to be heard, but not enough to impede conversation, warm wooden tones, and a mix of high top and regular tables. Though I appreciate their evening hours, I only wish they were open later (like, until 10pm), since CM and I would have liked to linger longer.