Far East Bazaar

* Is that espresso I smell? *
Passing through the shopping area of the Kichioji station I got a strong aroma of coffee that had my head turning like a dog finding a squirrel.
I saw an espresso machine behind the gelato freezer counter and had to indulge in an espresso.
The double espresso (470 yen) was a major production for the team of women behind the counter. One took the order and payment, the other came over quickly to confirm the order and encourage me to sit at a little stool that I hadn’t noticed behind me. She then proceeded to work on the espresso. She examined the machine to check all the settings for a few minutes (had it not been used recently or was she just super careful???), then tampered the coffee very carefully before starting the process.
The espresso had a very nice crema, but for my tastes the shot was pulled a bit too long. As a result the espresso was not as intense as I like, and had a few bitter notes. I think they are geared towards using the shots for drinks with other things added mostly, which is perhaps why they pull such long shots.
Anyhoo, after not having had an espresso for a while during my Japan travels this was a nice treat. If I return in the future I would definitely ask them for a darker stop though!
Squirrel? Squirrel?
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