The Albanian capital’s distinctive tradition and appreciation for espresso is seen within the metropolis’s specialty retailers.

BY MICHAELA TOMCHEK
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE

Photographs by Michaela Tomchek

Albania is a mountainous nation, hugging the coast of the Adriatic Sea with stunning and quiet seashores. Its capital, Tirana, is nestled within the heart of the nation, with the ocean simply half-hour to the west. Ruins from earlier monarchies, beautiful parks, and the Namazgah Mosque’s white stone rising within the heart of town make an enduring impression.

Tirana has a wealthy tradition, as soon as being part of the Ottoman Empire, and low is an enormous a part of that tradition. Cafés provide a plethora of drinks, and folks get pleasure from their patios, sipping espresso, smoking cigarettes, and chatting with buddies properly into the night time. The specialty-coffee scene is kind of particular amongst cities in Europe, with three retailers specifically providing fantastic espresso experiences.

Antigua Caffe

Wandering across the tall house buildings adorned with hanging laundry and vegetation, you’ll quickly bump into Antigua Caffe, pioneers of the specialty-coffee scene in Tirana. Julia Bozo’s household began the corporate again in 1995, opening their very own specialty roaster. She opened her personal store in 2020 after returning house from the UK to convey high-quality espresso to her house. She mentions that she “wished to create an area that held plenty of which means and served a deeper goal. An area the place folks couldn’t solely discover the superb number of a whole lot of flavour notes but additionally be taught concerning the craft and big quantity of labour behind it.”

Antigua Caffe is a real cultivator of specialty espresso in Tirana, with the store serving their very own espresso along with different European specialty roasters corresponding to Fjord in Berlin. Not solely is the espresso distinctive (I had a tasty Colombia Chemex), however additionally they serve some delectable pastries and vegan snacks to accompany your espresso journey.

When requested concerning the espresso scene in Tirana, Julia notes that locals sometimes choose espresso because of the Italian affect. Nevertheless, the scene is “vibrant and quickly evolving. Conventional espresso bars are a staple of day by day life, and lately, there was a major rise in additional fashionable espresso retailers. Town is doing nice in mixing its wealthy espresso tradition with new developments, creating a various and dynamic espresso expertise.”

Julia additionally notes that cafés are starting to veer away from lower-quality robustas and focus extra on higher-quality arabicas. Nevertheless, the time period specialty espresso just isn’t well-known in Tirana. Julia notes “that hole in consciousness is step one we have to climb. With Antigua we have been keen to alter the established order and we’re really identified for being the pioneers of specialty in Albania, which is each an incredible honor and duty.” She additionally says that “an enormous a part of our group consists of vacationers and expats who’re already into specialty. Nevertheless, it makes us very joyful to confess there’s additionally a rising variety of Albanians who’re beginning to recognize just a little zing of their morning gas.”

The Espresso Lab

After wandering round and climbing the Pyramid of Tirana or in search of the Tirana Fort, cease by The Espresso Lab for a really native expertise. Located on the Rruga Nikolla Tupe, The Espresso Lab is tucked away from the bustle of the middle of town. Beans are roasted on this store, they usually have an array of drinks to strive together with espresso, cappuccino, and one thing referred to as a Spicy Latte—a creamy, cinnamon-infused beverage. The Espresso Lab makes use of a U-Roast micro-roaster, and roasts a few of their very own espresso in-house; they lean towards darker roasts, most popular by the clientele. That is actually a neighborhood expertise, sipping espresso on leather-based sofas inside surrounded by dangling lights and vegetation, or sitting outdoors on the patio, listening to the occasional hum of automobiles as they go.

Folks in Tirana love espresso-based drinks, so The Espresso Lab is a good spot to immerse your self in Albanian espresso tradition. Nibble on a cookie and chill out as you take heed to the chatter of the group. Specialty espresso continues to be catching on in Tirana, however The Espresso Lab is a superb strategy to see how locals are working to enhance the espresso scene, constructing a bridge from the sturdy previous to the brilliant way forward for espresso in Albania.

Hana Nook Café

Simply close to the bustling space of Blloku, you’ll bump into a full of life avenue with loads of eating places and retailers. It’s right here the place Hana Nook Café serves its clients, its yellow partitions greeting you as you enterprise farther down the road. The café itself is small inside, with a communal desk, native artwork, and loads of books lined up alongside the again wall. An array of pastries is displayed on a counter, and varied espresso brewing equipment are awaiting your order simply behind. And … they serve a wide range of vegan and gluten-free treats corresponding to delectable desserts and peanut butter cookies. Loads of native, natural, and vegan choices promise a tasty expertise.

The store was opened in 2022 by Uarda Begaj, a neighborhood who, after spending 18 years in Berlin working as a pc scientist in AI, determined to return house and open a espresso store. She craved to open a calmer café house in comparison with the standard loud spots in Tirana. “Albania has a espresso tradition of going to espresso retailers with folks, no locations to go alone. So, Hana gives books to lone patrons and workshops,” mentions Uarda, noting that “folks really feel snug coming alone, with a powerful sense of belonging, clients say it looks like house … after nearly two years it’s far more than only a espresso.”

Not solely is Hana a spot for excellent espresso and a snack, it’s a place of group with locals partaking in courses, artwork, and gathering with buddies. It has a stunning patio, heat inside, and plenty of choices for alternatives to discover ways to embroider, pottery, and baking. Visiting Hana made me want I used to be a neighborhood so I may spend my time attending the occasions, making buddies, and studying the best way to be extra inventive.

Uarda really tells me that half of her patrons are foreigners who determined to stay in Tirana, and now name Hana house. There’s a free workspace within the again for digital nomads, and he or she has plans to broaden. By September, there might be a brand new kitchen, with brunch being supplied, the primary farm-to-table expertise for folks in Tirana. Hana can also be plastic-free and low-waste. They roast their very own espresso at a roastery within the close by seaside city of Sarandë; the beans are hand-selected by Uarda, and he or she ensures the roast suits the profile her patrons search when ingesting cappuccinos, pourovers, or espresso.

Hana gives espresso drinkers of all stripes an opportunity to chill out and really feel at house as they sip on glorious espresso and eat some scrumptious native meals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Michaela Tomchek finds espresso an essential a part of life and the world. She is an appreciator of the crop, the producer, and the various cafés all through the world serving stunning drinks. At present, she writes about espresso, hoping to unfold her pleasure throughout the globe. 

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