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When my boyfriend Masih—who also happens to own the hippest and tiniest cafe in Isfahan, Iran—came to visit me in Tbilisi, we were on a quest to find Tbilisi’s best cafes. We stumbled across some gorgeous spots including Art-Cafe Home, Volver, and Accent, which all had the hipster-cafe vibe expertly down pat with their string lights, vintage furnishings, and abstract art on the walls. However, being self-proclaimed coffee snobs, we had yet to find the ultimate in the realm of quality and taste of coffee and espresso specifically. Impressed by aesthetics, but longing for a more authentic coffee experience, Masih mused that he himself would have to be the one to bring delicious coffee to Tbilisi when he returns in the coming months. I, however, am not a fan of waiting. When he left, I had zero intentions of putting my love for coffee and cafes on hold. I continued to scope.
Strolling through Pekini Street on warm, sunny evening, I passed by the smallest cafe I’d ever seen in my life and was immediately intrigued. Its name is Espressini, and is quite literally a hole in the wall. But don’t let its size fool you—this coffeeshop has much to offer. After the first sip of my iced latte, I knew I had found perhaps the best coffee in Tbilisi.
I became obsessed. Getting my fix day after day, I finally decided to find out more about this itty-bitty gem. Thus, I returned one cloudy, windy evening to speak with Espressini’s owner David.
“Can I ask you about your cafe?” I inquired as he handed me one of his delicious iced lattes. His face lit up and his lips curled into the biggest smile. “Of course!” he replied as he sat on the stool by the doorway. Before I even began speaking, he looked to me with that huge smile and said with pride, “Today I had a record day.” “Congrats!” I exclaimed. “Yep, I sold more coffee today than any other day I’ve been open.” “And how long have you been open?” I asked. David explained that Espressini has been open for about eleven months. He iterated that he runs the show entirely by himself. “I’m the owner, the manager, the employee, the barista. It’s just me, and I think that’s fine. It’s better probably,” he boasted.
Despite being a one-man show, David delivers on the quality of his coffee concoctions each time. “Tbilisi has many cafes,” David began, “they are fancy and big and everywhere, but they don’t know coffee.” I meekly agreed. “I want to serve real, professional, delicious coffee. You really can’t find it in other cafes here,” he continued. “And what kind of coffee do you use?” I asked. “The beans are from Italy, but its roasted locally here in Georgia,” he explained. I could see the passion in his eyes, and this passion translated into his coffee.
David informed me that the most popular drinks at Espressini were Americanos and cappuccinos, but I believe it’s his iced latte that is a must-try. On the surface, an iced latte doesn't seem that exciting of a beverage, but David’s version is unique, perfectly balanced, and addictive. The ingredients are: a shot of freshly brewed espresso mixed with sugar if requested, a few glugs of an ultra-fatty, imported Italian milk, and about three ice cubes. The secret is that he blends the drink, but it’s not a frappuccino. The combination is blended together to create a frothy, creamy, perfectly balanced blend of sweet, creaminess and coffee before being poured over ice. I’d never had an iced latte so decadent while also being able to taste and appreciate the flavor of the coffee. Perfection.
The future for Espressini is promising. David hopes and plans to expand the space to create a larger cafe that will also include seating—an element this coffeeshop unfortunately currently lacks. Regardless, Espressini is an example of the notion that size doesn’t matter. The coffee speaks for itself and will leave you nothing short of obsessed.
By: Shirin Mahdavi