A cool welcome for Seattle espresso machine

Here is an excerpt from Craig LaBan's online chat:

Craig LaBan: I want to comment on the arrival of a relatively new brand of espresso machine to the city's coffee scene - made by Seattle's Synesso. After two separate experiences, I'm not sure I'm thrilled with it. First, my long-held nominee for the city's best espresso pull - La Colombe - is in jeopardy. They replaced the old La San Marco machines with two gleaming Synessoes. I'm told the old SM machines, rebuilt and refurbished numerous times, would occasionally electrocute the baristas. My first single shot from the new machine on the right was noticeably thinner and less intense than usual. A second pull, from the machine on the left, was significantly better - apparently it's kept at a hotter temperature. So remember: you want your La Colombe short shot pulled from the left machine, save the cooler machine on the right for cappuccino. Across town that very day, I popped into an adorable new pocket cafe on Head House Square, Bodhi, serving Stumptown espresso from a handsome Synesso machine-only to have a similar experience. The coffee itself was richer but it was also lukewarm, too cool to even melt the sugar. Coincidence? Early machine (or barista) glitch? With old standby La Colombe still figuring out its new machine, are there any new candidates out there, chatters, to be crowned the city's top shot espresso?

Reader: I can't vouch for the espresso, but my wife swears that Ultimo Cafe on 15th and Mifflin made the best cup of coffee she ever had (and it was decaf!).

C.L.: Great suggestion. Ultimo is one of the new super-serious cafes, where they grind the beans for your cup to order, then hand-pour it through a fancy porcelain Melitta drip. The espresso is fantastic, too (especially with the single-estate upgrade). I've praised it here before; it is definitely a candidate.

Reader: There is a great little espresso place on the corner of 11th and Spruce, but I forget the name. The baristas are great and make little designs in my foam. It's my go-to for an espresso treat, but I mostly brew my lattes on my home Nespresso machine (not bad, for the price!).

C.L.: You're thinking of Spruce Street Espresso - another gem from the new generation of cafes. Also on my good list.

Reader: Don't forget about John and his espressos at the Beauty Shop Cafe in G-ho.

C.L.: Another great neighborhood cafe - although since they're using the awesome, dark-hued coffee roasted right up at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Co., CHCCo. should get a nod, too. Their espresso blend is one of my favorites for my home brewer, a little stainless steel stove-top moka that I've been using happily for more than a decade. (Without even one electrocution!)

Reader: It's a shame Black Eyed Susan in Harvey Cedars wasn't open yet when you did Shore tour. I had lunch with friends there over the Fourth of July weekend and the food was excellent. My fish tacos were made with ultrafresh fish from the nearby docks and the tortillas were handmade that morning by a local Mexican woman. The rest of the menu was amazingly varied and interesting, and my dining companions all raved. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you make it back to LBI before the end of the season.

C.L.: Thanks for this report - just bad timing for us, since Black Eyed Susan appeared to be within days of opening. But I liked the laid-back look, and the menu, focused on organic, was very appealing. I guess, for me, BES's will be next summer. But it's definitely an address (7801 Long Beach Blvd. in Harvey Cedars) worth checking out. LBI doesn't have many other new spots this year.

Reader: I know you raved about the Diving Horse, but did you eat anywhere else in Avalon that you enjoyed (or didn't enjoy)? Perhaps something slightly less upscale.

C.L.: Not this year. I had a meal at another Avalon place, a very expensive, overdone and disappointing spot called Fuze - but it did not make my list of recommendations this year. As for past years in Avalon, on the downscale, I've loved Sylvester's seafood, a casual spot on the bay that's still good, even after changing ownership. Along those lines - take-out crab cakes, etc. - I've also really enjoyed Back Bay Seafood, which is just across the town line in Stone Harbor (right next door to Sora, the old Sea Salt space) - I think they have the best take-out, bake-at-home crab cakes at the Shore. An Avaloner friend of mine says he can still get a fantastic meal at Cafe Loren, one oldie I've yet to get to.

Reader: Did you not review Pure Taco on the O.C. boardwalk? What was the verdict?

C.L.: Pure Taco is being featured on July 22 in our Good Taste column of the Food Section. Very interesting new option for the Ocean City Boardwalk, sort of like an independent, mini-sized take on the Chipotle Grill concept. I liked it very much, as did the sea gulls-some ferocious flying taco eating beasts.