Comments on: Review: Voluto Coffee http://www.foodburgh.com/2009/03/voluto-coffee/ A somewhat healthy slant on Pittsburgh's restaurants Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:53:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Skink http://www.foodburgh.com/2009/03/voluto-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Skink Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:40:19 +0000 http://www.foodburgh.com/?p=87#comment-914 Hey Mike, Just found your blog through a review on Urbanspoon. Interesting takes on some stuff. But not so miuch on coffee. First off, a constructive criticism - when you review something and do your darnedest to give your reasons why you like/don't like something, don't backtrack when the business owner gives you grief. Makes you look like you don't know what you're doing or worse, that you don't have conviction in your reviews. That's not good for any reviewer of any topic. Second, regarding coffee and the "what's Voluto after". If you go to 61C, Voluto (or 21st Street for that matter) likely isn't after you UNLESS you want to move up the taste chain (because 61C's coffee is pretty mediocre). Think of it like someone who's primary experience with beer has been Iron City. You get them to try a Penn Pilsner. They like it. Then a Penn IPA. They kind of like that too. Then you shoot up to Victory Hop Devil or Dogfish Head 90. Now they're either blown away or they just don't get it. So if you're not blown away at Voluto, odds are you fall into category two of the above analogy. As far as service goes, Voluto is the only place in Pittsburgh I'm aware of where, when you order a cappuccino or straight espresso, it's served to you on a tray with a small glass of water - the way it usually is in Italy. Tazza d'Oro has a table with serve yourself water. Aldo gives you a glass of water but no tray, so you've got both hands occupied. No idea if 21st Street does water at all unless you request it. And IMO, Voluto's espresso - Epic - is consistently the best there is in town at the moment. It's definitely the most complex. Probably the most expensive to buy as it comes from Vancouver, BC. So who are they after? My guess is a cut of the tiny percentage of Pittsburgh that appreciates what they're offering. Hopefully they don't suffer the same fate as Roberto (of Regina Margherita/Roberto's fame) who had such extraordinary pizza that he was doomed to fail as not enough people appreciated it. That's why he's now making pizza in Manhattan. Hey Mike,
Just found your blog through a review on Urbanspoon. Interesting takes on some stuff. But not so miuch on coffee.
First off, a constructive criticism – when you review something and do your darnedest to give your reasons why you like/don’t like something, don’t backtrack when the business owner gives you grief. Makes you look like you don’t know what you’re doing or worse, that you don’t have conviction in your reviews. That’s not good for any reviewer of any topic.
Second, regarding coffee and the “what’s Voluto after”. If you go to 61C, Voluto (or 21st Street for that matter) likely isn’t after you UNLESS you want to move up the taste chain (because 61C’s coffee is pretty mediocre).
Think of it like someone who’s primary experience with beer has been Iron City. You get them to try a Penn Pilsner. They like it. Then a Penn IPA. They kind of like that too. Then you shoot up to Victory Hop Devil or Dogfish Head 90. Now they’re either blown away or they just don’t get it.
So if you’re not blown away at Voluto, odds are you fall into category two of the above analogy.
As far as service goes, Voluto is the only place in Pittsburgh I’m aware of where, when you order a cappuccino or straight espresso, it’s served to you on a tray with a small glass of water – the way it usually is in Italy. Tazza d’Oro has a table with serve yourself water. Aldo gives you a glass of water but no tray, so you’ve got both hands occupied. No idea if 21st Street does water at all unless you request it. And IMO, Voluto’s espresso – Epic – is consistently the best there is in town at the moment. It’s definitely the most complex. Probably the most expensive to buy as it comes from Vancouver, BC.
So who are they after? My guess is a cut of the tiny percentage of Pittsburgh that appreciates what they’re offering. Hopefully they don’t suffer the same fate as Roberto (of Regina Margherita/Roberto’s fame) who had such extraordinary pizza that he was doomed to fail as not enough people appreciated it. That’s why he’s now making pizza in Manhattan.

]]> By: mike http://www.foodburgh.com/2009/03/voluto-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-528 mike Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:58:15 +0000 http://www.foodburgh.com/?p=87#comment-528 You're probably right, hotsauce. There are a few aspects of my visit that suggest it wasn't very representative. It was also a while ago, so I can barely remember the context. Keep in mind the following... 1) I went there with marketing geeks 2) I went there late at night and only briefly stopped up front Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of coffee shops. One of my favorite weekend activities is walking from my place over to the 61C Cafe. I've actually been meaning to head back to Voluto around that time to get some perspective, but there's almost never a situation when the timing works out for me. ...if only I lived a little closer (and we didn't have such fantastic coffee options near my house). You’re probably right, hotsauce. There are a few aspects of my visit that suggest it wasn’t very representative. It was also a while ago, so I can barely remember the context.

Keep in mind the following…
1) I went there with marketing geeks
2) I went there late at night and only briefly stopped up front

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of coffee shops. One of my favorite weekend activities is walking from my place over to the 61C Cafe. I’ve actually been meaning to head back to Voluto around that time to get some perspective, but there’s almost never a situation when the timing works out for me.

…if only I lived a little closer (and we didn’t have such fantastic coffee options near my house).

]]> By: hotsauce http://www.foodburgh.com/2009/03/voluto-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-525 hotsauce Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:47:40 +0000 http://www.foodburgh.com/?p=87#comment-525 I don't understand your complaint. You sound a little like a confused Starbucks exec. Do they have to fall into one of your tired categories? Try putting your Mkt 101 mindset aside and go there for the art. Order an espresso, and try talking to the barista. Ask her/him what you're tasting, and what they like. Barista Mag calls them one of the best new coffeehouses in the country. They bring a new, international level of espresso to Pittsburgh. Perhaps that's why you're confused. I don’t understand your complaint. You sound a little like a confused Starbucks exec. Do they have to fall into one of your tired categories?

Try putting your Mkt 101 mindset aside and go there for the art. Order an espresso, and try talking to the barista. Ask her/him what you’re tasting, and what they like.

Barista Mag calls them one of the best new coffeehouses in the country. They bring a new, international level of espresso to Pittsburgh. Perhaps that’s why you’re confused.

]]> By: Stephen J http://www.foodburgh.com/2009/03/voluto-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Stephen J Mon, 04 May 2009 18:53:26 +0000 http://www.foodburgh.com/?p=87#comment-160 Not being one of the Coffee Shop Scene, I am more a Dunkin Donuts Coffee guy, I have to say I really enjoyed stopping off at Voluto for a 16oz Latte. The service was fantastic and everyone there was so helpful with my very limited coffee tastes. I happened to be there on a night they had some live music and the atmosphere was great. Not too crowded and not too loud, great sweets to go with my Latte too! I didn't get the poser feel from these folks, just good hard working people who love coffee and want to give a little more to the community im means of a pleasant escape. Not being one of the Coffee Shop Scene, I am more a Dunkin Donuts Coffee guy, I have to say I really enjoyed stopping off at Voluto for a 16oz Latte. The service was fantastic and everyone there was so helpful with my very limited coffee tastes. I happened to be there on a night they had some live music and the atmosphere was great. Not too crowded and not too loud, great sweets to go with my Latte too! I didn’t get the poser feel from these folks, just good hard working people who love coffee and want to give a little more to the community im means of a pleasant escape.

]]> By: FoodBurgh » Blog Archive » My Overreaction to Voluto http://www.foodburgh.com/2009/03/voluto-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-11 FoodBurgh » Blog Archive » My Overreaction to Voluto Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:25:30 +0000 http://www.foodburgh.com/?p=87#comment-11 [...] going back and reviewing how I reported on Voluto, I feel like I was a little harsh. Just to give some perspective, I did submit them to Urbanspoon [...] [...] going back and reviewing how I reported on Voluto, I feel like I was a little harsh. Just to give some perspective, I did submit them to Urbanspoon [...]

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