Located in downtown Oakland, The Caffè reflects the second generation of Bay Area icon Mr. Espresso, serving as an example of how our diverse cultural landscape is nourished by those eager to share their heritage with the community. The design is heavily inspired by Italian culture, using minimalism and contrast. The Italians call the ritual of stepping into a caffè and enjoying espresso a “pausa” or a pause — a moment that allows for reflection and community. In Italy, the pausa is typically taken while standing at the bar. The goal of the design was to honor this most basic daily ritual and experience as meaningful, as art. In Italy, the espresso experience is more like getting a drink at a bar. All the ordering, waiting (and often the drinking) is done standing at the bar. The experience, then, is essentially having coffee at a communal table.
© Matthew Millman
