Er Baretto

rome takes its coffee seriously in a way that can feel almost confrontational to outsiders. espresso is a ritual here, not a lifestyle brand, and the city doesn't have much patience for slow-drip theatrics. er baretto sits on via del boschetto in the monti neighborhood, one of rome's older rioni, where the streets are narrow and the locals tend to have strong opinions about where they take their morning shot. it's well regarded among people who actually live in the area, which in rome means something specific: you're not getting applause from tourists who don't know better. if you're spending time in monti, via del boschetto 132 is a reasonable place to anchor your mid-morning.