La Piadina di Casa Maioli - Santa Maria Novella

the piazza della stazione buzzes with travelers dragging wheeled suitcases, but locals know where to slip away for something better than station coffee. la piadina di casa maioli understands what happens when you slow down the process. actually grind fresh. steam milk that doesn't taste like hot water with bubbles. their 4.7-star rating from nearly 5,000 reviews isn't accidental. regulars return because someone here cares about temperature, timing, the weight of beans in the portafilter. you taste it immediately. this isn't the burnt bitterness that train stations serve to rushing commuters. the smell hits you first: sweet crema mixing with warm flour from fresh piadinas. then the gentle hiss of proper steaming technique. ceramic cups hold heat longer than paper, and whoever's working the machine knows exactly when to stop the extraction. santa maria novella has plenty of coffee options, but few that understand the difference between serving caffeine and…