Barista Espresso Bar is one of the many hangout spots that are sprouting in Liberty Village. I do not find myself here very often, but I arrived a tad early for the Yelp Elite event: Masquerade @ Bar Vespa. Since I had some time to kill and it was pouring rain out, I sought refuge in the first shop I encountered that had seating.
The vibe here isn't what I would call cozy or intimate and I wouldn't even call it inviting. Perhaps the only saving grace are the plush couches and bar top which allows you to sit down and read the morning paper while downing your morning roast. There was a rather rowdy group in the corner and their conversation permeated in the air like gossip that is eager to reach the thousands. I don't know how I'd feel about that kind of disturbance first thing in the morning if I were a local in the 'hood.
As variety and quantity of food varies from Yelp event to event, I decided to grab a quick bite. After all, even if there is a shortage of food, there is never a shortage of liquid calories, and I would need a good cushion to soak in all the fancy cocktails and mixed drinks.I settled on a Spicy Mortadella Panini and was offered the option of olives on the side but decided to pass. I also ordered an Americano. For a coffee bar, the coffee was definitely the weaker of the 2 items I ordered. The Americano was basically a watered down cup of a bold roast and didn't have much of an aroma to it. The Panini was good mostly due to the bread that is used, because its not like they cure their own meats. The combination of spicy and crusty (from the bread) made for a good combination and the serving size was just right to satisfy my appetite.
Verdict:
I would not recommend making a special trip down just to try Barista Espresso Bar. There is a Balzac's just down the street - but if these are the only 2 options available in Liberty Village then I think that everybody residing in the vicinity ought to go out and buy their own espresso machine and grind their own beans because I wouldn't fork out the small change at either of these locations.