I'm coming to Pittsburgh from Portland, and Portland is the elitist's paradise for coffee and espresso.
I'm glad to see that Pittsburgh has so many independent coffee shops. I would not put them in the same class as those in Portland, but in the context of a city Pittsbugh's size and located in the mid-Atlantic, I'm impressed.
Came to 61C based on a couple recommendations. Very cool place. Seating is a bit tight, but then, coffee shops struggle sometimes with relatively low turnover and low priced items, so I don't mind the sardine-packing atmosphere.
The positives: decent number of wall outlets; nice selection of teas, sustainable to-go containers; good selection of sweets; friendly barista; great location on the Murray Ave strip in Squirrel Hill; fresh veggie/fruit juice available; very cool music.
The negatives: Lighting could be much better, especially in the back away from the windows; no design to speak of, very plain tables/chairs, and a ceiling badly in need of painting and repairs.
One hopes that the 61C bus line doesn't get relocated or cancelled...