An Italian Coffee Bar in the Adirondacks: Capisce Coffee in Lake Placid
Experience an authentic Italian caffé bar in the Olympic Village.
Photos courtesy Capisce Coffee & Espresso Bar
Several years ago, we had the opportunity to spend a month in Italy. We wanted to be slightly off the beaten path and live like locals. So we rented a farmhouse in Umbria, a.k.a. The Green Heart of Italy, next door to Tuscany, and the rest is history.
Excellent coffee, an Italian custom, in the Adirondacks.
One of the rituals we established on our very first morning in Umbria was a daily trek into town to visit:
The macelleria (butcher) to buy the core ingredient of that evening’s meal
Il Forno (literally “oven” or baker) for bread
Il venditore di verdure (the lady who sold the vegetables)
La pasticceria (pastry shop) for a sweet treat to enjoy after dinner (because someone in our group had a sweet tooth)
To fortify ourselves for this schedule, we would first stop at one of the two Bar/Cafes in town for a cappuccino (only to be consumed in the morning), caffè corretto (espresso with a shot of grappa, sambuca, brandy, etc.) because sometimes you need a little something extra to get your day started, or a simple hot caffè doppio (double espresso). It was, and still is, my favorite way to start the day.
So, imagine how delighted we were to discover Capisce Coffee & Espresso Bar right here in our Adirondack backyard, a woman-owned and operated business in Lake Placid that offers an authentic Italian-inspired cafe experience.
It's not your average corporate coffee chain.
In addition to serving traditional Italian espresso drinks, Capise Coffee also offers a variety of unique hot beverages, such as spiced maple chai, Golden Child Turmeric Latte, and their signature Upstate Matcha.
Capisce Coffee’s menu also includes delicious light meals, from breakfast treats to smoothies and Italian-inspired sandwiches.
Visiting Capisce Coffee brought us back immediately to our sabbatical in Umbria. The atmosphere is very conducive to relaxation and enjoying a hand-crafted beverage. Local and fair trade art and products span the walls and shelves.
To be candid, though, the Italians in our little town in Umbria didn’t linger over their chosen coffee drinks like we Americani do. They took their shots of espresso and usually departed within a few minutes, which seems a little crazy given this is the culture that created la Dolce Vita.
To learn more about Capisce Coffee, visit their website for current hours, menu, and insinspiring story.
Like Umbria, Lake Placid is nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, in the green heart of New York State. We can’t think of a better place to stop for an espresso, cappuccino (any time of the day), or any of the other hand-crafted beverages offered by Capisce Coffee.
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