Proud Adonis

Hey, CapoPenn

I was just reminiscing about your espresso machine and how it exploded milk all over me the last time I lent a hand over there. But that's alright - maybe it was just showboating its awesome power. Really though, the Adonis is a total 3-group Cerberus-like powerhouse. You can pretty much pound out beautiful(such as its name-sake) coffee drinks in no time sans a misstep in milk-steamery then kablooey. All's well after a shift when, fortunately enough, a bar is immediately adjacent to this machine. An americano with a dollop of apple brandy? How kind. See you at happy hour ; )

Love
Jessica of Yunk

Pope Francis says relax & have an espresso

Sure, all the wind-kissed faces on E.Passyunk of late have been imparting to me "Oh, it's too cold for gelato" such and such. A single tear rolls down a cheek as eyes glance up toward our list of flavors. I'll then witness the tundra clad patrons sneak a peek or three at our Cadillac of an espresso machine. The Victoria Arduino Venus Century is literally one in a hundred and deserves to be gawked at. Have you heard the Pope has the first in the edition? It must be a mighty fine day when you are granted the hat of the papacy. So along with being the head of church and monarchy affair, he gets to use this puppy, in fact. So please, don't fret, South Philly - the shots are a-flowin' and the temperature in CapoYunk is fine (a warm 22°C [72°F]) Cheers!

Don't help me, I'm drowning!

The Affogato (Italian: Drowned) has got to be a best-kept secret. Though sounding cryptic, it's the deliciously awesome combo of a scoop of gelato with a shot of La Colombe's Nizza poured over. I am surprised if not saddened that I don't get to make more of these in a day. Seriously, it's the best of both worlds.

xo Jessica

Deus Ex Machina

It's a bird! It's a rocket-ship! It's: the Venus Century!
"What is that!?" is one of the most common questions here on Pa'shunk Avenue. The incredulous patron in quotation can always be found staring, mesmerized by the espresso machine that rises over three feet high, proudly in the front window. This is Victoria, the Venus Century manufactured by Victoria Arduino from the Marche region of Italy.
Engineer and inventor Pier Teresio developed the world's first espresso machine in 1905, with a steam-powered engine. The Venus Century is a limited edition model celebrating one hundred years of production for Victoria Arduino (Victoria, after Pier's wife). Each machine is built with the care of creating a sculpture. It takes 11 technicians, 76 hours, and 983 pieces to compose. It's made of stainless steel and weighs almost 190 pounds! Only 100 machines were created. Number 1 was a gift to the Pope. Our resident machine is number 6.

The name says it all. To the ancient Romans, Venus was the Goddess of Love. The planet, Venus was named after her. It is often the most visible planet from Earth and is the brightest thing in the sky, besides our Luna. Etymologically, Venus comes has roots in venerari, to honor or try to please and venia, grace or favor. It is also rooted in *venes-, as in the Latin venenum meaning poison, venom, drug, or magic charm.

In the modern-day, we no longer offer gifts to the divine, such as Venus. But in this appropriation of the symbol of Venus, the Goddess offers you a bit of her Love. As if harnessing some form of ancient Magic, your South Philly barista can procure a portion of this enlivening substance in under a minute. Nothing washes the sleep and fog from one's mind like the smooth, rich crema as it warms the soul from the inside out, like a touch from the Fertile Goddess herself.

And I'm not trying to draw any conclusions here, but I will say that the shiny Venus machine has been expelling tiny shots of Love here on the Avenue for about 11 months now, and the fecundity of the local ladies seems to be thriving. (So many smiling new mothers and very soon-to-be mothers!!)

(image: "La Victoria Arduino" by Leonetto Cappiella, 1922)