espresso

There is nothing like an espresso in the afternoon: the swirl of caramel-colored coffee foam; the dark, robust burst of flavor; the infusion of energy. The latte and the cappuccino are delicious, too, fortifying in the morning, sweet later in the day. I’ve been ordering these drinks for years, but until I met Moti Menachem at his cool espresso bar in the Westfield Topanga mall, I had no idea why only a few of those cups were ever truly great.