El Ristretto Espresso Bar

In Ecuador, good coffee was hard to come by.

The most common drink was cafe con leche.

(Strong coffee with warm milk)

It was very good, but definitely weaker than my normal choice.

My host family was shocked when my roommate and I wanted only black coffee, which some days were better than others.

I tried a cappuccino at Corfu, which was served with a delicious chocolate truffle.

I loved those truffles.

The cappuccino was not a traditional one, but it was still alright.

Juan Valdez was a common coffee chain there, with coffee from Colombia.

They had yummy iced coffee and a fun atmosphere.

But my favorite coffee spot in Quito was El Ristretto Espresso Bar.

After a mall shopping excursion at El Jardin, I spotted this little shop out of the corner of my eye, and I immediately new I would love it.

I have a sixth sense for good coffee shops. ;)

Thankfully, Brandi is also a coffee lover, so we set out to try this shop one afternoon, and it was just as cute as I expected.

We both ordered cappuccinos.

It was a good choice.

I had never seen a cappuccino like this.

It was layered with coffee and foam with cinnamon on top.

It was not a traditional cappuccino,

but it was so delicious!

It also came with chocolate covered espresso beans.

I like chocolate with my cappes.

What can I say?

We went back a second time, and I ordered an espresso.

It was different.

I think they must of added hot water or something,

but it was still good.

Brandi got a cortado the second time around.

"Cortado" means cut in Spanish.

It is a Spanish drink that is in between the strength of a macchiato and a cappuccino, but the milk is more like latte milk and is served at a cooler temperature.

I was excited to try this since it is a Spanish drink and we were in a Spanish speaking country.

It was yummy,

but it looked more like a macchiato than a cortado.

I still loved it.

Another funny fact about coffee in Ecuador is that at every coffee shop there is also alcohol.

Even in the mall, you could get an Irish coffee.

It was such a foreign concept to me to see it everywhere.

I could have stayed there forever.

-Beth

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Building Ecuador Excitement

My study abroad program in Ecuador is a little less than 3 months away, and I am starting to get excited.
I bought a vintage red suitcase (which probably won't be practical for Ecuador but I love it anyway) and a passport cover (girly, I know). I also received a lovely packet of Ecuador info from a couple back home that used to live there as missionaries awhile back. People are so thoughtful. :)

Last night was our first official meeting to, which was exciting in scary. You know, those meetings when you are travelling in groups where they have to prepare you for every worse case scenario. Let's just say there are a lot of those, but there are also exciting things. I know who my roommate is! Her name is Brandi, and I am eager to get to know her.

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