Forza Coffee Company, Westminster

The key is to look for tiger striping: lines between the light colored top layer and the dark bottom layer, which you can see through the side of the glass.

“The Best Coffee Shop In Denver” is what the sign said. I thought that claim to be a bit pretentious – especially considering I wasn’t technically in Denver. However, I found Forza Coffee Company to be a delightful little place. An inviting atmosphere welcomed me in from the warm, sunset-tinged day.

A few patrons sat in discussion, milking every last moment of quietude before closing time. Preston, the lone barista, greeted me with a smile. After a long day of excitement and sun, my expectations were somewhat cynical. I can’t say exactly why I expected to be disappointed… perhaps I was frustrated at having found no other coffee shops anywhere in the area for days. Whatever the reason, Preston and his little shop had some obstacles to overcome.

I asked Preston what he would recommend. Without hesitation, he suggested their house special – the Venetian Latte. The board above proclaimed it to be flavored with brown sugar. That seemed reasonable.

As he began preparations, I briefly explained my mission, and asked for any information he could tell me. Preston said that when pulling espresso, it should be between 17 and 22 seconds. The key is to look for tiger striping: lines between the light colored top layer and the dark bottom layer, which you can see through the side of the glass. The top layer of an espresso shot is air mixing with the espresso. The longer the espresso sits, becoming infused with oxygen, the greater the ratio is between dark and light. The darker it is, the stronger it is. As soon as the espresso mixes with milk, a reaction takes place that keeps it from getting any stronger; the flavor is locked in. Preston had a cup with milk in the bottom, waiting for the shot so that there would be no error in flavor.

Weeks before, a friend of mine, Lissa, told me, “a true barista will understand what you mean when you say you want a ristretto shot. If you have to explain what a ristretto shot is, they don’t know squat.” So, I asked him, “Do you know what a ristretto shot is?”

I was very proud of my question, having saved it for just such an occasion. Here was a barista who had chosen to talk about espresso. He responded, “I don’t know.” Before I could be disappointed, he called across the bar. Nick, a former employee, joined him behind the counter and proceeded to show both of us exactly what a ristretto shot was. To make a ristretto shot, you have to let it sit. It’s called a long shot. It is more bitter, with more caffeine, and more dark than light in the glass. Nick explained, “it is not necessarily stronger, but more pronounced.” I actually got to watch the espresso slowly fade from light to dark, as the dividing line lifted. It was fascinating!

According to Nick and Preston, espresso beans were supposedly first discovered by a goat farmer who noticed his goats were jumping around after eating them. Espresso beans and coffee beans are both coffee, but different beans and different roasts are better for espresso. I had wondered about that.

The Venetian Latte was somewhat bitter, but not too unpleasant.. This surprised no one nearly as much as it did me. I found it to be very similar to a traditional latte, which I tried previously, but slightly sweeter. It had more coffee flavor than most of the lattes I have tried, but I didn’t cringe or make horrible faces.

I attributed this to the fact that I was very tired – perhaps too much to protest properly. Nevertheless, I became somewhat dismayed by the thought that I may be growing to like coffee already. The latte did not rely much on artificial flavors, and like the shop itself, was mellow and familiar. I closed my eyes for a moment in the soft embrace of the ambience. Dark furniture, high ceilings, and open space were cradled around the darkened fireplace, and I was grateful for the chance to slow down and breathe.

In parting, I asked Preston for a second recommendation. He made a creation called a Brevé Bomb, served in a small espresso cup. He said brevé, in the coffee world, means “made with half-and-half.”

I was instructed to drink it all, and to try to do so in three consecutive gulps. It was the strangest sensation. As I sipped, half of the drink was ice cold, and the other half was hot. I had never had anything like it. When I had gulped it three times, there was still a tiny bit left, but Preston said I had to drink it all to find the “surprise at the bottom.” Shrugging, I did so. It was sweet! He explained that the Brevé Bomb is made with a small amount of vanilla at the bottom, half-and-half, on top of that, and then a spoon is held above the cream as the espresso is added, so that the layers stay separate: cold on the bottom, hot on the top. It was one of the coolest beverage experiences I’ve ever had. I can’t honestly say that I enjoyed the flavor, but it was quick, and I enjoyed the sensations incredibly. The people of Forza Coffee Shop have certainly earned their acclaim.

http://forzacoffeecompany.com/

Postscript. Forza unfortunately closed its doors in 2015.

ORIGINAL COMMENTS

Forza Community, May 13, 2011 at 7:37 PM
Thanks for the shout-out, Rachel! We have posted your blog post on our Facebook Page: facebook.com/ForzaCoffee

Anonymous, May 14, 2011 at 3:53 PM
It all sound good, I will have to check Forza out, they are not too far from me.

Anonymous, May 18, 2011 at 3:09 PM
Hi, Todd at Five Leaves Coffee House here. Thanks for the great entry on our little shop. FYI, a "Ristretto shot" is actually a "short shot" with less caffeine. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ristretto

Unknown, May 18, 2011 at 4:47 PM
Short shot, long shot... I am curious what the sensations are like. I like tasting things that are out of the ordinary and creative. I do have some limits.... monkey brains comes to mind. But I am willing to try almost anything once and this shot sounds fun. Geez, and I hate coffee!!

Anonymous, May 19, 2011 at 2:05 PM
Short shots are great when you want all the flavor but a bit lighter on the caffeine. You should try one!! :) Todd