Epicure

For all those who haven’t had the pleasure of tasting the distinctions between multiple types of coffee and different brewing methods, the new Spro in Hampden is a must-visit. Talk to the baristas and learn about the break, the brightness, the body of Yirgacheffe, Thiriku, Finca Kilimanjaro, etc., being brewed in a Pour Over, a Vacuum Pot, a French Press, the list goes on. These are coffees approached the way Robert Parker approaches wine. Notes of strawberries and red grapes, spiced apple cider and vanilla, buttery finishes and lingering cloves roll across the palate. Why did owner Jay Caragay decide to open in Hampden? “It’s a different kind of approach,” he says. “The focus is on enjoying the coffee and whomever is with you. If you bring your friends, you can engage in a discussion with them. If you come alone, you can engage with others, instead of everyone being engrossed in their Internet.” That’s right. This is a back-to-the-good-old-days approach— with a new twist— where coffee can be as exquisite as a Lafite Rothschild 1870 Pauillac. 851 W. 36th St., 410-243-1262, http://www.sprocoffee.com