Cafe Profile: Bloc 11 in Somerville, MA. I had the pleasure to stop in at a great cafe on a recent trip to Somerville, MA.

Bloc 11

11 Bow Street

Somerville, MA 02143:

Bloc 11 is a massive cafe set up in what looks to be in an old bank with a Yoga studio on top. The space is open, and bright, with nice, roomy outdoor seating. Even with two cash registers, there is always a line. With good reason. It seems that this cafe often switches between roasters. I ordered a double espresso (i use the double as a yard-stick by which to measure cafes). It was balanced, and neat, with a pleasant acidity. They also carry a hefty number of retail bags by Stumptown, Intellegensia and Counter Culture. The food was also very good (Sandwiches and the like) and their baked goods were fresh and rich. A word of warning: all of their coffees have to be shipped in, so if you are buying a retail bag, make sure to check the date. Some of it is very fresh, but some of it is a bit past prime. In either case, the baristas are skilled, the beans are great and the equipment is quality, so what's not to like? Here are the pics: