Exceptional service is just one of the perks that distinguishes Caffé Nero from other coffee shop chains. A barista greets me as I read over the handwritten menu in chalk. I order a caffé latte and select a butter croissant from inside the glass display, which is filled with fresh pastries, sandwiches and salads. Each cup of coffee is made to order—the baristas are trained in the European way of perfecting the dose and tamp, or the amount of pressure that is applied when the ground coffee is placed into the filter. Once my drink is ready, the barista carefully pours it into an oversized mug. Heaven.

Caffé Nero’s interior welcomes me with an eclectic combination of European furniture hand-selected from street markets in Holland, Belgium, France and Italy. Floor-to-ceiling book shelves, exposed brick and vintage lighting all add to the coffee shop’s cozy, comforting ambiance.

When founder Gerry Ford opened the first Caffé Nero in Europe in 1997, he had a vision to serve high quality Italian coffee in a place where neighborhood locals could get together and relax. Today, that vision has come to life in just seven locations in the U.S.—all in the Boston area. If you haven’t been to Caffé Nero, stop in soon and experience the warmth and European ambiance first-hand.