My friend Greg, of Coffee Guru App fame, and my number one source of all things coffee-related in Philadelphia, described Shot Tower Coffee as “one of the best” in Philly. No pressure then. Fortunately I loved it from the moment we drove past along Christian Street on our way to the 9^th Street Italian Market. Greg had to do his shopping then head home, leaving me free to wander back to Shot Tower at my leisure, which I did.

Sitting on the corner of Christian and South 6^th Streets, Shot Tower is perhaps twice as long as it is deep, and ever so slightly wedge-shaped. Windows run the length of both sides, which, coupled with a high ceiling, give it a bright and airy feel. Well-spaced seating adds to the sense of space.

The coffee is from Counter Culture, with a fairly standard espresso-based menu, the obligatory bulk-brew drip coffee and hand-brew pour-over, with a choice (while I was there) of a Rosales from Columbia, a Kinyara from Kenya or decaf. There’s also decaf available for the espresso and a wide selection of loose-leaf tea and iced drinks. Pastries and oatmeal provide food options if you’re hungry.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

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Shot Tower’s door in the corner, 45 degrees to the walls, so you’re facing the opposite corner in entering. The seating is arrayed left and right: a bench along the short (Christian Street) side, a window-bar along the long (6^th Street) side. The bench has five two-person tables which can be pushed together if required, while the window-bar has 10 high-backed bar chairs.

The counter occupies the far wall, running from the opposite corner about three quarters of the way to the window. Between it and the window bar is a long, 12-person communal table, with swivel-out stools. I sat here, directly opposite the La Marzocco Strada espresso machine, and can report that the seats are very comfortable, although it took me a little while to figure out how to actually sit down…

The counter’s a simple affair, built of reclaimed wood. First comes the till, next to the cake, then two grinders and espresso machine. It ends with the collection point, next to which are the lids for takeaway customers, with a water-fountain in the corner. This results in a natural flow, from ordering through collection (mirrored by the barista who, having taken your order, moves down in similar fashion to make your drink). Bulk-brew filters are behind the counter, against the far wall, while pour-over is made in full view, to the left of the till, so you can stand and watch if it takes your fancy.

Although well designed, the layout and décor of Shot Tower are simple with wooden floors, white-washed walls, bare-brick pillars, and, behind the counter, bare plaster and tiles, all of which puts the focus firmly on the coffee. Here the emphasis is on quality, not quantity. There are two filters, one espresso and decaf, with the espresso changing when the manager decides, usually every few weeks. During my visit, it was Counter Culture’s limited-edition Underdog blend, mixing coffee from Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Burundi; next will be a single-origin Ethiopian.

I chatted through the options with the manager, who was keen on the pour-over, but having described it as “quite caffeinated” and established that this was my fourth coffee that day, we decided that maybe espresso would be a better option.

Given its constituent parts, it was always going to be something special. As it turned out, it was a bright, zesty drink, with a rich, complex flavour, very much front of the mouth. If I’m honest, I was already probably a little over-caffeinated to fully savour it and, with hindsight, perhaps I should have started with a decaf, then moved onto the espresso.

As it was, I went the other way round, following the espresso with a decaf cortado (even though cortado wasn’t on the menu). The cortado was a gem, allowing the coffee to shine through and belying the old-fashioned idea that decaf is boring or tasteless. This one packed a punch, with quite a sweet flavour, maturing as it cooled. It left me wishing that I’d had the time to try it as a pour-over as well…

I also had an olive lemon cake, just because it sounded interesting, which, indeed, it was. A rich cake with great texture and a clear lemon flavour, it reminded me of a moist lemon Madeira cake.

Liked this? Then take a look at the Coffee Spot Guide to Philadelphia for more great coffee Spots.

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