The newest kid on the block on the coffee bar scene is Cotto Espresso. It’s not their first store in Adelaide with the original Cotto store opening in Woodville eight years ago. Since then the owners have teamed up with the former chief executive of Cibo to take the brand to the next level.

This particular store is located on King William Road and has vibrant and funky decor. There’s a narrow bar at the front, and seating at the back and outside. As their name suggests, coffee is their specialty, however, they also have a decent selection of sandwiches, sweets, pastries and even ice cream.

Today, I ordered the Lime Ricotta Tart. The sweet was small in size but very unique in appearance with the top section reminding me of green billiard chalk. The top was soft and delicate revealing a smooth ricotta centre. The base was a shortbread tart that was a bit more firm, and contained a velvety lime curd centre. There was a subtle sweetness among all the sourness, and combined with the crunchiness from the crushed pistachio, was a sweet treat that really worked.

The staff were friendly and the service was fast and efficient. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing was reasonable. The sweet set me back $4 which is the going rate these days.

With so many new coffee stores in Adelaide, it’s no wonder coffee is the second biggest commodity in the world. For me, it’s a bit like Cibo, however, I think they’ll give their competitors a run for their money.

WHERE: 173 King William Rd, Hyde Park