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: