Spitfire Espresso Bar

This review is from a late night on a Monday, just as Spitfire was about to close in October.
5 stars goes to the barista working who wasn’t annoyed at my late appearance and actually gave us some extra coffee for the road as opposed to throwing it out. Thank you so much for that.
We were traveling across country at the time and the extra caffeine and nice barista absolutely helped our cause. 5 stars for you spitfire!

I am so glad we popped in to Spitfire instead of heading to a huge chain! This isn’t the place to go if you are looking for a pumpkin spice latte — this is for true coffee lovers!
This location was packed when we arrived. It is so tiny that only about 5 – 6 people fit indoors. There are not any tables, nor room to hand out really. This is an order and go, but please come back, kind of business. It’s totally worth it!
There was only one barista, but he knew his stuff. Despite the large line, he did not make you feel rushed to order. He took the time to help people make decisions and explain the menu.
Once we got our orders we had to squeeze around people to add a dash or sweetness to our beverages. I tasted my coffee before adding anything additional to it, and it was by far some of the best coffee I have had. Not too strong, not too weak — not even bitter. There was a subtle nutty flavor that I just loved.
Spitfire will be my only coffee stop on my next NOLA visit.

There are only a few decent coffee shops in the French Quarter, and Spitfire Espresso Bar is top notch. You won’t find a vast menu of fancy drinks. Instead, you’ll see a small selection of four or five regional coffees served via pour over (Hario V60), as well as one or two iced cofee options. There are also a few espresso drinks, such as cappuccino, lattes, etc. The proprietor was very friendly and knowledgeable (his name escapes me). He answered my questions about the available coffees. The shop is very small, with seating for maybe 4 people max. But if you just want to grab a great cup of coffee on the go, this is your place. Highly recommend it!

Literally a walk-​in walk-​up coffee shop. So tiny I can’t even call it a coffee housekeeper café; it’s the size of a large closet.
Super duper service.
Super delicious Cortado (mix between a macchiato & cappuccino).
4 Super cool barstools.
Super tiny handwritten wall hangings.
Super radioactive music.
No food, no restroom, no frills… grab your espresso & jet. All of Bourbon Street is waiting for you just around the corner.
~Christy

Good coffee has come to the Quarter! Thank the coffee gods! This was so way overdue. I’ve been coming to NOLA and the Quarter for over 15 years on an annual basis, and this is the first time that I’ve found great coffee in the Quarter (sorry Community Coffee). This is a tiny place with little room for sitting or standing, so don’t expect to do work or read here. It’s mainly a «to go» coffee shop, but it’s a darn good one. The coffee options include the traditional ones and a number of specialty pour-​overs.
There is only one problem with Spitfire that I hope they can resolve in the near future: the line (20 minutes). It was a sleepy New Years Day, but the line was out the door because they only had two people working. Granted, both of these individuals were working hard, but the line was way too long for people like me who just want a great cup of drip coffee (which they don’t offer — everything is made to order — which is one of the problems). The hipster element in me appreciates the slow and careful attention to detail, but … some people just want a nice drip coffee that’s fast and easy, and I hope that Spitfire will find a way to accommodate those of us who don’t need the whole coffee experience without sending us down to Community or PJ’s.
We went back every day while in NOLA, and we were so grateful that Spitfire exists. Kudos.

I wasn’t expecting to like Spitfire. I needed some coffee while waiting for my sister to finish her psychic reading nearby. I came to Spitfire with my eyes already rolling at how pretentious it seemed. Since their chalkboard menu only had non-​traditional espresso drinks on it, I asked the cashier for a recommendation. He was nice enough, but a little snooty about describing what everything was. I got the mole cortado, which is a very slightly sweet, almost savory chocolate macchiato. After taking my first sip, I had already decided to get a second one, so I ended up stopping by Spitfire about twice in a single hour.
My only regret is that I didn’t stop there a third time. Highly recommended, and worth going out of your way for.

Delicious coffee, beautiful latte art.
This is a TINY space, NOT a space to hang out in and use your laptop, etc. You basically get your coffee and go, but this is the French Quarter, so what’s wrong with exploring?
They have some interesting concoctions with bitters (like a fancy cocktail, but for coffee!!) that I would love to try next trip. You can drink their amazing coffee as-​is, or since it is NOLA, just pop into the next bar you see for a shot of peppermint schnapps or Baileys to enhance the already delicious brew… perfect on a rainy day :-)
Employees were genuinely friendly in that wonderful NOLA way

Oh yes finally some strong coffee in the French Quarter! After having some weak coffee from Café du Monde and Addiction, Spitfire was a blessing!
I went two separate times and ordered the macchiato and an iced hellfire mocha. Yum! Friendly service and excellent coffee-​what more do you need?
Space is tiny so you’re best off just ordering to go and enjoying your strong brew while walking the streets of the quarter :)

All I can say is THAAAANK YOU Spitfire for offering an alternative in the land of chicory coffee and beignets.
I loved waking up with a cup of single origin light roast brewed perfectly the mornings I was in NOLA. Sorry I’m so set in my ways :(
Wish I could have tried one of their interesting drink creations here. They seem to complement the espresso well rather than hide it. And the latte art looks kickass! 3 pushes on a tiny cortado cup is massively impressive.
They are really easy to miss because the store is tiny and tucked away in the French Quarter, but worth trying!
Barely any bar seats to sit and is more of a to-​go place.

When in New Orleans as an adult, it is very likely that you’ll awake the next morning with a lovely hangover. The perfect cure is a coffee from spitfire.
This super tiny coffee shop is rather hidden, and definitely very narrow. A ton of room is hardly necessary though since the service is fast and the beverages are hella fresh.
Not gonna lie, the menu was kind of confusing but still minimal which i liked. I decided to go with what I know and ordered a latte with whole milk and no sweetener. ($ 4 each)
This was probably one of the best lattes I’ve ordered from a shop. The drink was just the right amount of creaminess and not at all bitter. Even the temperature was great: my mouth was saved from being scalded. Hallelujah!
When ordering, I was in offered a punch card and now I wish I’d taken it. With its close location to the French quartet, this is an optimal place to grab a great cup of Joe.