During my Italian studies, on an expedition to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, I stopped by this establishment for a coffee break, because I thought I might get to speak or at least hear Italian.

The place was bustling, extremely popular, a popularity that was reflected in the prices: my double espresso was $3.50, a dollar more than I spend on the same beverage at my local coffee shop in Manhattan.

While I drank my coffee, I studied Italian. Verbs. The scene was just right, and very wonderful. Language, grammar, coffee, New York. Perfect.

A group of older men next to me were speaking animatedly in a language I couldn’t identify. I asked them what it was.

Albanian, they said. Interesting! (According to a 2012 New York Daily News article, there are in New York State about 250,000 Albanians, most of them living in the Bronx.)