Risky Business: Will the coffee be any good?

Scenario you are in a new city or even a different part of your hometown. You want a cup of coffee. Three cafe's in a row on the same street boast "Best coffee in town". What to do?

The folowing works for me:
- Stay away from Vittorio or Lavazza
- Are the portafilters (the handle that holds the coffee grinds) on the tray? They should be in the machine being heated.
- Is the barista grinding fresh for each customer? (If you can see the grinds piled up in the girnder dispenser, get out of there)
- Ask the person if they actually like coffee. It is amazing how many people work those machines and don't like nor care about how the espresso tastes.
- Any cafe or shop that can't spells espresso with an x. Attention to detail means alot.