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A fascination that began with coffee beans roasting in a skillet has grown into a new espresso bar on North St. Asaph Street.

Leo Maggio and his wife, Brittani, marked the soft launch of Valletta Espresso Bar on Monday, Jan. 19, as an espresso machine hummed alongside coffeehouse music from DJ Jaden Mack. Friends, relatives and neighbors crowded into the bar, located inside Valletta Mediterranean restaurant.

The opening fulfills a dream that dates to 2013, when Leo caught the aroma of beans a friend was roasting in a skillet. After discovering a shared interest in coffee with Brittani, the couple spent eight years experimenting with beans and roasting methods in their kitchen.

They began selling Dreamchasers Company Ethiopian coffee at the Arlington Farmers Market in 2021 and later appeared at pop-up events around the city. The primarily online business gradually expanded, allowing the couple to purchase a small Artisan 3-e coffee roaster.

That year, they also began sharing space at ESP Tea and Coffee on King Street, where they roasted beans and prepared signature drinks several times a week. Brittani continued developing new flavors, including lavender and crème brûlée lattes.

The new espresso bar brings upgraded equipment and Ethiopian beans from a supplier the couple considers an improvement over earlier sources.

“We get better day by day,” Leo said. “That’s my theory, to get better every time you do it.”

At the soft opening, the peanut butter latte—made with peanut butter syrup—appeared to be a crowd favorite. Leo’s preference is the vanilla latte, prepared with miso, Ethiopian coffee and real vanilla bean.

Brittani continues to test flavors such as date and baklava. The couple has also expanded its canned coffee lineup, making several flavors available throughout the year.

For Leo and Brittani, the opening represents the latest step in a journey from kitchen experiments and a small roaster to a dedicated espresso bar and larger equipment.