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The Boise coffee scene has been steadily percolating (ha!) over the last five years. It’s really fantastic to see local roasters, local technique, and local sensibilities combine to create memorable and charming coffee experiences. One of my favorite experiences is Form & Function. They know their coffee and they know their identity. F&F is where I go when I want a flawless oat milk mocha. Pouring with oat milk is NOT easy. It takes a certain amount of dedication to acquire that skill. It’s worth your time to appreciate the effect. I know some people (boomers) aren’t too fond of the chill vibe. I (under age 90) appreciate that the staff are not in my face or fake friendly. I feel welcome to be friendly, or welcome to keep to myself. No forced socializing. This is a real comfort for people who are anxious or who plain aren’t here for that McSmile nonsense. Lastly, I *am* here for the decor. There’s nothing wrong with looking for the right spot to relax with your MacBook, gel with some like-minded humans and enjoy your cortado and an always great soundtrack in the speakers. Not to knock other shops in town because I have love for you all — but this summer Form & Function is where it’s at for me.

Turks Coffee Bar – Menu with Prices – 1276 Commercial Dr, Vancouver

Cute little coffee shop on The Drive with yummy coffee and a patio perfect for people-watching. My friend and I stopped in here after brunch to grab some lattes to go. For me a vanilla almond milk latte and for my pal a regular vanilla latte. I loved my little caffeine fix. I’m not sure if it was the coffee itself, the vanilla, or the almond milk, but whatever those baristas did, I really, really enjoyed my latte. Seems like a great place to hang out and catch up with a friend or post up and get some work done. It’s quite small in here, so I can imagine that it would get full quickly, especially on a warm, sunny day. Overall, yummy coffee, friendly baristas, and cute decor from other local businesses. While there are plenty of coffee shops on The Drive, this one will definitely be one of my top ones to visit and recommend.

Detour Coffee House – Menu with Prices – 6781 Camden Rd, Fayetteville

I totally didn’t realized it was connected to a church due to the decor and modern building. So it was a little awkward when I walked in and they told me it was closed to the public on Sunday…I mistook all the cars in the parking lot for coffee goers… Regardless they were nice and made drinks for us. Despite their friendly service, this place suffers the inability to make a good cappuccino or latte…It’s the same inability that plagues Starbucks and other local coffee shops around Fayetteville… What people fail to realize is that there is an art behind steaming milk and making espresso. The crema should be a sort of cream brown, not BLACK. And the milk shouldn’t be liquid but more of a froth. I have to give them points for style and hospitality but otherwise this place doesn’t know espresso. I will come by again though to try their waffle.

Aloft Columbia Downtown – Menu with Prices – 823 Lady St, Columbia

I had occasion to stay at my first Aloft property on a recent trip to Columbia, SC. I was blown away. Check in was quick, efficient, and really friendly. And I was stunned by the stylish, yet somehow casual, lobby. The space gleamed with streamlined, stainless-steel bar stools, and fun accent lighting. Comfortable accents like a pool table and counter-height tables and chairs, gave a nice counterpoint. My room continued the theme, with minimalist, elegant, decor organizing so much functionality into the room, without it seeming crowded. There were MANY USB ports in the night stand and desk, ready to charge with just a cord — no adapter needed. Drawer and closet space were integrated into a spacious bathroom wall, and the coffee station was inset into that same line of site. I have nothing but praise in the normal function and service categories I look for in a hotel, but I have to say, the real win form me here was just being in such a fun environment for my stay. Well done, Aloft. See you again, soon.

Five Senses Coffee House Menu with Prices 6010 S Western St #300, Amarillo

I love the location because I love on the South side of town so all of the other coffee shops are farther away and they’re always packed! I also love their coffee – I’m not a coffee connoisseur but I’m not a fan of the coffee in a lot of the places around town but I love this coffee! They have oat milk (I know it sounds crazy, hear me out!) which I’d never heard of but is creamy and tastes good. I hated having whole milk but skim milk makes it taste watery and almond milk has too strong of a taste. Oat milk is my new go – to and it’s all thanks to this place! The people that work there are also super nice and recognize me as a regular, always making conversation and recommending new drinks to try.

Jarrod’s Coffee, Tea, & Gallery – Menu with Prices – 154 W Main St, Mesa

Was in the valley for my daughters graduation and needed some caffeine before making the 3 hour drive back up to the mountain. Found this little coffee shop. I cannot say enough about this little Gem! The gentleman at the counter was super friendly, and helped me pick out my coffee. I ordered an iced lavender latte. They even had milk substitutes. I ordered with almond milk, so this is one happy vegan girl. The barista was also friendly. The atmosphere was inspiring with walls filled with beautiful art, I believe from local artists. If I lived closer, I would spend a lot of time in this shop. It would be my favorite hang out, I’m sure of this. Thank you for the fabulous coffee, and the wonderful expirience! I will be sure to visit next time I’m in the city.

New City Cafe – Menu with Prices – 441 Parsells Ave, Rochester

This place is awesome! Not only is this a great addition to the neighborhood, the staff is friendly, the coffee (and chai!) is delicious, and the atmosphere is welcoming. This spot is more of a community space than a cafe. I found people of all ages coming through during my most recent visit – from youth group meetings, to friends grabbing coffee, and folks getting work done. Fridays are chai Fridays, and when the barista mentioned it, I had to go for it. My 16oz. chai was $3, which uses local blend from The Chai Guy. I opted for almond milk and it hit the spot. They also have soy and oat milk if that’s your style (plus all the regular milks too). I snagged some beans for home too. Their mix of roasts are some I haven’t seen around and was pumped to try their Zambia roast. They have some light food options too like bagels, muffins, wraps, breakfast sandwiches, etc. So I’ll be back to try a breakfast sammie and coffee for an upcoming coffee shop workday. They’ve got it all! Can’t wait to go back again soon.

Blk Dot Coffee – Menu with Prices – 924 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine

Rarely will you find me in the depths of Irvine, CA. In my eyes, theres nothing to do and everything you could want to do can be done in Los Angeles. Putting obsession with my city to the side, I have to give big props to the owners of BLKdot Coffee. You get culture, good coffee, and good vibes all in one visit. I have never had Vietnamese coffee before and I was enthused to try it. Ordered my usual, Almond Milk Latte and spent a whopping $4.80 on a 12 oz. Considering the location is not in Los Angeles I was a tad surprised the price was still that high. I thought maybe it would be $3.50 or $4.00 max with tax. The coffee itself was really good. Everyone always asks me “how do you know if coffee is good or not”. You’ll know if the acidity, bitterness, and sweetness are fairly balanced. Basically BLKdot’s coffee was pleasantly balanced. In terms of service, the staff was great! I waited maybe 5 minutes for my drink and there were a ton of people. The cashier was friendly and kind. Now….why does BLKdot coffee get 4 stars instead of 5. They get 4 because I am a fan of their coffee BUT the way the inside of the shop is set up…I’m not for it. I love, love, love the decor. The natural woods, touches of greenery, subway tiles, the old school lights, I mean they hit the nail on the head with decor and ensuring the place is inviting and chill. However, I need them to move that couch in the middle of the place and put in some more tables!!!! They have 2 tables outside, 2 tables inside, and a bar for two people. What does this mean? It means if you like to get work done in coffee shops you have to show up to this place earlllllyyyy as hell if you want a table otherwise you’ll be breaking your neck sitting on the couch using the little coffee tables on the side. Final thought? I’ll pop into this cute lil shop if I am in Irvine again…keyword being IF.

Caffe Fioretti – Menu with Prices – 3429 Montana Ave, El Paso

Would recommend for a Bridal Shower. Their capacity is total of 50 people in all 3 rooms (1 in front, 2 in back). You will need to make a reservation and the deposit is minimal and you can pay in person or over the phone. They charge per person and the cost is great because it comes with tea, sandwiches, soup, and dessert. You are allowed to bring some decor, but you do have to consider the tables need to have space for the tiered trays. I would get your decor approved by them first. I’ve had nothing but lovely experiences communicating with them.

The People’s Perk – Menu with Prices – 551 S Mendenhall St, Greensboro

Absolutely in love with this little coffee shop. The ladies who work here are so friendly and inviting, and the store is adorable with free wifi. Fresh baked donuts on Monday’s from donut world paired with iced and hot coffee on the regular. They also offer specialty drinks- which are freaking killer. But what gets me is the large 20oz iced coffee for $2.12 after tax. The coffee is delicious and that’s a killer deal. They offer almond milk and soy milk for the non dairy drinkers. This is my go-to coffee shop in the boro.

Streamway Coffee Menu with Prices 4209 Airport Blvd, Austin

This is the Coffee Truck at Mueller. The menu is standard for an Austin coffee truck. So how do you evaluate such a place? * * * One – location, location, location. They are right at the Mueller Sunday Farmer’s Market which is a wonderful place to be. (Ask the two hundred happy people around you.) * * * Two – try the espresso straight up. No milk. No flavorings. Theirs is pretty damm good. I can go for espresso one of two ways: either super bitter which totally wakes you up, or all out mud (the way a good Turkish coffee tastes like mud). Compass’s espresso is a happy combination of both experiences. The mud takes the edge off the bitter. The bitter cuts through the mud. No complaints from this department.

Redemption Rock Brewing Company – Menu with Prices – 333 Shrewsbury St, Worcester

I have one thing to emphasize here: RESTROOMS! Okay, that doesn’t tell the whole story. But what it does tell is the serious consideration that went into planning for the comfort of their customers. And comfort it is. There are couches and dog beds. Sometimes you just want to hang out with your pup. Well, you can bring your friends and your pup and have a nice evening. Actually, you don’t even need to bring friends because everyone here is incredibly welcoming and social. My husband enjoyed his pale ale when we were there. I am lame and don’t drink, so I don’t know what he had. They really have great coffee and snacks from a local business, Crust. There is an entire room to sit at picnic tables and play board games and other things to keep you intellectually stimulated. Also, you can order a pizza for delivery from anywhere and bring in food from the outside. This is a place for everyone to just hang out.

World Traveler Coffee Roasters – Menu with Prices – 106 N Sunrise Ave St C7, Roseville

This is my second time here and I have to say that my coffee has tasted amazing both times. This location is only open on the weekdays though and I work full time and live in Sacramento, so don’t get to come too frequently. I was told that they are opening up a second location in Folsom though that will be open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. every day including weekends. The chocolate they use in their mocha is non-dairy and they have oat milk available which is awesome. I’ve had both an iced mocha with oat milk and an iced blackberry mocha with oat milk and both were delicious. The pastries aren’t meant for people who don’t consume eggs and dairy though, so I have always passed on those. I have been the only customer both times I’ve gone, so they must be making money other ways than just through their cafe. The interior is small, but there are two tables that fit four people each out on the patio. I’m hanging out on the patio right now enjoying my iced coffee. If you know what good coffee tastes like then you will for sure like the taste of the coffee here.