Hometown Cravings; Midtown Coffeehouse and I Guess I Like Hazelnut??

     Hey guys, it’s your favorite punctual blogger! I’m so sorry that  I’ve fallen behind on you, I do have a quick update on the youtubey stuff, though! I have been filming two videos and I aim to have one or the other of them up next week! I don’t want to spoil too much, but I’m kind of hype! I’m definitely planning to do a lot of reviews, while I get my bearings with the whole filming thing.

     This last week I took myself back to Midtown Coffeehouse to see what kind of new stuff they had. You guys know they always have something new every time I visit! I checked out the board, which you can see above. After looking at it for a good thirty seconds and debating, I stepped up to the counter and order the Haze. My only thought was literally, “I hope I like this,” because I know how picky I can be with flavors. Despite trying to force myself out of my comfort zone, it’s extremely hard to introduce myself to new flavor, like the haze.

     The Haze is a delectable mix of Cinnamon,White Chocolate and Hazelnut, the latter of which I’ve never liked. I took a chance on this one after the reassurance of the lovely lady behind the counter. I was ecstatic. So, quick thanks for getting me to give the haze a go!

    My immediate impression was that it had a nice earthy richness, not of espresso, but just a mild nuttiness. That’s the thing I generally despise about Hazelnut, because I don’t like “peanut-y” flavors from my coffee. I’m used to espresso, but just straight up trailmix nuttiness? Nah. I was surprised by the way the mocha and cinnamon mingled to mask the hazelnut with a soft sweetness…. dare I say, haze?

     The cinnamon, being the primary flavor, lent a nice coolness to the subtle espresso vibes that lurked underneath the richness. It was a richness that felt a little heavy on the tongue, and not in an unpleasant way. I would definitely say the Haze is another one for the people who don’t like espresso. 

     I literally can’t wait to start this next leg and have time to do my editing for the videos! Guys, I’m working on them, pretty actively, aside from school work. I just… have to do something with all this makeup that’s piling up. In the meantime, while I get this started, go check out Smokey Glow, my latest favorite youtuber!

 

Winter Wishes: Thanksgiving and Hugs (in a cup)

The weather is getting colder and the nights are getting longer, the holiday preparations are either a bit behind (like in the Java household), or in full and festive swing. To make up for my decided lack of holiday spirit, I visited one of my favorite coffee haunts in the Downtown Columbus area- our very own, Fountain City Coffee. Whose warm and inviting interior begs to have it’s patrons linger for a while and enjoy the soft ambiance of indie music and the calming buzz of conversation. Whether you want to blog or mingle with the locals, this a perfect place to just relax in the charming heart of Columbus. 

 I visit them quite frequently for my favorite drink of choice, the heath freezer, which is my top pick no matter the weather. I usually don’t care about the weather and just get what I like, or try something new on ice. But, it’s entirely too cold for that, especially with the wind whipping between the buildings downtown. No, today I was feeling a little sentimental for the days when I would join my extended family for the celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas with delicious food. 

I was recommended the “Thanksgiving and Hugs” latte, which is just about a 4-course meal of nostalgia. It’s got everything, really. Chai, pumpkin, vanilla and cinnamon and the smell is divine. It smells so enticingly like pumpkin pie that I may have to bring some into the house this Thanksgiving. This is the one single time of the year when I allow myself to indulge in rich deserts and loads of meat, I may have found a new piece to add to my list of traditions.

The Thanksgiving and Hugs latte is delicious. I honestly wasn’t sure if it would be, or if it would even be up my alley. This does not disappoint in the slightest. I said that the smell was like a warm pumpkin pie, and the flavor closely mimics it. This is one of the smoothest latte experiences I’ve had in a while. Guys, I literally don’t even like chai. I love this drink. It has a nice full richness that goes down slow and smooth. It’s perfect to just hold in both hands and sip, while looking forlornly out the window like a protagonist of a Winter love story. Was that too sappy?

The chai isn’t overpowering and is in a gentle harmony with the pumpkin and cinnamon in equal parts. The vanilla chimes in as a soft whisper of flavor that briefly lingers on the tongue. I went with the warm variant of this beverage and I really think that was the right call. Even if it wasn’t freezing out, it would be the right call, because this is a drink best served hot. Or, in my humble opinion anyway. I feel like their cups don’t do it justice, I just want to get it home and throw it into one of my festive mugs.

Fountain City has long been a personal favorite of mine, and held a high ranking against so the coffee shops of the past and will most likely hold their spot against many future competitors in ranks. That goes double if they continue to grace my existence with drinks of this caliber. Honestly, this drink may be an annual staple for me and it’s an absolute travesty that I didn’t try it before now.

Needless to say, onto the rating! It should be evident, by how much I love this drink what sore it deserves.

Thanksgiving and Hugs Taste; /5

  The Thanksgiving and Hugs latter deserves a 5/5, and is a spectacular holiday drink to get you in the spirit. I’m feeling much, much more festive now. Thank you, Fountain City Coffee for introducing me to something new for Christmas!

Most Wanted May Edition: A UniquExpression of admiration

This post comes a little after the end of May, but I would be remiss if I didn’t make note and share my pick for Most Wanted coffee in May! We went to a few different coffee shops, not as many as April, in all honesty. We did finally make it out to Pine Mountain, Georgia to revisit UniquExpressions. Finally.

I waited for what felt like forever to return there and try their delicious blends again. We brought Jeans (who has since left the blog to pursue her own), who absolutely raved about it. They are the coffee for people who do not like coffee. Their flavors are so fantastically harmonious and smooth that it’s difficult to find something bad to say. My personal favorite is the Prince Harry Iced Latte, because all of the flavors just mesh so well. I’m not sure what they do differently, but it makes the coffee out of this world. 

We’ll be revisiting Pine Mountain and the surrounding towns for content for the first leg of a rather large undertaking that my Fiance’ inspired me to attempt. I’ll be releasing information about that soon, so be on the lookout!

They have the cutest shoes alongside their amazing coffees!

They give you the coffee in a nicely portable cup- but I do want to note, that it’s not very sturdy. I definitely advise you drink the coffee fairly quickly because the cup will come apart. But, really, I don’t see too much risk of that because my coffee certainly didn’t last long enough for it to be a problem, neither did anyone else’s.

One of my favorite things about UniquExpressions is that they have their information right up front- such as where they acquire their beans and the intensity of the roast. You can view all of that in my previous post about UniquExpressions! 

I do want to put it out there for our readers that this little shop has more than just coffee. They have pizza, sandwiches and ice cream as well. When we go back to Pine Mountain I intend to give their other treats a try. If you find yourself in the area, or are lucky enough to do a coffee road trip, you don’t want to miss Pine Mountain’s (in my opinion) greatest treasure.

Congratulations, UniquExpressions for being my May’s Most Wanted! We’ll most definitely be back!