Coffee is considered an essential part of many people’s days, often used as an incentive to wake up in the mornings. Students, teachers, and basically everyone is encouraged by coffee, and while Starbucks is the go to place for many,  you can find local and home based shops all around town. 

After having Starbucks for many years, I felt like I needed to make a change. Although their regular and seasonal drinks are enjoyable, I found it important to support small businesses and discover new coffee places that I could enjoy more than Starbucks. 

In order to discover what place could become my new go-to, I tried six coffee places and ordered a classic caramel macchiato with vanilla cold foam and caramel drizzle, since that is my usual drink. 

Whenever I order coffee, I value sweetness, but the most important component is the taste of the coffee itself. Whenever I place an order, I like to keep in mind the idea that although a drink can be sweet, it should never overpower the taste of the coffee itself.  

Asking for the same drink gave me a strong comparison to what I’ve already tried in order to form my opinion. I have ranked 6 places that I visited in order of preference based on taste, quality, customer service, and availability. 

Brewjee Coffee

Out of all the places I tried, my new go-to is Brewjee Coffee. The workers at this shop were very nice. The sit down area and decoration made the entire experience more enjoyable. 

I really enjoyed the taste of this coffee. I liked that it was strong enough to be considered a bold taste. The sweetness of the cold foam and vanilla weren’t overwhelming, in fact, I would say it was the perfect partner to the coffee needed. Every sip was exactly what I look for in a coffee cup. Although it is a simple coffee, the vanilla cold foam and caramel were extremely good. I also really liked being able to sit down and enjoy my coffee.

All of the tastes were exactly what I wish for in every coffee I order. I paid a total of $7.00, something I would be willing to pay again for the quality I received. I would say this Brewjee Coffee (Instagram) was a strong 10/10. 

Viva Espresso

At Viva Espresso, customer service was on point, so this made the experience much nicer. In my opinion, customer service is key to a more enjoyable experience. The taste was bold without being too strong. The sweetness of the drink went perfect in accordance with the taste of the coffee. All of the flavors were exactly what I expected. The place was very aesthetically pleasing, making it more appealing as well. The price of this medium sized coffee was $6.45.

I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who’s looking for a nice and friendly place to grab some coffee or even do their homework. Viva Espresso (Instagram) definitely earned a solid 9.5/10. 

OCD

 OCD coffee is another home based business. For this coffee business, I had to place the order beforehand on their Instagram: @ocdcoffee_. I’d never purchased coffee from a home based business, so this was a new experience for me. 

When I arrived, I waited at a bar-like station at the front door until someone from the business was ready with my order. Although there wasn’t much interaction, the person who gave me my order was nice, so it was a good experience. 

With the first sip, I noticed the bold taste in the coffee. The cold foam and caramel enhanced the overall flavor without overpowering it. I liked how all the flavors fused together and made a good combination of all the ingredients used. 

Overall, the drink was an 8/10. This shop, along with Delightful Coffee and Paloma’s Cafecito were a first time experience, so this shop definitely didn’t disappoint. This made me hopeful for all the other ones coming next.  

Delightful Coffee

Delightful Coffee is another home based business. The day before, I made my order on their Instagram page (@deelightful.coffee).

When I arrived, I saw a table displaying orders from other clients as well as my own. I received instructions to leave my payment in a mailbox and to grab my drink, so there was no interaction with the owner. 

The drink was a total of $7. It was interesting to see that the waiting table and cups are still Christmas related, so the spirit was nice, even if it was January. 

The coffee itself was bold and enhanced with the caramel around the cup. The place was easy to find and I would definitely recommend it. 

I would give this coffee a 7.5/10. 

Paloma’s Cafecito

Paloma’s Cafecito is also a home based business. Before arriving, I placed my order on their Instagram page ( @palomascafecito) and scheduled to pick it up the next day.  

When arriving, you can expect to see a sign leading you to the door where you will pick up your order. Once you’ve identified your order, you must leave the payment in a jar and grab your drink, so there was no interaction between the customer and owner of the shop. 

For a medium sized coffee, I paid a total of $7. The setup where clients pick up drinks was very pretty and organized. I would say the coffee flavor wasn’t as strong as I wished it to be, but it was still very good. 

Instructions I received via message were clear and the order was punctual, making the overall experience nice. So, I would rate this drink a 6.5/10. 

Con Azucar Cafe

The first shop I visited was Con Azucar Cafe. This coffee shop didn’t have a caramel macchiato, so I ended up having to order an Iced Mocha Mexicano with vanilla cold foam and caramel drizzle to attempt a similarity between the two drinks. 

Although I had very high expectations for this place, it didn’t quite meet them. Overall, the taste of coffee wasn’t what I’d consider bold. The taste wasn’t bad, not excessively sweet and the cold foam and caramel drizzle added a nice taste to the original flavor. Personally, the taste of the coffee wasn’t on point and I could taste the milk more than the coffee or mocha itself. 

Their staff was quite friendly, also adding to making the place feel welcoming. I also think the place was well decorated, making it an aesthetically pleasing option, if that is what you’re looking for. I paid $6.45 for a medium.

I would definitely rate this drink a 5/10. It wasn’t terrible, but it lacked more of a strong flavor that I was looking for. 

Every place had a very extensive menu. From coffee and matcha, to lattes, espressos and cold brews. The different coffee flavors and signature drinks all make each  place unique. Every coffee shop, except Viva Espresso, had a wide variety of cold foam choices, syrups, toppings, add-ons, and signature selections. 

Although everyone’s opinions are different, every time I order coffee, I expect a strong taste with a hint of sweetness. Brewjee was the only place that fully met these expectations. Although I liked most of the ones I tried, Brewjee certainly became a new favorite.