Cafe Break

In the mid 1990’s, you could find me lounging in quaint little metro-Detroit cafes like Brazil (Royal Oak) Cupacino (Grosse Pointe Park) and Cafe De-troit (downtown) to name a few.  These were locally owned, cozy hangouts that provided a respite from the hustle and bustle of work and academia.  They were familiar and comfortable enough to share an afternoon gossip session with friends, conduct late-day study groups and even provided a unique backdrop for first dates.  Many of my favorite haunts have since closed and were replaced by overpriced national chains.  In recent years, a new crop of coffee shops have begun to emerge. I’ve even introduced my teen to cafe exploration - although bubble tea is the current favorite among the high-schoolers.  However, the past year of shelter-in-place has allowed us to experiment with home brewing.  It’s convenient, cost-effective and we can create our own healthy, yet delicious concoctions. 

This “break” from our convenient and beloved stops, has allowed us to experiment with products. In our home, we have a teen zone, which is equipped with a bubble-tea station (with similar products to create the beverages she’s had in Ferndale and Royal Oak). It includes traditional Japanese Milk Tea by Angel, which is surprisingly light and refreshing for a pre-sweetened mix. We also rotate Torani Syrup flavors and juice-filled Popping Pearls based on current seasonal preferences. She even has a special, eco-friendly, bubble-tea Tumbler that comes with oversized reusable straws for an authentic, yet personalize bubble tea flair.  For the adults, we keep the pantry stocked with whole bean coffee for a fresh-ground coffee-house experience. It makes our home smell absolutely amazing.  I will admit, we owned one of those popular pod brewing machines, but felt it didn’t match our green-living plan.  So we switched to a classic French Press for everyday use and an uber-chic Pour Over Kit (whenever we resume entertaining for brunch), each have been game changers in both taste and brew quality.  

Now I’m a classic tea gal! I love plain, unsweetened green tea (decaffeinated) in the morning and matcha lattes in the evening.  I’ve tried the convenient matcha mixes - the Sweetened and Unsweetened versions, both by Jade Leaf.  They blend well and have beautiful, mild floral notes.  Just be sure to control the temperature of your water or creamers during the prep.  When the blend gets too hot, it results in a bitter tasting matcha (not good).  I also stuffed my Christmas stocking with one of those cool handheld Milk Frothers.  At first I thought it was a gimmick, but it definitely elevates our warm-beverage game. Plus it makes us feel fancy when we’re in our pjs and fuzzy socks.  Now my mum adores chai tea lattes.  We have been devout fans of the ever-popular Trader Joes mix and Oregon Chai for years.  But recently, she prefers the au natural (lightly sweetened) versions, so we gave Blue Lotus a try, which is a delightful blend of black tea and the traditional warm spices that gives chai its’ signature cuddly feels.  This brand is both sugar and dairy free, so you can add your favorite creamer or milk alternative and / or sweetener to suit your taste

Finally, no urban cafe is complete without the “three S’s” sleek, stylish and sustainable travel vessels.  In our home, everyone has been guilty of making hot beverages, pouring them into our regular ceramic mugs and letting them sit too long (because we’ve become consumed with daily tasks) - only to have them cool off within the first 20 minutes.  So we each have our own Yeti Tumbler, which are perfect for keeping beverages hot all day!  I received mine as a birthday gift last summer and used it for ice water during the riverfront program.  Most days it kept whole ice cubes intact (for over eight hours!). But for around the house, I recently picked up a darling pair of Stainless Mugs with chic rounded edges that fit comfortably in hand. They’re thermal and complement my new (updated) black office decor quite well. Oh, and they keep my morning tea nice and toasty until the last sip - or at least until lunchtime. 

We hope you’ll enjoy exploring the products we’ve tested in our urban nest to help you create your own cozy, yet cost effective home cafe.

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