Anyone who knows me now, can attest to the fact
that I am a Starbucks addict. My addiction started about five years ago and
only worsened once a drive through was opened less then 10 minutes from my
house. What would surprise many people is the fact that A) I don't really drink
coffee (maybe 5 cups of coffee per year) B) I don't drink many espresso
beverages (maybe 30 lattes per year) and C) I used to hate Starbucks.
Yup it’s true, the Starbucks addict once hated
the brand that has become the elixir of life. It started back when I was at
Niagara College and my friend Brittney and I would drive to Starbucks every
day. Initially it was her choice, but soon I was enjoying the beverages just as
much as she was. When I moved back home my Starbucks habit continued and I was
making multiple trips a week for my fix. My go-to drink is a non-fat no-water
chai latte… I find this comforting, warm and just my happy place. At Christmas I
LOVE an occasional ristretto, half-caf all Egg Nog latte and this year became
addicted to the Chai Nog latte which was a combination of Chai and Egg Nog. In
the spring my favorite indulgence has been the Mocha Coconut Frapp (which
hasn’t come back this year) or the caramel flan latte. In the fall I will have
an occasional salted caramel mocha or a caramel apple spice, and often for
breakfasts a strawberry protein smoothie. I wasn’t kidding about the
addiction…. Just writing this post makes me want Starbucks!
My addiction was so crazy earlier this year
that when my goddaughter brought up Lent, I knew I needed to prove to myself –
and everyone else – that I could take a 6 week break from Starbucks. It was
hard - especially since Brian and I drove down to Maryland during that time –
but it was a success!
I made it into a fun challenge to step outside
my Starbucks zone and try other café alternatives. Fun fact…. The
Pickering/Ajax area has a number of cafes that I didn’t even know existed until
recently.
Here are a few of my notes.
Independent
Canadian Places
Queen
Beans (Port Perry): The hot chocolate wasn't
memorable – it tasted like cheap powder mixed with some milk. They also had a strange
concept of chai latte as they talked about it being a cup of chai tea mixed
with a little milk. I dumped both out.
Piano
Cafe (Port Perry): While I didn’t really enjoy the
food they made an excellent chai latte. It reminded me of a café I used to work
at that made amazing chai lattes. I will definitely be coming back here for
drinks!
Ray's Café
(Pickering): Very cool atmosphere and they made an awesome chai latte. Tasted
rich and had the hint of spice that I enjoy. I will go back here and try
some of their other drinks.
Debbie’s
Boutique Café (Ajax): I liked this place a lot. Not only did
they have board games you could play, but they also had a great drink/desert
menu. The hot chocolate was really good, but I didn’t really like the lattes –
a little too sugary sweet for me. This is a must-return too and the staff are
super friendly as well.
Canadian/American
Chains
Panera:
Their chai latte is just okay. Not good but not horrible.
McDonald's:
Excellent hot chocolate, it tastes very rich and yummy. Their Mocha is also
good but according to Brian it’s “recipe driven but with no heart”. I don’t
know what a heartless mocha tastes like, but apparently Brian does and
McDonalds makes one.
American
Chains & Independent Locations
Caffe
Bean: Makimono meets Starbucks. Very Asian inspired
in drinks and food. Mocha doesn't combine well - low quality ingredients and
tastes chemical. There is a burnt coffee taste in their drinks. Aztec Hot
chocolate horrible - no taste besides a super dark chocolate. Whipped cream
kind of lumpy and tasteless.
Bean
Hallow (Ellicott City, MD) Mocha was okay – not wroth
the money, it’s better to just get coffee there. They use too much regular milk
rather then steamed milk – so you end up feeling very full afterward. Nutty
Irishman not what I anticipated but good. Without espresso it was a milk
steamer with Irish cream and hazelnut. Tasted like Nutty Irishman drink but
warm and non-alcoholic. This place was a bit pricey but their biscotti was
worth it!
Little
French Market (Ellicott City, MD): OMG I wish I lived closer
(well of course I wish I lived closer to see Brian’s family more) but this
comes in as a secondary reason. The Santa's Hat was hot chocolate with cayenne
pepper and it was amazing. It has this spicy bite at the end with a lush
chocolate taste. The Peppermint Chai was a vanilla chai latte with peppermint
syrup, and it was incredible! vanilla chai is a bit sweeter with less spice
then Starbucks and the peppermint syrup adds something nice. I may have to try
this at Starbucks! Junk Girl Java – which was Brian's drink – and had a
salted caramel taste after each sip. Now that moacha had heart!
Dunkin Donuts:
I like their coffee but nothing else (but I fully admit I have low coffee
standards). The almond hot chocolate was horrible – very watery, tasteless.
Einstein
Brothers Bagels: The hazelnut hot chocolate was made with
machine and tasted watery and powdered. The Mocha was also machine made
and similar to Tim Horton’s.
Soul
Full Cup Coffee House (Corning, NY) Turkish coffee was not good -
used regular grind not special Turkish roasted grind. Tasted like espresso with
beans left in. Hot chocolate was okay - but not anything special. I could make
better at home. Service was fantastic!
Poppelton
Bakery (Corning, NY) - Sipping chocolate was
incredible. Rich, delicious, and everything sipping chocolate should be.
Old
world Ice Cream and Café (Corning, NY) – The mocha got a Brian shrug. It
was cold and tasted just okay – apparently another heartless mocha!
Max Brenner:
The Italian hot chocolate was incredible as was the white chocolate chai tea. The
mocha tasted more like a hot chocolate but everything was yummy,
indulgent, rich and chocolaty – just as you would expect a chocolate store to
be! I adore this place and am thrilled there is one near my sister-in-laws
house. I told Brian Max Brenner will be completing all of our MD trips from now
on.
No comments:
Post a Comment