Does It Float?
If you’ve been out and about this summer on the north shore, you know that it’s been HOT. Hot enough to turn this cappuccino girl into an espresso tonic addict, for the time being. And it’s definitely been hot enough to experiment with as many fun and refreshing flavors as possible.
I wanted to share my top three favorite finds, perfect for an afternoon treat when the sun is at its peak. One thing about the Libertyville staff is that we love to find any and all uses for Tala products. Taking advantage of the incredible summer menu that we have, we discovered just how delicious Tala can get!
Our inspiration came from the classic root beer float—a nostalgic summer treat that’s all about that magical moment when ice cream meets fizzy sweetness. But instead of sticking to tradition, we wanted to ask ourselves the question of: does it float? using our seasonal menu. We tested out which of our drinks could be transformed into creamy, dreamy floats. The result? Unique coffee creations that are as fun to make as they are to drink.
Orange you glad it floats?? This creamsicle coffee drink was the obvious first choice to add a little ice cream to. And thanks to one of our amazing regulars Sam, I had homemade vanilla ice cream in the break room fridge for the trial. Two scoops of vanilla ice cream turned the orange you glad from a morning pick-me-up into an afternoon treat.
I, of course, had to try our other fruity addition to the lineup: the main squeeze. For this, I wasn’t sure about plain vanilla and had some orange sherbet in my freezer. While the dueling citruses could’ve been a little funky, the end result was actually a perfectly tangy summer punch! I would absolutely recommend trying your favorite sherbet or sorbet in a main squeeze as it’s the perfect base for all things fruity.
We all know (and love) an affogato but I wanted to take it a step further and thus we invented the Tala Cold Brew Float. Using the same homemade vanilla ice cream, two scoops in a twelve ounce was the simplest way to taste our cold brew at a whole different level. While my heart would absolutely say yes to a dessert cold brew, my head and sleep schedule would prefer enjoying this one in the mid-afternoon. Don’t be afraid to replace your cream with a scoop of your favorite ice cream any hour of the day!
Don’t be afraid to try these three ideas by stopping into any one of our cafes and ordering any size without ice, leave room! Chill your beverage in the fridge for a moment, and add your scoop(s)! Feel free to find and explore other float creations- and don’t forget to tag us! Happy floating!
Mel Kreppein
Meet Mel, a Gurnee native that has a passion for people, planet, and coffee. Crafting at the Libertyville cafe, she spends her free time going on walks, doing art, and hanging out with her cat Prudence.