The Tala Blog
Featured Article
The Return of the Baklava Latte
It started as an experiment, and now it’s the drink our regulars refuse to let us take off the seasonal menu. The beloved Baklava Latte was formerly an exclusive drink at our Libertyville café, but it was met with such rave reviews that we knew it needed a semi-permanent spot on the seasonal menu at all of our cafes.
Busambo: Kayanza, Burundi
We’re excited to welcome Busambo to the lineup, sourced through our friends at Red Fox Coffee Merchants and processed at the Umoco washing station near Kayanza. With notes of candied grapefruit, Rainier cherry, and cream soda, this one brings plenty of sweetness and a super-clean acidity to every sip.
Coffee Acidity Explained
When we describe a coffee as "acidic”, we’re not warning you that it will make you pucker. We’re telling you that the coffee is alive. That it has something to say.
Is It Coffee… Or Sangria?
The first time someone explained coffee fermentation to me, I nodded politely in the way people do when they absolutely do not understand what’s happening but would still like to appear employable in a specialty coffee setting.
Coffee Varietals Explained
The cup you drank this morning had a lineage. It came from a specific plant, with a genetic history, grown at an elevation, selected by the farmer for particular reasons. And almost none of that appears on the label.
The varietal of a given coffee is an entrance into the story of that lineage.
How Do I Get Better at Tasting Coffee?
If you’ve ever taken a sip of coffee and wondered how some people can pick out tasting notes like peach, jasmine, and caramelized sugar, you’re not alone. Tasting coffee is a skill — one that develops over time.