The Tala Blog
Featured Article
Why We Love Cold Brew
Although specialty coffee over the last decade has slowly embraced the merits of cold brew, there was a time when cold brew was a specialty faux pas. That was about the time when we opened Tala, and unashamedly planted our flag on the team cold brew.
August Events 🗓
August is here, and we're making the most of every last bit of summer. Long evenings, iced coffee in hand, weekends spent outside, and a calendar full of reasons to gather — there's still plenty of the season left to enjoy before routines shift and fall settles in.
Read what’s brewing this month.
Coffee Co-Fermentation Explained
Unlike traditional processing methods, co-fermentation intentionally introduces additional ingredients during fermentation. Whether you're already a fan of fruit-forward coffees or you're trying co-fermentation for the first time, these unique coffees are a delicious reminder that every step of the coffee journey plays a role in what's ultimately in your cup.
June Events 🗓
As summer gets underway, we’re excited to share a fresh lineup of events designed to help you soak it all in. From community celebrations and local pop-ups to new drink menus, plenty is happening this month. We can’t wait to spend another summer with you! ☀️
Read what’s brewing this month.
May Events
As the weather turns, we’re excited to offer an exciting lineup of events this month to ring in spring, help you defrost, and treat yourself after braving yet another Chicago winter.
Read what’s brewing this month.
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.
Debunking the Aftermath of your Cup of Joe
There are times when you have those big plans, the ones that require you to be wide awake and ready to go, and you think coffee is just the little treat you need. You order, you drink, you enjoy, you wait, anticipating the subtle alertness that is sure to come. And nothing. You drink your coffee, and not only do you not feel energized, but you still feel sleepy. So what happened?
April Events
As the weather turns, we’re excited to offer an exciting lineup of events this month to ring in spring, help you defrost, and treat yourself after braving yet another Chicago winter.
Read what’s brewing this month.
Not All Foam is Created Equal
I think somewhere along the way, everything just… expanded. Sizes got bigger, menus got longer, prices got higher, and the ever-so-innocent cappuccino got swept up in it all. It adapted. It stretched. It lost a bit of its sense of self. Now it shows up rebranded, reinterpreted, and occasionally followed by the one silly question that keeps me up at night. “Hot or iced?”
March Events
March always feels like the deep breath before the exhale. The light lingers a little longer, the air softens (just slightly), and we start emerging from full-on winter mode. After months of bundling up and keeping cozy, it finally feels like we’re stepping out of hibernation — and we’re celebrating the best way we know how: with coffee, community, and a lineup of events at Tala.
Read what’s brewing this month.