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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. 

Veronika Pek Veronika Pek

ChanTALA Matcha Highlight

Meet our new favorite drink to sip on: the Chantala Matcha. Going hand in hand with our pivot to unsweetened matcha, the Chantala Matcha combines our decadent, earthy matcha with a balanced vanilla syrup and our homemade blueberry-strawberry whipped cream, garnished with tangy freeze-dried raspberries. Trust me, it tastes and looks as good as it sounds.

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News Tala Coffee Roasters News Tala Coffee Roasters

Winter Drink Menu 2026

Letting go of the holiday drinks feels easier when winter brings a lineup this good. Our 2026 Winter Seasonal Drinks lean into warmth, balance, and depth—built for cold days and slower moments. This is the time of year when we get to fine-tune and experiment, creating some of our most thoughtful and layered drinks. The result is a menu that feels comforting yet intentional, meant to be enjoyed one sip at a time. Read on and find the winter drink you’ll be craving next.

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News Marissa Cummings News Marissa Cummings

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. 

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Community Marissa Cummings Community Marissa Cummings

Drink & Book Pairings

Spring has officially sprung in the Midwest! While the spring equinox brings about sunnier weather and longer days, it also signals the rotation of our seasonal menu at Tala! There’s no better way to celebrate spring than with a refreshing drink in hand and a great book by your side.

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Recipes Alo Ochoa Recipes Alo Ochoa

Friendsgiving Recipes

While some skip right to Christmas, the season’s changing leaves and cooler days remind us Thanksgiving is near. This time of year is all about gathering and sharing meals, with traditions old and new to savor—including a holiday that’s become a favorite for friends: Friendsgiving.

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News Haley Horvat News Haley Horvat

Winter Drink Menu 2023

We’re getting creative to fight the mid-winter blues. This year on the winter drink lineup we have the Espresso Coquito, The Irish Goodbye, and The Ice Melt latte all coming back for another round! For those of you who are always looking for our newest (or maybe oldest?!) creation, we are excited to bring back the Moose Tracks Latte!

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News Tala Coffee Roasters News Tala Coffee Roasters

Fall Drink Menu 2022

No matter how epic the summer is, it seems like the world always welcomes fall with open arms. The long-awaited cozy vibes have arrived—not only in the weather, but in our drink lineup. This year we brought back some classics, and introduced some new creative drinks. Find out what we’re serving, and make sure to stop by the cafe to try them all!

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News Tala Coffee Roasters News Tala Coffee Roasters

Spring Drink Menu 2019

We launched our Spring menu maybe more with the hope of Spring coming than with the reality of it being here. Regardless of how many more snow storms we get here in Northern Illinois, we’re calling it Spring!

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