This past weekend, we celebrated Nine Years as a business. As usual, we threw a big party. Thank you to everyone who came out to have a fun time on Sunday, whether you got a Birthday Cake Latte, enjoyed something epic from one of our pop-ups, came to our roastery tour, grabbed a slice of cake, or—my personal favorite—drew your smiley face on our community self portrait. We had so much fun with you all!

“When you get to do what you love, you feel lucky”, shares Ryan, co-founder of Pilates + Coffee, a prominent fixture of the Roscoe village community. Founders Ryan and Jacquelyn fused their talents and passion for their community into a studio and café that has spent nearly a decade bringing people together through movement and coffee.

Some coffees come and go, while others earn a permanent place in our memories. Finca Angamaza is one of those coffees.

Now returning for the third year in a row, this Ecuadorian coffee has become a true staff favorite and one of the coffees we look forward to most each season.

Our “Behind The Bar'“ series highlights one of our team members, celebrating their unique contribution to the Tala experience. We believe the connection across the bar can be meaningful and impactful. Our team puts a smile on the faces of so many each day by simply serving delicious beverages and being an authentic presence in each person’s day. Learn more about what makes each person on the Tala Team unique with this personal interview.

Big Juice is here, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: loud, juicy, sunshine-in-a-cup energy built for the start of summer. This is our first seasonal blend designed specifically around fruit-forward intensity, layered fermentation, and pure fruity, seasonal joy.

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.

A naturally processed coffee is one of those things that sounds a little intimidating until you realize it’s actually pretty simple. It’s not flavored coffee, and it’s not some overly technical coffee-world secret. It’s just a different way of handling the coffee cherry after it’s picked, and it has a huge impact on how the coffee tastes in your cup.

Ever wonder what it takes to keep your favorite Tala orders moving? Spend a day on the road with Zak, one of our neighborly delivery drivers, as he makes his way through Libertyville, Green Oaks, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Highland Park, Fort Sheridan, and Highwood.

Our newest release from Santa Barbara, Antioquia, Colombia, Andres Cardona, is the kind of coffee that instantly captures your attention and keeps you coming back for more. From its vibrant, red-fruit-forward profile to the thoughtful craftsmanship behind every step of its processing, this lot feels special from the very first sip.