It’s 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday, and the café is still waking up. The air smells like clean countertops and yesterday’s roasted beans. Mia and I are already moving through our opening routine — putting out the pastries, brewing the first batch of drip, and quietly trying to convince our brains to start functioning…

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.

Let’s be honest: the way we drink our coffee is personal. For some, it’s all about the roast; for others, the brewing method. But for a lot of us, it comes down to the mug. Whether it’s a chipped hand-me-down or a sleek travel tumbler, we tend to be loyal to our favorite cup, and that says a lot about who we are.

Inspired by Marissa’s tea personality quiz, we thought it’d be fun to flip the script. This time, we’re looking at the mugs our staff swear by. Based on your mug of choice, you’ll find out which Tala team member you're most like. Ready to sip your way to self-discovery?

It happens at least once a week.

Someone points to our menu, eyebrows raised. “What’s a Gibraltar?” they ask, half-whispering like they’re worried it’s a secret club they weren’t invited to.

Let’s start with this: a Gibraltar is just another name for a Cortado at Tala

Your morning coffee can do much more than just energize you—it can give your garden a boost too. From backyard pots to larger agricultural applications, coffee grounds are an eco-friendly addition to any soil system.

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.

Between pumpkin carving, carnival rides, and live music, the Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest exceeded every expectation. Fueled by pumpkin spice lattes and fall spirit, it was one of those perfect autumn days that left us excited for more. Maybe next year, we’ll even carve more pumpkins and help break that world record!

If you’ve ever come to Tala looking to order an iced coffee, you were likely met with something along the lines of, “Unfortunately, we don’t carry iced coffee. Is cold brew okay?” At Tala, we empathize with the fact that having to change up your daily order can be jarring. But if you enjoy your coffee cold and black, we believe we're doing you a favor with our singular option.

Currently Tayah works full time as a Shift Supervisor and our Event Coordinator. She is also one of the youngest on the Tala Team, although her maturity would make that hard to guess. Even when she isn’t on shift, Tayah can often be found hanging out at the cafe. If you’re a Highwood regular, you may already know a few things about Tayah. Let’s see if you learn anything new!