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.
Winter Drink Menu 2024
Saying goodbye to the holiday drinks is made much easier once you get a taste of what the winter drink menu holds. These warm flavors almost make you forget how cold it is. Some of our most intricate and complicated drinks of the year are featured on this menu. The colder indoor energy of the winter seems to invite the tinkering and tweaking for these delicious concoctions you’ll find here. Read about each below and flag the tasty drink for your next visit!
Tips From A Stocking Enthusiast
Since I was a little girl, stockings have been my favorite part of Christmas. I don’t exactly know why, but something about all the little things all together in one goodie bag feels so extraordinary to me. I know it’s common for stockings to be an after-thought—I've even met people who, to my astonishment, skip them altogether—but I love to fill them thoughtfully as a grand finale to opening presents. Regardless of your typical approach, I am here to share some tips on how to step it up a notch this year, especially if you’re stuffing a stocking for a coffee-lover!
How We Designed Winnetka: Interior
Over the past year, our Winnetka cafe site has undergone a radical transformation visible from the street, but what many may not realize is that the interior work began long before the exterior did, and after many long months, the work is finally done and we are open! Over the past 2.5+ years that we’ve been working on this project, I’ve been asked about the design so many times, especially because it is an old retro gas station. A lot of people have been curious about how we arrived at the aesthetic we have.
Choose the Perfect Coffee Gift
Are you searching for the ideal holiday gift for a coffee lover in your life but feeling overwhelmed by the extensive range of options? Fear not, for we have crafted a comprehensive guide to help you pick the perfect coffee beans to make your loved ones' winter extra special.
Holiday Drink Menu 2023
The long-awaited holiday season is here, and at Tala we go hard for the holidays… or should I say Tala-days! It has been a hallmark (no pun intended) since the beginning of our company that we celebrate with fun decorations, epic drinks, and an extra measure of holiday spirit. We are blessed all year long to see the connective power of coffee in bringing people together, and this is on display all the more during the holidays. So grab a loved one and meet for for a festive holiday drink at your favorite cafe!
How We Designed Winnetka: Exterior
We looked at the broken windows, the piles of rubble, the broken-up concrete, and aged panels and saw what it could be. As we approach our finished product, I have to say that I think we were right. It looks pretty awesome.
Tala is Coming to Winnetka
This iconic corner building at the intersection of Winnetka Avenue and Green Bay Road will soon be a Tala cafe, and we couldn’t be more excited. Although a very prominent and noticeable plot in the Indian Hills district, this building has been an out-of-place eyesore for many years, as the Village of Winnetka searched for the perfect addition to this neighborhood. We are excited to be breathing new life into this old building and opening our doors to become a hub for connection, community, and, of course, great coffee!
Fall Drink Menu 2023
The heat waves are behind us, school is in session and the flannels and beanies are coming out from wherever they’ve been kept all summer long. It’s the season of changing leaves, bonfires, corn mazes, and, of course, fall drinks at Tala! We have some of your favorite drinks returning and one new addition to the lineup, so make sure you stop in and give each a try!
Libertyville is Open!
After a long time of dreaming and planning and several months of build-out, we are excited to bring you a cafe in Libertyville! You can find our new cafe in the industrial district tucked behind Liberty Lake. We have quietly roasted in this building for over six years, and are so excited to finally be able to serve our coffee under the same roof as we’ve been operating since the beginning. For us, opening this cafe is like a homecoming.