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.
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.
Rung’eto Kii: Kirinyaga, Kenya
We’re thrilled to share our newest single-origin release: Rung’eto Kii, a vibrant and beautifully classic Kenyan coffee from Kirinyaga. Coffees like this one remind us exactly why Kenya remains one of the most celebrated coffee origins in the world. After a few challenging years for producers, it’s exciting to see Kenya’s coffee legacy shining bright once again, and this cup captures everything we’ve been missing.
Fall Drink Menu 2025
The fall drink launch is here! 🍂 While pumpkin spice might start showing up as early as August, we know that this time of year is about more than just one flavor. As the air turns crisp and cozy routines return, our fall menu is all about capturing the comfort and warmth of the season—whether that’s with a classic you look forward to every year or something new to discover. Check out our two returning fall faves, one (kind of) new fall drink, and the café-exclusive concoctions you’re sure to love!
Libertyville Turns Two!
We’re celebrating TWO YEARS at our Libertyville Cafe this week! To mark this occasion, we’re inviting you to comment below with your favorite memory at the Libertyville Cafe for your chance to win a $100 cafe gift card.
Global Matcha Shortage
Matcha has exploded in popularity, thanks to social media trends, its striking bright-green color, and the rise of specialty cafes serving it up in lattes, baked goods, and more. But behind the buzz lies a growing challenge: matcha supply simply isn’t keeping up with demand.
Highwood Turns 7!
We’re celebrating SEVEN YEARS at our Highwood Cafe this weekend! As the adage goes, time flies when you’re having fun! To mark this occasion, we’re inviting you to comment below with your favorite memory at the Highwood Cafe for your chance to win a $100 cafe gift card. We can’t wait to see all the memories cooked up!
Kopi & Kaya
We recently launched our summer drinks at our cafes, and this year, we decided to bring back one of our all-time favorites: The Kopi & Kaya. It’s been a few years since we’ve had it on the menu, and we’ve gotten a lot of questions about it—mostly, what is kopi and what is kaya?
Summer Drink Menu 2025
The summer heat is clearly here to stay, and so are some of your favorite refreshing drinks. We’re keeping the Ube Latte and the Main Squeeze on this season. We’re excited to also bring back two crowd favorites: The Orange You Glad and the Kopi & Kaya. In addition to these four, you’ll find an incredible cafe exclusive drink at each location as well.
Celebrating Eight Years
Thank you for celebrating with us last weekend! We are truly always surprised to see how many people come to celebrate with us. We’re thankful for a community that values a good party and shows up to support each other in little and big ways!