The Tala Blog
Featured Article
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.
Filter Theory
Have you ever heard the term “filter coffee?” We say it in the cafe sometimes, and maybe you’ve heard it elsewhere. Coffee brewing essentially breaks down into two categories: espresso and filter. To understand filter coffee you have to understand basic filter theory. We’re going to go over just a few basic principles to launch you into the world of filter.
Newest Coffee Arrivals
We're excited to announce two new coffees to our mid-summer line of coffee. This is particularly exciting because all the coffees we have now we will be serving at our cafe in just a few weeks. We can't wait to make you a hot cup of one of these new single origins!
Cascara Maple Mojito
Spring seems to be upon us, folks! We've beat the winter and for that we all deserve a huge pat on the back. Looking to celebrate? Us too. Here at Tala we celebrate beverage-style pretty often (I mean can you blame us?) and we have recently discovered an amazing spring drink that we want to share with all of you: the Cascara Maple Mojito.
Common Misconceptions in Coffee
Coffee has been around a long time, and with anything that's been around awhile, there are quite a few rumors and ideas bouncing around about it. So for coffee's sake, we want to set the record straight about a few things.
New Coffee Arrivals!
You have been patiently waiting to find out the big secret: what new coffees are arriving. We have been searching for some good options to add to our lineup this spring. In order to find the perfect coffees we cupped 14 different coffees from regions all over Africa and South America from multiple importers. Out of those 14 coffees, these 2 stood out among the rest.
Iced Cascara
With the warmer weather right around the corner its perfect time to get your iced tea game down. If you're looking for a twist on your regular iced tea routine look no further. Try using our cascara to make a cold spring beverage!
A Cafe in the Works
We are excited to officially announce that our first cafe will be in Highwood, IL opening in the spring of 2018.
Coffee Cocoa Frosting
This coffee frosting recipe will stop you in your tracks. It's decadent, rich, buttery and perfectly sweet. This frosting pairs well with chocolate or vanilla cake or cupcakes, and can even go beautifully with lots of other desserts like cookies, bars or--my personal favorite--straight from a spoon. There's really no way to lose.
Changing Variables
Brew methods ultimately determine all other variables. It is important to maintain time above all else, as determined by your brew method of choice. Dose and yield are codependent variables that can be manipulated as determined by how much coffee you want to drink. Your grind setting will change based on your dose and brew method in order to keep your brew time accurate to your brew method.