We recently launched our first coffee in our Tala Truest line: the Israel Hernandez Gesha from Tolima, Colombia. As much as we’ve been loving it hot, the thought occurred to us to conduct a wild experiment. It came in a stroke of genius—the kind of genius that seems hyperbolic at first—and we quickly realized it might actually work. We made cold brew with the Gesha, a bold move none of us have seen from the specialty industry before. The result? Amazing. So we’re going to share! This limited-edition cold brew will be sold in bottles in our cafe and be available for Neighborly delivery to local customers.

This coffee simply put, tastes like everything we love about the fall season. It’s loaded with brown sugar, caramel, and candied pecan sweetness, soft and ripe pear and apple, as well as warm and cozy cocoa. It pairs perfectly with a hayrides, pumpkin carving, apple picking, and bonfires.

We love this coffee because it really embodies the transition of the last of the summer turning into fall. Fresh and ripe fruit flavors of raspberry, cherry, passion fruit, and guava on the front end of each sip transition and finish with warm and comforting flavors of praline and milk chocolate. This uniquely sweet coffee is perfect for cool mornings as well as warm afternoons.

“Good Morning! How are you?” are my first words to the customers that consistently get the worm. I usually work in the AM (6:30-12:00 with the adjusted COVID schedule), and let me tell you, getting out of bed at 5:30 to beat Marcus to the cafe is not the most enjoyable thing to do, especially when you’re not a morning person.

We heard so many amazing stories from people's experiences at Tala this week. In fact, we had way more submissions than we were prepared for, so it has taken several extra days to sort through it all. Thank you to everyone who shared their memories and thoughts about our cafe. We are so honored by the community and stories you’ve provided! We’ve chosen the top five memories, and randomly picked the winner of the $200 giveaway. Read all five stories below and see who is the lucky grand prize winner.

We’ve made it to the end, folks. End of the week, last look back on year two before we shove all nostalgia down and stuff it into the vault until next August. I won’t have as colorful storytelling as Matt, as eloquent language as Conner, or as sentimental, tear-jerking material as Marcus, but what I can do is ramble on aimlessly for awhile like I normally do. You should all be used to that by now.

I started at Tala in the midst of the pandemic, where many of us have been able to pursue new hobbies, interests, and curiosities. My goal throughout the more at-home time during quarantine was to spend more time with my family. I haven’t lived at home for many years, and this was a perfect opportunity to spend time with my loved ones.

Regardless of where you are in life or what you're going through, life has a funny way of bringing you joy. In my case, everything began changing for the better when I came to Tala. I was brought on board to the team the day before the cafe's first birthday last year. And let me tell you, so much has happened that this past year has felt like three.

I happen to be fond of a poet named William Carlos Williams. You may know him from high school English class. Chances are he wrote one of, if not the poem that caused you to think poetry is dumb.