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.
Brewing Tala Outside
I love cowboy coffee. There’s something rugged and romantic about scooping the grounds into boiling water, swirling it around, drinking it straight and a little gritty. I remember seeing my dad making it when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest thing. But if you’re tired of filtering your coffee with your teeth, or you’re looking to level up from instant coffee, there’s an inexpensive, light, and portable way to bring your favorite Tala coffee with you on your next camping trip.
Behind The Scenes With Bethany
Our “Behind The Scenes'“ series highlights one of our production team members, celebrating their unique contribution to the Tala experience. We believe the connection behind and across the bar can be meaningful and impactful. Our production team is the glue that holds Tala together, and we wouln’t be who we are without them. Learn more about what makes each person on the Tala Team unique with this personal interview.
Campus Coffee Isn’t Good
While we can’t fix the terrible cafeteria coffee that’s likely served at your university, we can make sure you’re stocked with great coffee and the right gear for the job.
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!
Finca El Jardin: La Paz, Honduras
Finca El Jardin is a naturally processed Pacas varietal that shines with balance and clarity. The profile opens with crisp tones of navel orange and raspberry, zesty and refreshing, layered over a cozy, round sweetness of dates, brown sugar, and raisins. It’s a harmonious dance between juicy brightness and warm depth, proof of the careful processing and precision at the farm.
What Does Your Mug Say About You?
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?
Does It Float?
Our inspiration came from the classic root beer float—but instead of sticking to tradition, we wanted to ask ourselves the question of: does it float? using our seasonal menu. We tested out which of our drinks could be transformed into creamy, dreamy floats. The result? Unique coffee creations that are as fun to make as they are to drink.
What is Ube?
Have you seen customers walking out of one of our cafes with a vibrant purple drink? Fascinated by the color but too much of a creature of habit to branch out? You are likely looking at the Ube Latte! With its recognizable purple color and its sweet, nutty flavor, the ube latte has gained quite the loyal fanbase over the years. But what exactly is ube?
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?