HAVE YOU EVER WALKED INTO A NEW FOUND COFFEE SHOP AND JUST STARED AT THE MENU, WONDERING WHAT – OR HOW – TO ORDER?
OF COURSE YOU HAVE. WE ALL HAVE AT LEAST ONCE.
One of the most common comments we hear from people whenever they come in for the first time is, “I’m not sure what I want,” or “what’s good?”
Let’s all be honest, none of us want to look like we don’t know what we’re doing, but let me set your mind at ease, and let you know that this is an understandable and perfectly acceptable reaction to coming into an unfamiliar place.
One of our top priorities at Zetêo Coffee is to create an environment where our customers feel comfortable and free to learn what they like at their own pace. An environment where they are encouraged to ask questions and experience the exhilaration of new discoveries.
So, to help our new guests – or new coffee drinkers – determine what they might like to order, we thought we’d suggest a few questions one could ask themselves to help make a decision easier.
Something to keep in mind as well is the fact that we offer much more than coffee.
So, if you’ve ever uttered the phrase “I’m not really a coffee drinker,” we even have suggestions for you. So let’s dive in shall we?
Q: DO I WANT A HOT OR COLD DRINK?
Back in the day, during the “first wave of coffee” your options were hot black coffee…. and hot black coffee.
Today our customers have wide array of options that are both hot and cold. Of course you have the classic hot espresso beverages like the doppio espresso (two shots of espresso or 60 mls), lattes and cappuccinos.
Of course you’ve also got your batch brew coffee (also known as “drip coffee” or "house coffee") and the more specialty slow brew methods like pour over, french press, clever dripper, vacuum pot (also known as siphon) as well as several other methods – all of which we’ll talk more about in future blog posts.
There are also great iced or blended versions of the most popular hot espresso beverages mentioned above.
For instance you can get an iced vanilla latte or a blended or iced mocha. Ordering in this manner will give you the same great tastes but will offer you a variety of textures or mouth-feel.
Q: DO I WANT SOMETHING SWEET OR MORE TRADITIONAL AND COFFEE FORWARD?
We all like different things and that’s why they (whoever “they” are) say “variety is the spice of life.”
Some will really like a stronger coffee flavor to come through their drink and some will want a more subtle coffee flavor or none at all. There are options for all preferences.
If you like drinks on the sweeter side, the caramel macchiato and white or dark chocolate mocha are some of the most popular drinks and a great place to start.
These drinks will have a few pumps of your syrup of choice (we use non-GMO syrups that have no high fructose corn syrup), espresso and finished off with milk steamed to a specific temperature or poured over ice.
If you want to try drinks that are a little more traditional that will have a more pronounced and balanced coffee flavor you may try a latte with little or no flavored syrups (espresso and velvety steamed milk) or ask for any popular house made syrups that the café makes, like our house-made Bourbon-Vanilla (yes, it's made with real bourbon, with the alcohol cooked out).
HONESTLY, I DON’T REALLY LIKE COFFEE (YET)
You know, believe it or not we actually hear this comment frequently – and it’s okay, we still love these people and want to get to know them.
Actually we want to study them to figure out what planet they’re from – but I digress.
At Zetêo Coffee (and most any other coffee shop honestly) we have so many other options that don’t involve coffee at all.
From dessert like fruit smoothies, a variety of hot teas, to organic regenerative juices, a steamer (steamed milk with your favorite flavor... no coffee) or even San Pellegrino and soft drinks.
You too can be cool and hang out with your friends at the hippest coffee shops without feeling left out because you don’t like coffee (yet).
Don’t be afraid to let the friendly Barista know that you’re not really a coffee fan and they’ll be glad to recommend something that will hopefully interest you.
LET’S PUT A LID ON THIS POST… (SEE WHAT WE DID THERE?)
So to wrap up, we hope these few suggestions will equip you to confidently walk into any local coffee shop and by asking yourself a few simple questions, be able to narrow down what sounds good to you.
Also, the staff at our shop are there to help answer any questions you may have and help guide you to your new favorite drinks as well.
We’d love to hear about your journey with coffee. What are some of your favorite drinks?
What did you start out drinking when you were first introduced to coffee? How has your love for this heavenly treat grown since you discovered it?
We love getting to know our customers stories.