Black coffee. Dark roast. Used to care a lot more about which roast, beans, etc. Went to the fanciest coffee shops. Still go to those sometimes, but generally, just go where the baristas treat me well and I’m generally left alone. I take my coffee black. Don’t complicate anything. No mocha this, skinny that, soy this. I feel like some people want a coffee-flavored drink, which inevitably holds up the line and takes forever to make.
I will say…Starbucks does this apple cider with caramel and cream in it that is just to die for. Their coffee? Not my favorite. I get their pike place roast if I get anything. Everything tastes burnt there…too strong. Their cold brew is just awful. Their blended drinks are tasty but why not just go get a milkshake somewhere instead?
There are quite a few good coffee places in SLC. Lots of coffee shops. Lots of terrible coffee places too. Never go to Coffee Noir. Service is mediocre at best and the coffee is so bad. I went there today and I’m never going back. Publik is pretty good, she has a good operation. The Rose Establishment is fine but I feel like you need a jean jacket and a beanie to go in there, maybe even a copy of the New York Times. Erica, the owner, doesn’t do wifi in the hipster move of the century. I only go there with the most woke of my friends. Coffee is decent. Wayyy too pretentious. Cafe D’Bolla is hilarious to me. I know that guy fairly well. He is…different. He forces you to drink his coffee his way. It’s a coercive coffee operation. It’s almost like he threatens you or something. It’s fine, but I think its more about the novelty. Maybe I’m just not sophisticated enough. The guys who post on cougarstadium while they drink their morning joe could probably educate me on this stuff. You know, the guys who teach at BYU! Blue Copper is another hipster coffee shop. It’s fine. I like the Coffee Garden. Middle of the road. Good service. Excellent pastries/baked goods.
There are many shops. I’ve been to probably the majority of the ones downtown. Never go to coffee break unless you’re getting a hummus bagel. My friend Ryan calls it a “training bar”. He’s right. There are a ton of bad places. I guess it depends on what you want. I like it to be simple, and I like good, friendly service. If I’m going to tip I want to feel like the barista is making an effort to be nice.
I know this all begs the question, do you make coffee at home? I don’t mind it. I do like the social aspect of going out with certain friends. I have friends who work at these establishments as well, so there’s that. I like the ritual. I’m a ritualistic guy. Sometimes going out is just part of the experience.
