Mmm…Momma sure does love her a good cuppa Joe. I spend the majority of my time away from home in the fantastic neighborhood of Hamra, where I work and play. Here are the top three coffee joints whose java-licious creations hit the spot!
1. Cafe Younes: With two locations in Hamra, and a french press capable of raising the dead, Cafe Younes is by far my favorite coffee shop in Hamra.
Reasons to Love Younes:
-High level of hygiene: don’t believe me? Check the bathrooms. The older of the two branches is being renovated at the moment, so have some patience.
-Food and beverage menu with a wide array of delicious options: Erhmegerrrd! You’ve got to try the ‘Snicky’! I will say this, though: there’s nothing special about the ‘special’ brownie :/The bagels are delightful, though–as are the pancakes! I could go on, but I’ll let you discover the rest for yourself.
–Affordable prices: This really matters to students, and those of us on meager salaries.
-Eclectic clientele: Home of the Emos, Pseudo-intellectuals, introverts, ex-patriots, extroverts, actual intellectuals, histrionics, students, professors, starving artists, fashionistas, etc…
-Strong, flavorful coffee: perhaps the most important qualification. They sell take-home blends of various origins and strengths at the location off of Hamra Street. My favorite in-house orders include the aforementioned french press and the cappuccino.
-It’s local: Bit7ibb Libnen? 7ibb sina3to!
The only downside? You might have to wait a while for service at the Abdel-Aziz branch, and there’s no outdoor seating there. So, I do have to stress that the original location off of Hamra street is at the top of my list.
2. Second Cup: I don’t particularly enjoy the atmosphere at this place, but man do they have some good coffee and sweet treats! One cool thing that sets them apart from other coffee shops in the area is that they offer their brews with the addition of several different aromas (irish cream, vanilla, etc…) It’s an amazing olfactory as well as gustatory experience! Plus–they have blue velvet cake. That’s momma’s weakness right there. They also sell take-home blends. Prices are affordable, so why not try ’em all?
The downside: Poor bathroom hygeine. Ieulk. Also, I know this is being too judgmental, but the people that frequent the place seem like complete tools. (Sorry for the California-girl terminology).
3. Caribou Coffee: Sure, the quality of the goods/services has declined since it opened, but Caribou Coffee still deserves a spot on the list. Their Zebra Mocha (hot) does things to me, people. Their tea is fantastic, their cheesecake is delicious, and their location allows you to work with the hustle and bustle of the Hamra main street in the foreground. Their basic blends aren’t as rich as #s 1 & 2 on my list, but their specialty drinks will keep you coming back for more–provided that you have a sweet tooth, of course. Caribou boasts a mixed clientele in terms of age–the place is frequented by students and senior citizens alike. The bathrooms are squeaky clean. Momma likes.
The downside: As mentioned above, their actual coffee isn’t as rich and aromatic as that of the top two coffee shops. Secondly, the quality of the drinks was far better when the place opened, for example: Initially, my favorite drink there was the ice blended ‘Mint Condition’, which the menu still advertises as being made with real ‘Andes’ thin mints. Well, they stopped using the Andes brand, and I can taste the difference. I don’t like it. When I asked why, I was told it was too expensive to import them.
Andes Mint Condition, How I Miss Thee!
Notable Mention:
-Starbucks’ Coffee: Say what you will about the franchise (most of the critique its received has been politically charged), Starbucks still serves up the best Mocha Frappe I’ve ever had. Also, their multi-level indoor/outdoor seating overlooking Hamra Street is fantastic. Definitely deserving of a mention.
-Buttermint: Just off of Hamra street, this breezy, well-lit place is resembles an over-sized breakfast nook. Be sure to stop in for generous mixers of the best mint lemonade in town. So why aren’t they on the list? The food portions are too small, meaning you get less for your money. Also, the glassy exterior and roomy interior, which overlooks an outdoor deck, renders Buttermint more of a spring/summer destination. Just not cozy enough for winter.
The few that didn’t make the cut (and why):
-Gloria Jean’s: Why, you ask? Because their coffee is weaker than my 87 year-old grandmother’s hip joints. Yeah. Props for the two central locations with cozy seating, though.
-The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Are them beans and leaves made o’ gold? ‘Cause the beverages sure are priced that way! 9-10,000 for a cup of coffee is just wrong. Also, the atmosphere is lacking. The drinks are pretty good, though.
Well, there you have it! Don’t like my take? Weigh in! That’s what comments are for! Xx
What Momma Knows 