Happy Birthday DMV !

Del Mocha Vista is 2 years old today! It has been a most delicious two years indeed. This past year in particular led me to try some West Coast mochas, and I was happy to find that in general, Californians take their espresso seriously.

I have leaned on coffee and mochas a bit more than usual lately because… I got a puppy! Her name is Eleanor and she is a sweet golden retriever. I plan to raise her as a family dog, but also,  I plan to train her to be a certified therapy dog so she can come to work with me and help bring healing and joy to those patients struggling with eating disorders. That is her in the photo above!

I want to thank you all so much for joining me on this delectable journey to find some of the best mocha lattes around! Looking forward to all the excitement that this new year will bring! 🙂

 

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La Petite France

I have been on quite the yoga kick lately. While my favorite yoga classes include Bikram and any type of power vinyasa, some friends and I recently opted for an all together different type of yoga. This summer, we participated in Om Street; essentially, West Hartford, CT closed down a main street in the center, hired a band, and had a half dozen yoga teachers guiding us through an outdoor yoga class. After our invigorating morning workout, we headed to La Petite France for some post yoga treats – mocha included. 🙂

Taste: 2

Did they use skim milk or something? This mocha tasted a bit watery/airy. While I have had my share of skinny vanilla lattes, I could never voluntarily return to low fat or fat free milk in my coffee. Many years back, during the ‘skinny’ latte days, I went with a friend to an Italian bakery for some coffee and pastry. When I ordered my coffee with skim milk, our lovely Italian grandma-esque waitress replied: “oh no, you’ll have whole milk.” 🙂 I now take coffee and espresso with whole milk, sometimes a little half and half. In any case, I was not impressed with this mocha. Not only was the initial taste unimpressive, but in between sips I was left with a bitter aftertaste. I could not even finish this mocha because the remaining chocolate had solidified on the bottom of the cup (did not even ask if I wanted a ‘for here’ cup!). What made this mocha palatable was that with it I paired a delicious almond chocolate croissant.

Appearance: 2

This mocha is nothing special. It has potential, but I think I tried La Petite France on an out of the ordinary day–right after Om Street, way too busy! My mocha maker at La Petite France was this absolutely overwhelmed college kid. He complained to me about how some staff members did not show up today and he was more or less left alone to feed all of the post-yoga foodies. Perhaps he was too busy to put forth some effort into my mocha. Eeeks.

Ambiance: 4

Although my mocha creator did not exactly set the tone for a great ambiance, the interior of La Petite France was buzzing with good vibes and caffeinated yogis. This is a tiny place for people of all ages. It seems like quite a social place to gather, but I could see myself studying or reading here as well (I prefer reading amidst the distractions of a coffee shop! Helps me focus). The colors are bright, the place is sort of clean, and the crepes looked lovely! Overall, I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed my time here–I may, next time, grab some croissants to go. However, if you find yourself in need of a coffee in West Hartford Center, come to La Petite France if you’re simply looking for average taste.

 

Lulu’s Coffee

My favorite place to study in CT has got to be on Yale’s campus. I immediately feel more studious and somehow can concentrate longer than ever! I have always been one to study best in a noisy coffee shop.  I find that the surrounding noises center me, whereas studying in a quiet library leaves me looking for distractions.

Walk by any great coffee shop in New Haven and you’re bound to find an eccentric mix of students and professors typing essays, grading papers, or engaging in a heated debate over the ethics, technology, and the environment ( 😉 ). Yet at Lulu’s Coffee on Cottage St it is only conversation you will see; the owner, Lulu deCarrone, has banned laptops and Wifi from her shop. With upwards of four tables, this tiny shop is always busy and great for people watching.  Just don’t drink the mocha.  http://luluscoffee.com/

Taste: 3

There was some young college student preparing my drinks. I hear the coffee tastes better when prepared by Lulu. Lets hope that’s true because my mocha latte was nothing special. It tasted more like watery chocolate syrup. It would have been better if you could actually taste all three ingredients. I was pleased to see that Lulu’s uses local ingredients, including The Farmer’s Cow milk prepared right in Lebanon, CT! I happened to try a cup of the Lulu’s blend coffee on another trip and I have to say this was much better than the mocha.

Appearance: 1

The OED defines aesthetic as: “concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.” It’s like they don’t care about aesthetics at Lulu’s. My mocha maker did not even attempt any latte art. And I don’t need latte art necessarily, but at least prepare a decent tasting mocha. Plus, do they even have ‘for here’ cups and saucers? I for one do not recall being asked if I wanted a ‘for here’ cup. If Lulu’s is so adamant about no laptops in an effort to boost community and face-to-face communication, why is their default a to go cup?

Ambiance: 5

Nestled among the quiet homes on Cottage St stands Lulu’s. I would have walked right by this place had I not been strolling with a trusty guide. I prefer buying most anything from an independently owned shop, trying to support local business. Lulu’s bans computers, so don’t come here to type a paper. There is outdoor seating during the warmer months but I’m not sure if you can get away with using your laptop outside. Either way, I’m on board with this policy. If you can find a seat inside, you’ll feel as though you’re at some B&B, or having coffee in a friend’s kitchen. The menu is small but it includes some small cafe staples, including coffee, tea, sandwiches, and pastries. There was a great mix of locals when we stopped in, some reading a newspaper and some grabbing a treat after a soccer game. I am eager to try some of the treats at Lulu’s and encourage you to do the same next time you’re walking around Yale.

 

J. Rene Coffee Roasters

Madness seems to be prevailing over March at this point; this has been one of the longest Winters I can remember. Although it is technically Spring, nightly temperatures still average about 35 degrees. Oy. No matter, just more days geared towards trying new (extra hot, no whip cream) mocha lattes! I know that iced mocha season is just around the corner.

I was fortunate enough to find this hidden gem in West Hartford, CT called J. Rene Coffee Roasters. J. Rene is a small, family owned coffee shop and micro-roasting shop. With the high quality of coffee, variety of coffee brewing methods, and informative baristas, J. Rene’s is truly a must try for coffee lovers.  http://www.jrenecoffee.com/

Taste: 7

A good mocha latte is just so good. I have yet to learn how to appreciate a cup of black coffee, and with the mochas at J. Rene, I may very well never get there. My Bubbie once said: “if you learn to drink your coffee black, you can never be disappointed”. She has a point. I have been extremely disappointed and surprised by how undrinkable some mochas can be (I stay away from Dunkin Donuts as much as possible). Alternately, I have been pleasantly surprised by the expertise of certain mocha makers (Stumptown is still the front runner in my book). I hold pretty lofty expectations for most people, places, and things in my life, mochas included. So let me tell you about this mocha: it had a deliciously difficult to capture equality between three flavors: the steamed milk, the espresso, and the cocoa. The temperature could have been much hotter and the cocoa could have been more bitter, but overall just divine.

Appearance: 6

I always appreciate a little latte art. I’ve seen this design before and it always reminds me of some Rorschach test – what do you see in this design? No explanation for serving my mocha in a to go cup (how wasteful!) when my friend received his coffee (french press, black 🙂 ) in a for here cup. I’m a sucker for a nice cup and matching saucer. Maybe next time I’ll let the barista know I’d like my mocha “for here”.

Ambiance: 8

This is my kind of coffee shop. I went to J. Rene’s after work on a Wednesday night. There was plenty of on street parking as well as a small complimentary parking lot. As I walked in, the aroma of freshly ground espresso hit me. Yes. There was only a handful of people in the shop that evening. Everyone seemed to be lost in good conversation or in a good book. Why didn’t I see any laptops? J. Rene does not have WIFI. I can get used to this place. The decor is beautiful, streamlined, bright colors, no nonsense. There are a variety of seating options, mostly tables, a few comfy green chairs. As you order your drink, there are so many coffee brewing options to choose from it can feel overwhelming. A kind barista walked us through our options, made some recommendations, took our order, and invited us to have a seat. Our coffees were delivered to us promptly as Earth, Wind, and Fire played in the background. I plan to return to J. Rene on one of their live music nights so I can try one of their delicious looking pastries as well as one of their many coffee brewing methods. Or, perhaps, I’ll grab another mocha. This time, in a “for here” mug.

 

*Additional reading. I’d like to share a new discovery with you: “Dear Coffee, I Love You”. Coffee, travel, photography. Yup. http://www.dearcoffeeiloveyou.com/

 

Woodland Coffee & Tea

Hello to YOU, my fabulous readers! And a Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate. I woke up to some beautiful snow this morning, so I can imagine that all of you who were dreaming of a white Christmas last night must be pretty darn excited. Growing up, my family would often spend Christmas day skiing, and we basically had the slopes to ourselves. Or we would do the typical Jewish Christmas – Chinese food and a movie. But this year things are different; my family is all flying to California to visit one of my brothers for a long, well deserved, vacation together. But before I leave, I have a new mocha post just for you!

I love exploring coffee shops in New Haven, CT. I recently paid a visit to Woodland Coffee & Tea. It was overall just ‘eh’, so I’m not going to write much about it. Basically, go if you want, just don’t order a mocha.

Taste: 3

I don’t think a mocha latte is supposed to taste like bitter vanilla, but this one did. Ick. AND it was served to me warm. Oy. Do I have to order drinks extra hot everywhere I go?

Appearance: 4

They tried, yes. There is some semblance of a heart shape with my steamed milk. But no saucer?! – 6 points. 🙂

Ambiance: 3

This is a fine place to come here and do some reading because it is SO QUIET! If you like sleepy coffee shops that are a big too big and empty, then come on down. The service here is nice – they actually take your order at the table (sometimes) and bring your coffee to your table. There is a huge menu, so even if coffee and pastries are not your thing, I am sure you can find something. Check it out! http://www.woodlandcoffee.com/

 

Happy Birthday DMV!

Hello fabulous readers!  Do you know what today is?  It’s Del Mocha Vista’s birthday!  Can you believe it was exactly one year ago today that I first blogged on DMV?  I went to Starbucks and reviewed their mocha latte.  At the time, the Starbucks mocha was my all time favorite mocha, my barometer, my benchmark.  The bitter cocoa, the rich espresso, the mountains of steamed milk.  All mochas should be like this!  But over the course of this past year, I’ve discovered some amazing mochas, some even better than those made at Starbucks.  Most notably, Stumptown in NYC sets the bar super high when it comes to mochas.  I highly recommend it!

Do you have a mocha or a coffee benchmark?

So as we wish DMV a happy 1st birthday today, I have to say a BIG THANKS to YOU!  Thanks for reading and commenting and guest posting throughout the year.  It means a lot.  It has also been a pleasant surprise to get to know some of you on a deeper, coffee-obsessed level. It’s kind of awesome. Keep it up. 🙂

Wishing you all a fabulous night!

 

The Book Trader Cafe

Ahhh Yale.  Home of the Bulldogs, inventors and actors, and more coffee shop + book store combinations than I’ve ever seen.  This makes my mocha research that much easier!   Before a day of meetings for me and a day of classes for Altair (you ‘met’ her at Blue State Coffee), we stopped in at The Book Trader Cafe in New Haven, CT.  “Feed your body & your mind!”

 

Taste: 5

“I think they messed up my order,” I said to Altair after taking the first sip of my mocha.  I couldn’t detect any cocoa so I asked Altair to try.  She too thought it tasted more like a latte so I went back to the barista.  I told her that I ordered a mocha but was not sure what I got.  She explained that it was a mocha but that she did not mix up all the ingredients.  As she asked ‘did you want more chocolate?’ she poured chocolate syrup into my mocha. Ughhh.  I retreated back too my seat and got only half way through my mocha before it became too disgustingly sweet to drink.  Had you initially mixed up the flavors, barista, you would receive a higher Taste rating 🙂

Appearance: 6

Photos are taken pre-chocolate syrup addition. The mocha does look nice next to my mocha chip scone, wouldn’t you agree?  You also might be asking yourself: ‘Why is she drinking that in a paper cup?’  The answer, dear readers, is that The Book Trader Cafe did not have any clean mugs! Ughhh.  On the bright side, the barista who created my latte mocha seemed very into the looks of my mocha!  I like it when people take pride in their work.  Look closely and you can see a tiny little flower/heart ❤  Cute, right?  I also like how the design is located center stage with a frame of rich chocolately espresso.  I would have loved to have seen a more unique design – a book, perhaps?

 

Store Ambiance: 6

8:30am.  Surrounded by books, good company, good coffee + scones, and… debates over architecture?!  Altair was telling me about her favorite local architects when we hear a voice from across the room exclaim: ‘Deborah Berke ruined New Haven!’ We turned around to discover that we had some conversation snoops.  A resounding debate over Deborah Berke v. Zaha Hadid ensued.  Store ambiance points: +3.  This store is really large, and I almost got the feeling like I was having breakfast in my own kitchen.  There is ample table space, both inside and outside, at a table or tucked away down an aisle of books.  Perhaps it was early morning, or perhaps The Book Trader Cafe is always this way, but there was a bit of a sleepy vibe.  I like how this place offers a variety of food and drinks as well as gently used books (you can sell them your books, DVDs, and CDs for cash or store credit!)  The employees seem to really care about your experience at the store, which is a refreshing dose of niceness for Connecticut. This place seems to care a bit more about their books than the quality of their food or the appearance of their store (hello dirty tables and ugly green decor). I may be back, but I’ll stick to your coffee next time.

Wouldn’t you like to study here?!

 

Studious

Ahhh Yale.  I feel instantly smarter (and more stressed) when I walk around the Yale campus.  Last week I met up with a fabulous friend who goes to Yale and she had a few coffee shop recommendations.  We stopped for a mocha (a skim latte for Altair) at Blue State Coffee in New Haven, CT.  Very ‘me’ in some ways.  Here’s why:

Taste:  4

Hello bitterness! I cannot remember a time where I tried a mocha and thought to myself: ‘Wow this thing needs some sugar!”  It was like drinking baking chocolate, you know, the extremely bitter kind you just don’t eat? Well I was so wrapped up in our conversation that I forgot to grab some sugar; by the time I had finished my ‘mocha’ I had already developed a stomach ache.  Perhaps you might want to try some sweeter cocoa next time, Blue State!

Appearance:  4

Well I was disappointed in how plain this mocha looks! Especially because the stranger sitting near us had a beauuutiful design on her coffee concoction! Hmmpf.  Major points lost for inconsistency with steamed milk designs.  I’ll give the presentation a few points here because I love how the white cup brings out the mocha color. AND a cup and saucer pairing makes any coffee drink taste better 🙂

Store Ambiance:  8

YES this is a great place to study, people watch, and catch up with friends.  Lively classic music at a perfect volume, framed Polaroid photos lining the tan walls, and lots of space.  There were people of all ages sitting at tables and chairs and on big comfy leather couches.  This place was totally packed, but it is large enough for everyone to eventually secure a seat.  Blue State also has a great community board with a list of all the goings-on around town – I love that.  AND last but not least they use locally made dairy products and have a bunch of cafe-esque food options (chocolate croissant anyone?) If I had to make any recommendations for how to improve it would have to be some cooler tables and lights; just too bland for my taste.  Other than this, I recommend Blue State to anyone 🙂

MAJOR brownie points for being good to our Earth 🙂

What is your favorite New Haven java place?

 

Whole

I think I could live at Whole Foods.  It makes me so happy to walk around the store and sample see all the good-for-you goodies.  Just yesterday I went to Whole Foods in West Hartford, CT to grab a dark chocolate mocha. Full disclaimer: I love this store.  While going into this edition of my mocha research with such a bias may not be fair, I simply can’t help myself.

Taste: 6

A DARK chocolate mocha? Why don’t they have this option everywhere? As a matter of fact, replacing dark chocolate for milk chocolate in any coffee shop is a sure way to boost sales!  There’s got to be some research done on this somewhere… I digress.  So I could taste almost equal parts espresso – cocoa – and milk, and I like this; however, it was almost like the milk and chocolate taste took up 80% of the flavor. I wish I could have tasted more of the espresso.

Appearance: 4

Aww Whole Foods I suppose you can’t be the best at everything.  This mocha does look warm and inviting, but it simply does not compare to the artsy mochas I have tried in Boston and NYC.  It might have looked nicer if there was some whip cream on top but I am a strict ‘no whip’ gal when it comes to my mochas.  Also, as some of you might notice, I am drinking out of a ‘to go’ cup.  Ughh, I’m sorry Earth.

 

Store Ambiance: 6

As I previously mentioned, I love this store.  Great vibes, great food, great selection.  Rarely do I ever check out the architecture or the decorations at Whole Foods, but this time I happened to stop and look around.  I was somewhat disappointed with how wharehouse-y this place looks – every wire and beam is exposed, all red and light wood. It would have been great to see some local anything in this place – a big community board, some art, some cooking demonstrations.  Who am I kidding, I still wish I could live here 🙂

Took my mocha and my new Iraqi hand bag out for a walk!

 

Shop ‘Till You Drop

Last week my mother and I went to Westfarms Mall in Farmington, CT to do a little holiday shopping! We needed a little pick me up and headed into Gloria Jean’s Coffees for a mocha. Here’s the scoop:

Taste: 4

As you can see, this latte was swwwwweet! I asked for no whip cream, but when my mother told the owner/barista that I will be featuring her mocha on my blog, she wanted to make it look beautiful! I like that in a barista. This mocha tasted like super sweet hot chocolate – I wish I could have tasted the coffee more. This was so sweet I could not finish the drink.

Appearance: 5

This looks like a dessert! Like cookies and cream. Look at how the steamed milk is almost overflowing. This mocha looks cutesy, and while I do appreciate the barista’s efforts, it is quite easy to add whip cream and sprinkles. I might have been more impressed had she crafted some shape out of the steamed milk.

Store Ambiance: 4

For an empty mall coffee shop this place gets a 4 because the owner/barista was so nice! She was so happy and personable that she lightened up the entire store! She also asked me to write down this website so she can check out the review. Besides her, the store was pretty clean, it smelled sweet and chocolately, and there was happy holiday music playing softly in the background. Perhaps having a seating area in the store or directly outside of the store might entice customers to stay a while.

   

Happy Holiday shopping everyone!