The fragrant aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts out of De Cafe Baristas’ front door as people visit the stores around the plaza located on 500 N. Atlantic Blvd. The coffee shop opened a month ago and offers a variety of high quality coffee beans from Brazil, Kenya and Ethiopia and teas from Taiwan.
As I strolled into the small café with my mom and sister, the warm brown tones of the furniture, the bright glow from the lighting and the slow, calming music in the background created a comfortable atmosphere. A steady stream of customers entered the store and the sound of their animated chatter filled the air.
Glancing over the menu, I noted its wide selection of coffee and tea beverages. There were many drinks to choose from, but I settled on a non-caffeinated tea. While I ordered a Chai Iced Tea, my mom ordered one of the café’s signature drinks, the Cold and Dirty Tea Latte, and my sister ordered a Jasmine Milk Tea. However, all the seats were occupied. This was an inconvenience as we had to stand uncomfortably to the side and wait for other customers to leave.
The drinks were ready in about five minutes, and I relished my frosty Chai Iced Tea. The flavor of the tea instantly burst across my tongue in a sweet symphony of spices, and the different notes of the flavors blended nicely with the cold milk. I sampled my mom’s Cold and Dirty Tea Latté, a chai tea drink with shots of espresso. I don’t normally drink coffee because I’m not fond of its bitter taste, but this drink was a pleasant surprise. The bitterness of the coffee balanced well with the sweetness of the tea, and it didn’t need ridiculous amounts of whipped cream or sugar. The flavors brought out a bittersweet aftertaste. Though the drinks were enjoyable, the only drawback was the large amount of ice in all of our drinks.
When I spoke to De Cafe Baristas’ manager, Mr. David Ko, he impressed me with his extensive knowledge of coffee. He even made me a complimentary latte to show me what “real coffee” tastes like. Ko told me that his goal is to introduce high quality coffee to the community. Ko believes that too many people only drink coffee for an energy fix and don’t appreciate it for its unique taste. He also wants to stick to good, traditional coffee, despite the rising trend of sugary drinks from coffee shops like Starbucks or other boba stops.
Coffee roasters like Intelligentsia, Herkimer and Four Barrel supply the new café with medium roast coffee beans, a roast that contains more complex flavors compared to a dark roast, which Starbucks serves. There are three levels of roasts: light, medium and dark. The lighter the roast, the more time and care is put into the beans, which results in a more complicated flavor palette. Instead of traveling to places like Downtown Los Angeles for authentic coffee, De Cafe Baristas offers a convenient alternative for avid coffee lovers.
D Cafe Baristas is the place to go if you want to experience a good cup of real coffee. If you aren’t a fan of the caffeinated drink, this place might change your mind. Though there weren’t enough seats in the tiny shop, the customer service is great and the drinks are heavenly, priced at an average of $4-5. Although the location is farther away from Temple City, it’s definitely worth the drive to try a soothing brew. De Cafe Baristas truly knows its trade.