Welcome to Back to Basics, where we classy ladies try to establish just how basic one can be in the Orlando area. Each month, we’ll be taking on a new theme, and we’ll be searching for the best in basic trends. We’ve all heard some of the most recent popular foodie trends: charcoal, galaxy and unicorn as well as familiar classics such as pumpkin spice and peppermint. We hope we can inspire the rest of the Nonahood to embrace their inner basic.
This month, with children and parents headed back to work and school, we’re all in need of a little bit of a wake-up boost and pep in our steps! We are on the hunt for the best coffee drinks here in Orlando and in the Nonahood!
Place: Krungthep Tea Time
Order: Cheese Thai Iced Coffee
Final Review Vanessa: For starters, hello, my name is Van, and I have a caffeine problem. Well, honestly, it’s a bit more of a COFFEE problem. I love all things caffeinated, and I cannot tell you how much I have been looking forward to this edition of Back to Basics. Trust me when I say that coffee is the REASON for my existence. You think I’m joking? I’m really not. This drink wakes me up every morning, is the reason that I can function through college lectures, and allows me to listen to every annoying person in my life talk. YOU THINK I AM PLAYING, BUT I AM ACTUALLY NOT. You’d think that coffee topped with cheese wouldn’t taste the best, but trust me on this one, this drink is amazing. The cheese actually seems more like a salted whipped cream to top the drink, in my opinion, and much less like a cheese than you’d think. The coffee is incredibly sweet and refreshing, and we all know how hot these Florida summers and autumns get. … I totally love this drink, and as a coffee lover, I’d say it is one of my favorites.
Place: Starbucks
Order: Iced Coffee, black, with two espresso shots
Final Review Vanessa: Hello, rocket fuel! Did you think I would be able to get through a coffee-based edition of Back to Basics without including my signature Starbucks order? Let me tell you, this drink got me through the entirety of my junior and senior years of high school. From dealing with loud teachers to catty girls and ex-boyfriends, this drink will wash your brain of anything but the task in front of you. I do not recommend this IN THE SLIGHTEST for anyone with a caffeine sensitivity or anyone who doesn’t quite like the feeling of shaking with PURE CAFFEINE ENERGY. This drink is not for the faint of heart, but I, for one, think it is pure coffee in its best form. Straight caffeine rush. WHOOHOO!
Place: Craft and Common
Order: Wild Child Iced Latte
Final Review Vanessa: This coffee was amazing! Plus, this store is brand new, and it’s aesthetic is on point. Go in for ultra minimalistic, modern classic, chic, and all-around wonderful vibes. Their menu is divided up into classic coffee drinks (espresso, latte, cappuccino, mocha) and specialty craft drinks (like my Wild Child Iced Latte! Complete with rose and vanilla!). It is definitely a great spot in downtown Orlando!
Place: Vanessa’s Coffee
Order: Classic Latte with Almond Milk and Coconut Matcha Latte
Final Review Nicole: GUYS, holy crap! I nearly jumped for joy when I saw this option on the menu and knew immediately that it was what I was going to order. I need a Vanessa’s Coffee Shop closer to my home. I could drink this coconut matcha latte every single day. The combination of two of my absolute favorite things had me a tad bit emotional. The flavors paired perfectly and combined for a blissful, creamy and sweet party in my mouth. I would definitely recommend this drink and am already planning on my return. It was 10 times better than Starbucks, and cheaper, too! Can I have a recurring shipment sent to my front door?
Final Review Vanessa: Wowza. A coffee shop that I share the name with, I’m already a fan! The aesthetic of this place is super cute, with a ton of really nice interior decor. My coffee was absolutely delicious. I loved the classic iced latte that I got. It isn’t too complicated, which is something that I’ve noticed so many coffee shops doing these days. I think a lot of them need to get BACK TO BASICS, if you know what I mean. Vanessa’s made a delicious, simple latte, and I loved it! The staff is super kind, and the environment is definitely a good place to sit down and catch up with a cup of coffee.
Place: Jacq & Jack
Order: Iced Mocha and Iced Latte
Final Review Vanessa: If you haven’t gone to Jacq & Jack yet (whether for a haircut or a cup of coffee), you need to check it out. This new addition to the Nonahood is both modern and classic, featuring a sleek and sophisticated aesthetic and the BEST chairs to sit and drink your coffee in. The mocha was perfect and just the way I like them: not too sweet, but super creamy and delicious. For people who like things a bit more on the sweeter side, you can add sugar or simple syrup to help take a bit of the edge off. Of course, everyone in the store is incredibly kind and helpful, and you get coffee while you’re getting your hair done (talk about a dream experience!). You have to check these guys out if you haven’t already.
Place: Zero Degrees
Order: House Coffee and Coffee Horchata
Final Review Nicole: Wow, this is so much better than I had expected! The cinnamon flavors coat your tongue almost instantly, and the creaminess of the drink really hit it out of the park. Not only was this drink exploding with flavor, but it was also super cheap! It’s unfortunate that this new place is about 30 minutes away, but I’ll be back. Their menu has an assortment of amazing options that I NEED to try!
Final Review Vanessa: Both of these are absolutely killer drinks! The vibe in this place is very relaxed, with both drinks being relatively inexpensive. The House Coffee was probably my favorite. I’ve always loved Vietnamese coffee, and with the house cream, it was super sweet and creamy. The Coffee Horchata was really good as well and has a lot of that wonderful cinnamon flavor you’d want in any kind of drink that featured horchata. Though it is a little bit of a drive to get out here, it is definitely worth it.
Place: Dunkin’ Donuts
Order: Cookie Dough Ice Cream Iced Coffee, Butter Pecan Ice Cream Iced Latte, Pistachio Ice Cream Latte
Final Review Nicole: The cookie dough is a great iced coffee for the summer, but I had a feeling the other two ice cream flavors will be even better. The cookie dough flavor is a bit fainter than I expected, but it’s also nice that it’s not a complete sugar overload. The butter pecan is much tastier than the cookie dough coffee, in my opinion. Had I known I could’ve made it a latte before I ordered, I might’ve liked the cookie dough better. The aftertaste of this butter pecan is a bit like a roasted pecan, but sweet. The pistachio flavor was my favorite out of the three featured ice cream flavors. I’m a fan!
Tune in next month when we celebrate the ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Back to Basics, and you’re all invited! We’ll commemorate this milestone with PLENTY of ice cream to beat the Florida heat! Whoop whoop!
