'Owl' You Need is Coffee!

Hello fellow coffee drinkers!

Have you tried coffee tailgating yet? There are several drive-through coffee companies cropping up around the country, and instead of the usual coffee atmosphere, you can go find a friend with a pickup truck and have a cup o' Joe!

This past weekend, I was in Valdosta, Georgia, with an adorable couple of friends, and we got to try out the start-up Red Owl Coffee Company. There are three of these specialty coffee locations in Valdosta and one in Tifton. Even though it appears to be only a drive-through, we went up to the window and ordered on foot anyway. Because why not live life the unexpected way? Lol.

My beverage of choice was a 16 oz. Hazelnut Iced Latte with two shots of espresso. It was so refreshing after a day of hiking and swimming, and the espresso had a boldness that is worth appreciating. The hazelnut added a variety of nuttiness without being too sweet, and 'owl-in-owl,' I would give my first experience at Red Owl Coffee Company a 4.0 of 5 stars!

Stay warm; stay awesome!

<3 Lena Beana <3

P.S. Sorry about 'owl' the puns!

The Great Pumpkin

"This is halloween; this is halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!" It's the perfect day to watch a classic like The Nightmare before Christmas, and it's a nice, chilly day for some coffee, too!

In the spirit of fall, I decided to try an iced Pumpkinlicious coffee from the Daily Grind, and I was pleased that I actually enjoyed the beverage. While it is not something I would order every day, the pumpkin flavoring was subtle, and a bit of caramel enhanced the sweetness of the drink as well. The texture was smooth and cool, and what better way is there to end another October?

I do not usually do the 'fall flavored' things, but my first taste turned out well, and I would give the Mega Pumpkinlicious a 3.5 of 5 stars. Try a bit of the Great Pumpkin to keep you moving and motivated throughout the holiday, and have an awesome day!

<3 Lena Beana <3

The Royale Treatment

Hello coffee lovers! It's been a hot minute since I have written any updates, so I figured I would get back in the swing of things with a newer hot coffee from my new study spot in the 'Boro: The Daily Grind. (Pssstt...they also have rotating daily specials of iced coffees starting at $1.93!)

If you have a taste for both hot chocolate and coffee, then this is the place to go! The Mega Mocha Royale is a wonderful coffee invention that consists of fresh espresso and steamed chocolate milk. It is topped with a thick layer of whipped cream, a dash of cocoa powder, and a few chocolate covered espresso beans. The texture can only be described as creamy and delicious, and the espresso comes from a popular Three Tree espresso blend - my personal guess is that it includes some of their Ethiopian blend.

This beverage pairs well with any of their homemade scones or muffins, and don't forget to bring some good company in the form of a friend or good book! All in all, I am delighted to give the Mocha Royale a firm 4.5 of 5 stars.

Happy sipping, and happy fall!

<3 Lena Beana <3

The Morning - Latte Hype

Question: You know what's better than coffee in the morning? 

Answer: Super cheap ($0.85) Three Tree coffee in the morning! 

Three Tree switched their rewards program over to punch cards a couple weeks ago, and I have just got to turn in my first one for $3.00 off my coffee purchase. So, basically, I got a fancy, 12 oz. vanilla latte for less than a buck. There are some perks to being a regular!

The flavor was of the super sweet, creamy variety, and it was definitely enhanced by the coffee mug that allowed me to enjoy the maximum amount of foaminess. If I had to compare it, I would say that it is most similar in flavor to the sweetened espresso beverage I ordered at the Foxy Loxy Cafe in Savannah (see post here), but it was different enough to be unique because of the blended roasts of espresso from Nicaragua and Guatemala. 

Overall, I would say that this was a fine coffee experience, and I understand why people get pumped up with a morning latte (even though I still prefer my coffee black). The Vanilla Latte earned a healthy 3.8 stars in my book, but let's face it, the pretty design rounds it up to a 4.0! Have a wonderful morning, and enjoy the hype!

<3 Lena Beana <3

A Latte New Happenings

Good afternoon, lovely readers!

Time has gotten away from me these last few weeks as I have been preparing for the start of my senior year in college. So many new and incredible adventures have taken place, but I have come back to my favorite roost this week just in time for their 2nd anniversary: Three Tree Coffee Roasters!

The eclipse hype has passed, and while I enjoyed the cool weather yesterday, the heat has returned! To combat this, I decided to try a Frozen Caramel Latte, and it was the absolute bomb. It was more refreshing than a milkshake, and that is some serious praise considering my general enthusiasm for all things ice cream.

It was as creamy as a hot latte, and as smooth and sweet as an iced coffee, but without the annoyance of cubed ice floating around and taking up space. There was enough espresso (of the delicious Peruvian and Ethiopian mix) to have that great pick-me-up to give me a little energy boost for my second week of classes. All in all, I would give the Frozen Caramel Latte an enthusiastic 4.5 out of 5 stars, and a Shout Out goes to the cool new barista, Dory, for making such a fabulous drink!

Y'all have an awesome day, and thanks a latte for reading!

<3 Lena Beana <3

Pouring On the Love

Summer is ending, and I am back in the States searching for the best coffee from the coast of Florida! Panama City Beach has a real gem hidden on the beachfront: The Pour.

I am so excited to be writing this blog again and pumped that I can recommend the Iced Mocha with so much enthusiasm! The environment was chill, inviting, and the coffee flavor was strong. The beans are locally roasted, organic, and paid for above the Fair Trade rate to promote the health and growth of the communities that provide the beans in the Congo and Mexico. The profits from The Pour go to Ark ministries in PCB so the gospel is shared, and Jesus is worshipped at their location!

All of these wonderful qualities added to my enjoyment of a smooth, cool chocolate coffee. The Iced Mocha gets a 4.5 of 5 stars, and I hope I will get the chance to return in the future.

Have a cheery day!

<3 Lena Beana <3

I Hear Las Campanas!

Hello everyone! Thank you for visiting my blog that now includes coffee from around the world. Because I am in Spain for a month, I will be writing my blogs in English and Spanish...and now for the coffee talk!

While I was exploring the historic streets of Seville with my friend Michelle, we stopped to eat at a sweet shop called La Campana which means 'The Bell' in English. We stood at the counter because there were not any chairs to sit in! While we ate our pastries, I thought about how to describe the flavor of the coffee.

I had ordered coffee with milk - a relatively popular drink from my observations. The coffee seemed to have been roasted for a longer time than what I am used to in the States, and this technique gave it a strong and bold taste. The milk used did not have lactose in it, and it was steamed to a creamy perfection before being added to my cup. 

There were not any designs in the foam, but hey, the flavor and authenticity made up for the lack of a momentary heart or flower drawn into the cup. I am happy to say that my first review from another country receives 4.5 out of 5 stars! Happy Independence Day, and have a wonderful day celebrating the life you have been blessed with today!

<3 Lena Beana <3

¡Hola a todos! Bienvenidos a mi blog sobre el café del mundo. Porqué estoy en España por un mes, escribiré mis blogs en español y inglés...¡y ahora la conversación de café!

Mientras mi amiga Michelle y yo callejeábamos en Sevilla, comemos en la Confitería La Campana. ¡Nos quedamos al lado del mostrador porque no tiene ningunas sillas! Mientras comíamos nuestros postres, yo pensé cómo describir el sabor del café.

He ordenado una taza de café con leche - una bebida caliente que es relativamente popular en mis observaciones. El café se tostó durante más tiempo que el café en los Estados Unidos, y el sabor tuvo un buen gusto. La leche sin lactosa era perfectamente cremosa también. 

No hay los diseños en mi café, pero el sabor auténtico era mejor que un diseño por un momento. ¡Estoy feliz que mi revisión del café de un otro país recibió 4.5 de 5 estrellas! ¡Dios te bendiga!

<3 Lena Beana <3

What Does the Fox Say?

Earlier this week, I went on a coffee venture on the coast to the Foxy Loxy Cafe in Savannah. A new friend had told me I was missing out on better coffee, and while I may not agree with all of his coffee preferences, he was right about Savannah's coffee scene. The whole place was wall to wall in reds and blacks in a perfect hipster fashion.

As for the coffee itself, I ordered Café con Leche thinking it was going to be similar to a Macchiato (my current favorite). There was a fair amount of rich espresso, and a little more milk than I had expected, but it was the sweetness that took me by surprise. I believe it was an extra dash of sugar or shot of caramel that was added, but it was a decent cup of coffee all the same.

I have to admit that it was worth the trip to enjoy una taza de café (a cup of coffee) with some good company. While it's not what I initially expected, I would still recommend the Café con Leche with 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Drive safe as you explore new coffee venues of your own, and as always, have a wonderful day!

<3 Lena Beana <3

A Taste of Africa

The coffee journey continues to go on! Even though I am still in Statesboro at Three Tree Coffee Roasters, I have been able to enjoy freshly ground and roasted coffee beans all the way from the Gitwe Hill Region in Burundi. I tried a 12 oz. Burundi AeroPress, and I was pleasantly surprised by how similar it was to the smooth texture of the French press method.

AeroPress involves total submersion of the grounds into the hot water, and this process provides a more even extraction of the coffee grounds. The Burundi blend usually takes much longer to brew, so I was super glad to learn that the AeroPress method reduces both the time it takes to brew and the acidity levels of the finished drink because of the shorter brew time.

The tasting notes were listed as follows: Black Cherry Gusher, Raspberry Sherbet, and Juicy Tomato. Basically, all of these hinted towards the gourmet, fruity flavor. It was bold and rich as well, so if you are a fan of fruit, this is the brew for you! Overall, I would say this scores a healthy 4.0 out of 5 stars! Have a wonderful Sunday, and an awesome new week!

<3 Lena Beana <3

Don't 'Let It Go'...

Before Three Tree, there was another coffee shop in my life. I went there with my friend Meridith a few times throughout my sophomore year of college, and it was my first real coffee shop experience. This past week, I returned to the Frozen Bean in Eastman, GA, with the hopes that their beverages were as good as I remembered. I was not disappointed, and I thought I would share the positivity with you, lovely reader!

It was great to be back at the Bean, and I was feeling adventurous enough to try a really fancy-sounding coffee. The Iced White Cheesecake Mocha definitely deserves a chance! There was not that strong coffee taste that I usually go for, but it wasn't so sweet that it tasted like it was trying to be a milkshake. The ice was blended in to perfection, and it was so much better than the iced coffees that have cubed ice dumped straight into your glass!

As for flavor, the creamy cheesecake and hint of chocolate will be a favorite of those with a sweet tooth, like me! Overall, the Iced White Cheesecake Mocha earned a 4.0 out of 5 stars in my book, and I am looking forward to not letting go of my next experience with Frozen (Bean). Have a beautiful day!

<3 Lena Beana <3

Espresso Your Love

Phase Two of my coffee venture brought me back to Three Tree Coffee Roasters in Statesboro to start off my summer classes with some reliably awesome coffee.

Today I felt the need for a quick caffeine boost, so I tried the Macchiato. From what I have gathered on the origin of the name, Macchiato was coined in Italy to differentiate between regular espresso and espresso with a spot of milk. I favor that little drop of milk, because it brings out the rich espresso flavor and makes the drink creamier.

They use beans from Peru for the espresso, and that just so happens to be one of my favorite country's roasts. Hands down, this is the best hot coffee drink I have bought here, and it gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend a Macchiato to anyone that wants a quick pick-me-up with great flavor! Have an awesome day and a wonderful start to your summer!

<3 Lena Beana <3

Beginning My Coffee Journey

I used to think that blogs about silly things like food or clothes were cliche, and maybe I still do. But now I am starting one about coffee, so maybe my opinions are a little too biased to count anymore.

First, a little information about myself: Level 18 in age, Junior in college, Loves Jesus.

And now I can move onto the more interesting information: COFFEE! There is this awesome coffee shop in Statesboro, Georgia, called Three Tree Coffee Roasters, and it has this super chill atmosphere that is perfect for me as finals week is coming up.

I am there right now as I write this, and I am continuing my personal goal of trying everything on the menu. Today's coffee is a 16 oz. Ethiopian French Press from the Limu region of Ethiopia. The tasting notes are strawberries and red wine, but so far, I have not picked up on the strawberry taste. I am a huge fan of french press, but I think I will get a lighter medium roast next time. There is a slightly bitter aftertaste, but I would still give this 3.5 out of 5 stars (High praise for my picky standards). Overall, this was a good day in my coffee adventure, and I look forward to writing again soon! Have a wonderful day!

<3 Lena Beana <3