Review - Tea Talk

205 N. 10th St
215.925.1581
Yelp, Google Maps
Su - Th: 11am - 11pm, Fri - Sat: 11am - 1am

Like a lot of things in Philly, we were late to the bubble tea party. For those of you not familiar with bubble tea, sometimes called boba, it's a Chinese tea with tapioca balls that you suck up with a special wide straw. It's almost always sweet and served with milk. Sure, bubble tea is sold at any of the Chinese bakeries in Chinatown or even, one of my personal favorites, at the bar at the restaurant Rising Tide. And then there was the now defunct Bubble House in University City--more restaurant than cafe. But until last year when Tea Talk opened, we didn't have a dedicated bubble tea cafe.

Well, those first few months, it had been worth the wait. Tea Talk had the best cup of bubble tea you could find in Philadelphia. It's clean (unlike a lot of shops in Chinatown) and the service is quick and efficient. But more recently, they seem to be slipping. Perhaps its inconsistencies among the staff, but my last visit was definitely not up to par. The tea had a bitter aftertaste, possibly from overbrewing. And my companion's Thai tea was so sweet it tasted like the leftover milk from a bowl of Frooty Pebbles.

A couple of other drawbacks to note: at peak times, there isn't enough seating. But that doesn't seem to deter people from just standing around, as if it were some kind of bar (it's not). And the crowd most likely to be at Tea Talk tends to be on the younger side (think high school), which I find distracting. Maybe it's in having to deal with this less mature and possibly less discerning clientele that Tea Talk has lost their grip on quality.

Regardless, my favorite drink is the classic black milk bubble tea, cold when the weather's hot and hot when the weather's cold. The other flavors are just as good but you can't beat the clean, consistent taste of a classic (when it's done right, that is).

If you're feeling especially adventurous, you can try one of the "popping" bubble drinks. It's a unique kind of yogurt-filled tapioca ball. It's... interesting. Worth trying at least once but not the type of drink that turns into a regular order.

Tea: 3 beans
Atmosphere: 3 beans

Review - Odd Fellows Cafe

1201 Spruce St
484.897.0633
Yelp, Google Maps
M - W: 7am - 10pm, Th - Su: 7am - 11pm

From the owners of Spruce Street Espresso, Odd Fellows is an odd cafe. Like Gold Standard in West Philly, it's a combination of cafe and casual dine-in restaurant. I want so much to like Odd Fellows for what it is, but I can't.

If it were a dine-in restaurant, it would be great. If it were a cafe, it would be great. But it fails at trying to be both. There's nowhere to sit if you just want to drink a cuppa and read a book. Unlike Gold Standard which clearly separates the cafe from the dining room, Odd Fellows has just one open space. I found it confusing.

It could have been that I went on a off-day. It was a weekday evening and the weather forecast called for heavy rain. I entered only to discover I was the only customer there. A friend was meeting me, so I ordered an iced tea. I've been on a rooibos kick lately and theirs hit the spot. But still, I felt uncomfortable. The service was great, but the hour or so that I was there, no one else came in. I noticed two or three single patrons sitting outside, but that was it. Just two or three odd fellows. The cafe certainly lives up to its name.

Coffee: 3 beans
Atmosphere: 2 beans

Review - B2

1500 East Passyunk Ave.
215.271.5520
Yelp, Google Maps
M - F: 7am - 10pm, S - S: 8am - 8pm
Free Wi-Fi, Tables, Outlets

I'll admit I wandered in here by accident. I was supposed to have lunch at the sushi place down the street but apparently it only serves dinner. Thank goodness B2 was here to save the day. I was hungry and my boyfriend needed to use a restroom, so we wandered in. I'm glad we did.

This place was an interesting mix of hipster and old-school South Philly. Cut-off jeans, unkempt hair, Chucks, bike locks, and messenger bags sat side by side next to balding white men with beer bellies in ragged sweats. A balloon at the bar marked B2's 4th anniversary.

The menu had a variety of sandwiches (we ordered a tomato basil mozzarella combo), fresh fruit smoothies, and soft serve. Yes! Soft Serve! The fresh fruit smoothie options were interesting. We didn't know what to expect with our orange blackberry choice, but it was delicious and the flavors worked really well together. I also got a cappuccino, which was okay. But I liked that they had an 8-oz, 12-oz, 16-oz, and 20-oz option. Caffeine!

All in all, it was a great little place. A bit dingy but it's almost expected for South Philly (no offense). Lots of big tables for getting stuff done.

Coffee: 3 beans
Atmosphere: 3 1/2 beans

Review - Almaz Cafe

140 S. 20th St.
215.557.0108
Website, Yelp, Google Maps
M - F: 8am - 10pm, Sat: 9am - 10pm, Sun: 10am - 6pm

Going on six years, Almaz has been at its 20th and Walnut location longer than I've been working in Philly, but I had only been there once before this review. So recently on a weekday evening, I met up with a few girlfriends for coffee there. It was hot and humid outside and not that much better inside despite the air conditioning unit.

We took a table on the lower level since we were told that upstairs was reserved for dining. I ordered a cappuccino and my friends ordered from their fresh fruit smoothie menu. All our drinks were great, but especially the mango smoothie. And it definitely helped to beat the heat. The owner took our orders and was super-friendly. He was patient with us even as one of us waffled on whether she wanted a cookie. (She did. It was freshly baked on the premises. He was kind enough to give her the biggest one from the jar.)

The decor is not much to look at. It's not very well-lit and can be a bit cramped. But the food and drinks more than make up for it.

I saw other patrons ordering dinner and the look of the Ethiopian dishes made my mouth water. I'll definitely be stopping by in the near future to try something from the main dinner menu and maybe get another one of those mango smoothies.

Coffee: 4 beans
Atmosphere 3 1/2 beans

Review - Lovers and Madmen

28 S. 40th St.

215.243.9851

Website, Yelp, Google Maps

M - F: 7:30am - 6pm, Sat: 8am - 6pm, Sun: 9am - 6pm

Lovers and Madmen

I randomly stopped by here on a Sunday afternoon for a quick pick-me-up, so this is really more of a "drive by" review. But my brief experience was so lovely that I hope to spend more time here in the future (and write a longer review).

On the recommendation of a friend, I ordered a pour-over to go. It was a dollar more than the drip but I'm willing to pay up for a fresher cup of joe. I was pleased to see it was a blend from Counter Culture, known for bringing quality sustainable coffee to the conscientious consumer. While I waited for the hand pour, I lingered by the bar near the entrance to take in the atmosphere.

What I enjoyed most about this place was that it had a very home-y feel to it. Despite being pretty full that day, the cafe was very quiet because all the patrons (likely local area students) were studying. Some people might have found it too quiet and even a little tense in the silence, but I appreciated that a person could enjoy a beverage and meditate on one's topic of choice without loud distractions. It was easy to see why these studious individuals were all attracted to Lovers and Madmen. It was clean, there were plenty of tables, and a wealth of natural light poured in from the large windows.

As for the coffee--it was decent but too hot. Nothing irks me more than a scalding cup of coffee. Except for maybe loud cafe patrons who don't know when to shut up.

Coffee: 3 beans
Atmosphere: 4 beans

Review - Gold Standard

4800 Baltimore Avenue
215.727.8247
Website, Yelp, Google Maps
M - Tues: 7 am - 8 pm, W - F: 7 am - 9pm, Sat: 8 am - 9 pm, Sun: 7 am - 8 pm


[Editor's note: this review was written by a guest blogger, Norma, who also wrote the view for Cafe L'Aube.]



The first of many great things about The Gold Standard Cafe is that it's really two cafes in one. When you first walk in, there's the self-serve area in the front where you can get a cup of coffee to go, or sit down with it and know you'll be left alone to study or have a conversation with a friend at your leisure. Then, there's the larger dining area in the back, where a host or hostess seats you and a server takes your order from a fairly extensive menu.


The self-serve cafe: I mentioned there are many great things about Gold Standard. Not only is it clean and well-lit, I love how there's always plenty of seating, both indoor and out. Maybe it's the time of day when I'm usually there (late afternoons on Sunday), but I appreciate how I can almost always get a seat inside near the wide window in the front and spread my things out. And since it's not crowded, it's also quiet. The only thing I wish they would fix is that the front door slams shut, and if you're not expecting it, it can be very jarring. For the more diligent patron, there's free wifi and the occasional outlet.


They serve La Colombe (my favorite!) but for some reason their iced coffee was only decent, so I'm guessing they don't cold brew. I've had better, but I've also had worse. I will say that they make a mean chai latte that has become my go-to. Also, be warned that if you're there in the summer, they do have A/C but they don't blast it like the larger corporate coffee chains will and so it can get warm.


Dine-in cafe: In short, the service is slow but the food is solid and in most instances, worth the wait. For breakfast/brunch, I'd recommend the omelet, french toast, or for lighter fare, the lox. For sandwiches, I liked the reuben and turkey waldorf.


The Gold Standard is conveniently located on Baltimore Ave, right along the Route 34 trolley.


4 beans

Review - Shot Tower Coffee

542 Christian Street
267.886.8049
Website, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Google Maps
M - F: 7 am - 7 pm, S - S: 8 am - 6 pm
Free Wi-Fi, Tables, Outlets

Shot Tower Coffee

Have you ever had what my friends affectionally call the "Ratatouille moment?" If you've watched the Pixar movie, the food critic Anton Ego has such a moment when he tastes Ratatouille made by the protagonist, Remy. I had such a moment today when trying coffee at my new favorite cafe. I've been visiting and patronizing various cafes around the city for the last 7 years and have sampled quite a number of them. People have routintely asked me for my favorite ones, and I've somewhat floundered when trying to answer. Philadelphia boasts a number of high quality coffeeshops but they all seem to have their pros and cons. If you're a regular follower of my blog, you might know that I evaluate a number of factors and characteristics when reviewing a coffeshop. The decor, ambiance, studying environment, availability of tables, outlets, and Internet, friendliness of the staff, price, and of course the the quality of coffee. Every cafe I've visited seemed to lack at least one of those qualities. Until today. After years of searching for the "best cafe in Philadelphia," I have finally found it. Without further ado, I introduce to you, Shot Tower Coffee, where every factor I evaluated was perfect!

Shot Tower Coffee is located in the Bella Vista neighborhood in South Philly. In fact, Shot Tower is truly a local cafe.  It's owners grew up in the neighborhood.  While it might be a little out of ways for most of my readers, if you're every in the neighborhood, this IS the cafe to visit. And even if you're looking for a cafe and you're not close by, this STILL is the place to go. Besides, Belle Vista is a great neighborhood with a number of great restaurants to try out too.

The moment I stepped into Shot Tower, I was very impressed by the clean, refreshing, and simple decor. The cafe is surrounded by huge window panes so there is tons of natural light. The owners, Mariel Freeman and Mat Derago must have read my mind when choosing their decor. It has a refined decor while at the same time avoiding one of the biggest problems of most cafes in the City: over-crowdedness. There's one large "picnic-style" bench in the middle of the cafe that seats 12, and there are about 11 bar-style counter spaces. There are also 4 outdoor tables. That isn't the most amount of seating, but the cafe is certainly very spacious and isn't overly crowded. The cafe isn't overly-crowded as there's plenty of seating unlike Elixr or Nook. It's spacious and isn't cramped unlike Spruce Street Espresso and Lovers and Madmen. It isn't dark-lit like Last Drop or Mugshots. The high ceilings and natural light doesn't make it seem like you're in a basement like OCF. It's spotless and immaculate unlike the grimy feeling you get in La Colombe or Ultimo. To round off the ambiance, they have a pretty nice music selection, which isn't overbearing or too loud. Most importantly, they don't just play super-hipster music like Ultimo.

As for a study-spot, it's perfect. There's tons of table and seat space. Plenty of outlets, and of course free Internet. In fact, my test reveal that Shot Tower has the fastest Internet of any cafe I've reviewed with a download speed of 9.30 Mbps, and an upload speed of 8.34 Mbps. My only criticism of this place would be the hours as it closes at 7 pm on most days.

As for coffee, this place doesn't take any shortcuts. They use 2 kinds of roasters: PT's (which is a Kansas-based roaster also used by Elixr) and Stumptown (which is a Portland-based roaster). I've tried a number of PT's coffee at Elixr so it wasn't that novel to me. But I was VERY happy to learn that they use Stumptown, which is growing in popularity due its wonderful coffees. And what makes Stumptown even more special is that there aren't that many Philadelphia cafes that use Stumptown. Stumptown has a variety of single-origin coffees and also several blends. They're also very famous for producing their "Hair Bender" blend, which produces some of the best espresso shots ever. After talking rather extensively with the very friendly and knowledgeable baristas, I settled on both a coffee and an espresso. They usually brew their coffee via drip (though you can request pour-over when it isn't too busy). The coffee was a single origin coffee by PT's from Ethiopia. It was a light roast with subtle notes of Blackberry and smooth composition. Very aromatic and not too acidic. It was truly one of the best cups of coffees I have had in my life. The espresso was also a single origin coffee from Ethiopia from Stumptown. Also very delicious. If you're big into espresso shots, you absolutely have to try Shot Tower. The espresso machine they use is the Strada model made by La Marzocco. If that has no meaning to you, let me just say it's perhaps the best espresso machine made by perhaps the best espresso machine producer. It costs around $20,000 and what makes it unique is that it has a variable pressure controlling mechanism that gives the barista who's pulling the shot ultimate control over the shot. I believe it's one of few such machines in the East Coast and I think it's also the ONLY one in Philadelphia. You have to check it out.

Most impressively, the coffee wasn't overly-expensive unlike Elixr. An 8-ounce cup of coffee will cost you a mere $1.25. If you're not a huge coffee drinker, they also have legitimate tea. They won't just fill up a cup with hot water with tea bags, but will actually steep the tea with real tea leaves.

To summarize, this cafe is just about perfect in every way. Perfect ambiance and environment. Awesome awesome coffee. Friendly and knowledge staff. Spacious and reasonably-priced. My only criticism is that it isn't open that late...but 7 pm is on par with many other coffee shots in Philadelphia. Therefore it is without any hesitation that I give Shot Tower the first ever "5-bean" rating and the title of "Philly Cacophony's Favorite Cafe!"

As always, share your comments below!