Dutch Bros Coffee

Drove by another Dutch Bros, and decided to try drive thru instead.

This one has the zipper type drive thru lines (2 merge into 1), so picking the shorter line seems to be advantageous. 

Then a staff came out and took my order, and then I can pull up to the window after I paid.  

I got the Cookie Butter Iced Latte. And upon first sip, it does taste like the famous cookie butter. 

It has espresso, cookie butter flavor, milk, and Soft Top.  Soft Top is their signature sweet and fluffy cream  on top.  So if you get a regular latte, you get foam from the milk.  Cold drinks you don't because foam came from steamed milk.  Here the Soft Top is like a half texture of whipped cream, but drinkable and thicker than a cold foam.   Pretty delicious.

If you're a fan, download their app and you can order online, so when you drive thru, they just match your order so their staff can start preparing and you'll be on your way with a beverage. 

Dutch Bros

at the Rice Village

2301 University Blvd

Houston, TX 77005

https://www.dutchbros.com/locations/tx/houston/2301-university-blvd

 

Gelato Rossa

I saw on their social that they're open at 7am, and I happen to be going to the dr's that direction... 

thought I'd stop by.  To me, they were known for their Gelato, now, breakfast.

The pastries are small but the pricing is very reasonable. 

You can reasonably get a few of each, since they are small. 

I splurged for a latte, since they ran out of ice, she just did it with cold milk.  The coffee is not bad, and I would probably come back again if my timing is right. 

Cute little vespa out front. Don't forgeet that they also have a speakeasy in the back. 

Gelato Rossi

4564 Bissonnet

Bellaire, TX 

https://www.gelato-rossa.com/

 

Pistachio in POST

Had a thing early at the POST HTX.  Of course, I'm seeking coffee. 

On the old Postal Counter side (also the entry closest to 713 Music Hall), is a little coffee shop where all the plants are. 

The pricing on the pastry is pretty high though...

.. but they have Dubai Cookie here.  OR - you can definitely go to the food hall and get something too. 

Here's my Americano with a splash of milk.  By the way, the add of the splash of milk cost $1.  So you've been warned. 

Anyway, still like this stairway, it's in the middle of the food hall part of the building.  

Pistachio

401 Fanklin St

Houston, TX 77201

https://www.posthtx.com/eat/pistachios-coffee

 

Coffee & Trein

I was suckered by IG and trekked over past Garden Oaks for it.

They were promoting that they sell the Brazilian cheese bread.  Except by the time I made it there, they sold out and another batch wasn't going to be out until another 30-45 mins.  That was poor management on their time. 

Anyway, I'm here anyway, I won't say no to a coffee. 

I got an Americano with a splash of milk alternative.  Which they have Oat, Almond, Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, on top of Whole, non-fat and 2%. 

Besides the coffee shop, there's also a gym, a dojo, and some sport training space in the complex.  They have adult and kids classes.  

That said, the service is very slow as though no one is in a hurry.  So when I got there, there's a lot of people ahead of me waiting for their drinks.  So on top of not having cheese bread in a decent amount of time, drinks were also slow to get there.  So if you're in a hurry, either bring patience or find another caffeinated place. 

Coffee & Trein

1102 Pinemont

Houston, TX 77018

https://www.trein.club/brazilian-coffee

 

Waygood Coffee

Went to Waygood for an afternoon hang. 

Ordered a Sea Salt Banana Matcha.  Just sounded interesting so figured, why not.  Honestly, the sea salt just made the banana (and vanilla) less sweet and the matcha less bitter.  The balance was struck well here.  Not too sweet, salty or bitter.  The whole thing tasted smooth mixed together.  I wouldn't mind getting that again. 

Waygood Coffee

3819 Kirby Dr

Houston, TX 77098

https://www.waygoodcompany.com/

 

Tom N Tom Coffee

Back to Carrollton, Korean Shopping area

My impression of Tom N Tom in Dallas is very different than the ones in Houston.  The ones in Houston is a simple direct.  This one in Dallas is like a whole sit down cafe.  It has 2 levels, cases to show the food offerings and they have alot of savory and desserts on their menu than the ones I've seen in Houston. 

I got the Mango Matcha Latte - it's a tad too much matcha, not enough mango for my taste.

For snack, needed some protein, got these Pepperoni Pretzel bites.  Truly, it's like a mini pizza per bite.  It's pretty good but as pretzels goes, it's bread-y.

I really like this place.  They obviously have coffee, cakes, tea, bubble tea, pizza, sandwiches, smoothies and even apps.  But they also have Korean BingSu, milk ice dessert, and lots of variations.  

This location makes you feel like you're tucked away.  Folks come in to grab a drink, stay out of the heat.  Young people bring their laptops in to do some work.  There are tables that are tucked away for privacy if they come here for a coffee date.  The space has a little bit for everyone, that it's cool on the outside too (not pictured). 

At any rate, if you can find a parking spot on the weekend, this is a fun little spot to hang between the shopping and the meals. 

Tom N Tom's Coffee

2625 Old Denton Rd

#406

Carrollton, TX 75007

972-446-6633

https://tomntomscarrollton.com/

 

Merit Coffee

New coffee place in town, and it's my hood, so I have to check it out. 

It's at the old Starbucks location, so that place is already ready for a coffee shop there. 

Line of their products. 

Their merch game is strong. 

They recommended a Raspberry Chantilly latte.

 It has raspberry puree and an almond ricotta cold foam. You can get it in espresso form where the raspberry and creamy almond foam play off the bold coffee, or in matcha form.  I got it with Oat milk and it has this sweet and fruity taste.  

It is refreshing and from what I know it's only a summer thing.  This might be too sweet for me, but Chantilly is definitely something different. 

Merit Coffee

5115 Buffalo Speedway

Ste 100

Houston, TX 77005

https://meritcoffee.com/

 

Coffee Fellows

Was running errands in the area, decided to stop by Coffee Fellows.

Watch for the signs in the parking lot, while the front parking looked to be small, there are some more spaces on the inner side of the building and street parking. 

Came in for a quick breakfast.

The latte was great the espresso is tasty and mixed with the oat milk, it all works.  

You can really bring a book or work here, and enjoy a coffee and sip the afternoon away.  A word on the muffin though, maybe the day I got it they were off, but it doesn't felt like it's cooked thru, a little too mushy.   So maybe come for coffee and not muffins? 

Anyway, pay attention to the signs so other tenants in the center has a chance to visit the other stores.  

Coffee Fellows

4900 Bellaire Blvd

Bellaire, TX 77401

713-677-0418

https://www.coffeefellows.com/bellaire

Trung E- Coffee

Heard about the Starbucks of Vietnam is in town, so of course we have to go check them out. 

Actually, I've already have tried Trung's back at the Asian Society.

I got the Black Sesame Cream Phin Coffee. 

Here's a better look.  You see a good decent amount of cream on there.  I do mix it all up after that picture.  And the sesame mix super well with the coffee.  The coffee is Ca Phe Sua Da so it's much more concentrated than regular coffee.   If that is too much for you, try the White Coffee, it's much lighter.  

When you get there, they have a kiosk but the staff at the counter also could help take your order.  But I feel like the kiosk get me thru faster.  Since it's still relatively new, also not alot of places do coffee like they do, the crowd is still pretty consistent.  So give that trick a try.

Trung E-Coffee

23015 Colonial Pkwy

Ste B-201 

Katy, TX 77493

https://tnecoffee.com/

 

Trung Nguyen Coffee

I was at the Asia Society and saw a coffee vendor, and c'mon we all need coffee. 

They have unique offering, but anything with Ca Phe Su Da, I'm there for!

I got the Black Sesame Cream Coffee.  And the staff noticed me taking a snap and pose (thanks guys!).  The cream wasn't that strong, but like a thicker cream.  So once you mix it with the Ca Phe Su Da it's not so heavy on the coffee taste.  

You don't have to wait for another fair in order to get their coffee.  They have a store located in Chinatown.  

Trung Nguyên Coffee

9750 Bellaire Blvd

Houston, TX 77036

https://tnecoffee.com/

 

Sucre'

Needed a Sunday pick-me-up

Stopped by Sucre. 

Laze about with an Americano and some Macs.

I got the coffee, chocolate, and a blackcurrant macarons.  Just taste better when someone else makes them.  Enjoy them with coffee is nice and really make you feel like you're enjoying life on the side as traffic whiz by. 

Bringing its Louisiana charm, the Mac stand on its own.  The gelato is also flavor packed.  Definitely worth sneaking over here to hide away from the world, one coffee at a time. 

Sucre 

5404 Kirby Dr

Houston, TX 77005

https://shopsucre.com/blogs/news/sucre-houston

 

Takagi Coffee

Thanks to Instagram, found this Japanese coffee place. 

Supposedly they get busy during the weekend and since we have stuff to do early, we went right at the open. 

The design for the place is very sleek and straight lines everywhere. 

Got a coffee and look at that cute presentation. 

Each hot drink came with a Biscoff cookie and it is truly a good coffee dipping cookie!

Takagi is really known for Japanese cuisine, so naturally we want to dry the fluffy pancakes.  This is the original.  The cream was light and not sweet. 

We have mango flavor.  Lots of mango chunks, but the beauty of these is that in between the layers has created and fruit.  So on top of light and fluffy, it's flavorful with fruit and not too sweet. 

Here's the Strawberry & Mix Berry pancakes, like the others, there's fruit and cream in the middle.  The butter is lightly whips. 

This is a unique one, this is chocolate banana pancake and the half banana is brûlée-d.  So you have to crack that top layer and then eat that with your pancake.  That's the only 'extra' sugar there is.  Pretty good. 

Parking for the side street is easy early in the morning, but if not, do check out the signs.  The street parking have alot that are reserved for residents that needed permits.  So pay attention.

Takagi Coffee

8048 W 3rd St 

Los Angeles, California 90048

https://www.instagram.com/takagi_coffee_la1/

 

Dutch Bros

It was serendipitous that I drove past Dutch Bros. 

There aren't a whole lot of those inside the Loop, so it's like seeing a unicorn out in the dessert. 

I got the Kicker - which has espresso, Irish Creme syrup and breve (which is usually half n' half steamed), but I'm trying to cut calories, so I did a milk alternative.  

The coffee is not bad, and not too sweet, which is just how I like it.  If you drive by, you see a line around the building and 2 drive-thru lane.  But you can definitely walk up.  Their staff are super friendly even when their hands are full with making drinks.  That is always appreciated. 

Dutch Bros

20720 Gulf Fwy

Webster, TX 77598

https://www.dutchbros.com/locations/tx/webster/20720-gulf-freeway

 

Dandelion Chocolate

We were walking around Mission district in SF.

Saw the word Chocolate, of course, we had to stop in. 

First, you see a small seating area, and backed by boxes upon boxes of chocolates.  There are some truffles, bars, bonbons. 

They even have some yummy looking pastries.  I ordered a Nibby Horchata. 

It has hazelnut, almond, cinnamon, cocoa nibs, and rice.  The whole thing on ice.  It sure was nice walking in a warm day with a cool chocolate drink.  

They also do workshops, tasting, and making of chocolate, bonbons, truffles.  Some locations do tours, and some location host special dinner.  Definitely worth checking out artisan chocolate. 

Dandelion Chocolate

740 Valencia St

San Francisco, CA 94110

https://www.dandelionchocolate.com/pages/valencia-street