You, Me, and Caffeine: Week Two

Review of Cloche Coffee

Welcome to the second instalment of the series You, Me, and Caffeine! This week, I went to Cloche Coffee located on 721 Broad St.

This weeks contender was chosen for a personal connection. As a full time Master's student, I encounter a lot of different people in my academic life from various backgrounds. Many are twenty-somethings and others are full grown adults with homes and business. It just so happens that one of my classmates is the owner of Cloche Coffee! I had no idea when creating this series but I'm glad I included them in my search for the best coffee shop in Durham.

Cloche Coffee Mocha - Samantha Maksud

First Impression

My first impression of the shop was again the parking lot. It was a bit confusing to find the location and when I did the parking lot was full. I was lucky enough to snag a spot recently vacated near the back of the lot. The cafe is located in a commercial building that it shares with other businesses. Lucky for you, the shop is on the first floor on the right side of the building. Walking to the front door, you pass an outdoor seating area with plenty of options for seating that is well covered throughout different times of the day. Many people were already enjoying the outside space that was surrounded by some well cut trees and foliage. Once you are inside, you are greeted with the sight of green, white, and beige colors that give it a clean boho aesthetic. The shop itself is small with indoor seating that flank the walls and extends a little toward the backend of the shop. You have a better chance of sitting outside than inside because of how quaint the indoor space is.

The Atmosphere

My first impression of the atmosphere of the shop is quaint. It felt crowded with just five people in there. The aesthetic inside helps combat this feeling of closeness with the color white. The walls and most of the decor being white or wood really made it feel open, clean, and homey. The sitting areas inside can be broken into three spaces: The bar, that wall, & the back. The bar area is the main area with a few chairs, and high top tables. The wall is the area leading back to "the back" with a another bartop and stools that has an opposite wall of plants to look at as you sip your coffee. The back is a small area with some seating that's great for a small group or intimate conversation.

Most of the patrons there seem to be young professionals with the occasional college student working silently at their computers. It seems that the outside area is built for conversation and inside is meant for work. I happened to like this aspect of the shop. Because of its quaint atmosphere it leads people looking for lively conversation outside and keeps the inside a calm place of work and enjoyment.

It seems to be a very popular destination for locals and that is seen in how many people I saw walk in, order, and leave. Those who stayed were quick to snag a seat outside and leave the inside for others.

Overall: I would give it a 2 out 5 people.

The Price

The prices of coffee here seem average compared to your chain coffee stores and last weeks instalment. I ordered a 12 oz Mocha, priced at $4.50. I left a dollar tip which gave me the grand total of $5.50.

You can get more than just coffee here too. On the coffee bar counter are small cake display stands that have an assortment of croissants, macaroons, and other baked goods. I don't know if they are made in house, but they do look delicious.

Over all, I give it $ out of $$$$.

The coffee is not expensive which is why I am giving it a $ because I spent less than ten dollars here. Which in my book, is a steal.

The Coffee

This weeks mocha was worth every dollar.

In the photo above, we see that mocha. Initial presentation, like last weeks, lacks the foam and latte design that most baristas would do. Again, not a major factor of the coffee itself as different places have different methods of preparation, but its still I my preference to have that abundance of foam and pretty design. The taste of the espresso was good, not too bitter, but not too faint either. It was a very good blend of medium roast coffee. The real star here is the chocolate. Not one sip lacked that decadent chocolate flavor. It was sweet, bitter, and blended to perfection. The whole milk foam really balanced out the drink.

I was pleasantly surprised by this drink. After last weeks slightly disappointing contender, I went in with low standards, but I am glad to be proven wrong. The chocolate was rich and flavorful, and the milk was just the right temperature. My only want from this drink was the espresso but I can overlook easily.

Overall, I would give it 4 out of 5 cups!

The Final Score

As an amatuer coffee enthusiast, I hold relatively small expectations of what I think makes a good coffee shop. What I want out of a shop is a welcoming atmosphere, reasonable prices, and most of all, good coffee.

Cloche Coffee had an welcoming, homey atmosphere that you would expect to find in a good coffee shop. Sure the place smaller than expected, but that doesn't' seem to stop its loyal patrons. The Mocha was above expectations that I would most definitely order it again . Its reasonable prices and good coffee lead me to give Cloche Coffee 4 out of 5 stars! I definitely will be adding this to my list of places to revisit.

Like and Comment below! Fill free to share your experience or recommend other places in durham I should try!