by Raleigh Magazine | Feb 26, 2024 | Eat, March 2024
This rant has been lightly edited for style and space and is not endorsed by Raleigh Magazine.
Raleigh, thankfully, is a coffee mecca—brimming with cozy nooks to steep in (my faves include The Optimist and Pine State Coffee). But there’s a small issue percolating on the local coffee scene. A problem brewing beneath the surface, roasting the core of authenticity. … It’s a fraud, it’s a fake, it’s an imposter cappuccino!
A real cappuccino, brewed lovingly in a local shop, is a very simple work of art. It has three distinct equal layers: an espresso base, milk center and froth top. All layers must be equal to be considered a cappuccino. So a typical 2-oz. double shot of espresso would be topped with an equal 2 oz. of milk and 2 0z. of froth.
Armed with this knowledge, it becomes painfully easy to spot the “imposters.” These imitation cappuccinos can’t hold their own weight—the balance becomes impossible to meet, mainly due to the crazy sizes being thrown at the exhausted consumer with the promise to “wake them up” with something hip and large.
A great rule of thumb to detect these frauds is the size. If a cappuccino comes in any size other than a 6 oz.—maybe an 8 oz.—that is not a cappuccino. The proportions get thrown off to the point that not even girl math can account for it.
Case in point: An 18 oz. (real size in the wild) cappuccino would need 6 oz. of espresso (not too many baristas serve more than 4 ounces), 6 oz. of milk and 6 oz. froth. The pure amount of froth alone would not rest on the drink. The most likely scenario is that the amount of milk is actually greater than the espresso and froth—and that ain’t no cappuccino. It’s its cousin, the latte.
Now don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with lattes. But why lie? Why not just sell the customer a 16-oz. latte and not call it a cappuccino? It begs the question: How are they differentiating these drinks? If one were to order both a 16-oz. latte and a 16-oz. cappuccino, would they be able to tell the difference? My guess is likely not.
So, be careful out there, Raleigh—and don’t be fooled. This cappuccino conundrum must be put to an end.
—Conscientious Cappuccino Consumer
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by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 17, 2023 | Eat, July/August 2023
Is hot plain coffee the drink of summer? RM weighs in on the caffeine controversy.
Picture this: It’s one of *those* mornings and you’re in desperate need of a cup of joe to boost morale. (We’ve all been there.) But by the time you’ve ordered your iced latte with an alternate milk and added in a tip, odds are you’ve shelled out ~$8 to fuel your fix. Clearly—staying caffeinated costs.
Enter the alleged hot plain coffee trend. Per a recent Bon Appétit article, this simple sippable gem is the “drink of summer,” as it is affordable and readily available at any shop—from your local haunts to the neighborhood Starbucks—making it a potential must-have for caffeine-addicted individuals who can’t keep ballin’ out on the boujee bevs. … But is its convenience and affordability enough to dub it as the “drink of summer?” We tapped the RM team to pour over their thoughts on the hot matter at hand—and to share their fave coffee spot around town. Cool beans, indeed.
“Disagree. My go-to is Fiction Coffee—dark coffee with a splash of cream.”
—Gina Stephens, Publisher, @ginasdawgs
“Depends on my mood. Sometimes, I’m feeling a little extra and need an iced latte. But if I go to Iris Coffee Lab, my favorite coffee shop, I’m getting one of their seasonal drinks. Still dreaming about their cherry mascarpone latte.”
—Liz Comella, Creative Director, @liz.comella.design
“Plain? That’s a no for me. Pumpkin coffee season started this week (don’t @ me)—and you won’t find me without some kind of iced pumpkin-ated brew unless you can’t find me. Sir Walter Coffee’s pumpkin really gets your gourd.”
—Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“I personally don’t really drink coffee anymore—let alone plain black coffee—but the thought of drinking any hot bev in the peak of a humid NC summer makes me sweat. I’m a chai latte girly (iced in the summer, obv, and with oak milk!), and my fave around town is at Jubala.”
—Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“Hot coffee is my arch nemesis. There could be a blizzard happening and I’d still order an iced drink. My go-to local spots are 321 Coffee or Cup A Joe—and I’m typically drinking an iced lavender latte with oat milk or an iced dirty chai!”
—Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“Nothing beats hot plain coffee from Cup A Joe, except maybe a cortada or latte if you’re feeling fancy.”
—Heidi Reid, Editorial Intern, @heidi.laurel
“I don’t drink coffee! I will order an iced chai latte during the summer—my fave spot would be Jubala in North Hills!”
—Debby Serena, Account Executive
“Hard disagree, if it tastes like coffee, I won’t drink it. I love The Morning Times Downtown, and my go-to is an iced vanilla latte. “
—Cameron Rhinehardt, Account Executive, @camrht
“Yes, I agree that hot plain coffee is the drink of summer! To me, it goes hand-in-hand with the quiet luxury trend—simple and timeless. I have always loved Jubala Coffee; the espresso and vibes are *chefs kiss.* My go-to order is a flat white, which pairs perfectly with one of the sweet biscuits!”
—Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“Hell no, coffee is disgusting and such a joyless choice! The painkiller at Standard Beer & Food is the real drink of summer.”
—Eric Ginsburg, Contributing Writer, @eric_ginsburg
“Hot coffee for the win! It’s the only way I like to drink it all yearlong. My go-to order is a tall soy flat white from Starbucks.”
—Emily O’Brien, Contributing Writer
“Plain hot coffee is my go-to order! Unless it’s over 90 degrees, then plain iced all the way. And my go-to shop is Jubala in North Hills!”
—Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
by Anna Beth Adcock | Apr 20, 2023 | April 2023, Eat
Hey, yolks! Raise a toast with us to our morning meal picks.
Some say breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and there’s a celeb out there chomping on cornflakes with orange juice for her breakfast/brain food. Here, what we are (or aren’t) munchin’ on in the morn.
“I don’t eat breakfast.”
—Gina Stephens, Publisher, @ginasdawgs
“Like Judd Nelson a la Breakfast Club and all misunderstood rebels, ‘[I] feed on hypocrisy and black coffee.’”
—Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“Either a smoothie or a bagel. And definitely coffee.”
—Liz Comella, Creative Director, @liz.comella.design
“Avocado toast 😻”
—Cameron Rhinehardt, Marketing Intern, @camrht
“Usually a smoothie or some fruit—and an iced chai.”
—Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“Greek yogurt with fruit! And iced coffee, always.”
—Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“When I have time, I love having an egg and avocado on top of Trader Joe’s GF Norwegian Crispbread. But when I have to dash out of the house I grab a Kind protein bar. And always coffee!”
—Tina Dahir, Account Executive, @tinalovesraleigh
“Plain yogurt with honey, granola and sliced almonds!”
—Debby Serena, Account Executive
“A scramble of eggs, turkey sausage, diced chicken and jalapenos. With sriracha. 😁”
—Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
“I eat multiple breakfasts. 😅 Usually cereal first, then either oatmeal or eggs and toast. And either coffee or a latte.”
—Chelsea Sutton, Contributing Writer
“Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of cinnamon, granola and fruit—and always, always a giant mug of coffee.”
—Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“I almost always have the following three things: coffee, banana, peanut butter. Either in a smoothie form or PB/banana on toast with a side of coffee. 😊”
—Susan Holt, Contributing Photographer, Susan Holt Photography, @susanholtphoto
by Raleigh Magazine | Feb 27, 2023 | Eat, March 2023
A cup of coffee… it’s simple, but nevertheless can make or break your morning. Going to work without it would be a tragedy (never mind the dirty look from your boss when you show up late)—but having the coffee shop get your order wrong? Borderline world-ending.
Lately, I’ve noticed when ordering a cuppa joe, the question that follows from the barista is often: “hot or cold?” I’m sorry, but pretty sure all coffee is assumed hot unless explicitly stated otherwise. You either order a freshly brewed cup of coffee or an iced coffee or cold brew (I’m not even going to touch on all the fancy macchiatos and such). Did I say “iced”? No. So why in the world am I getting asked this question?!
There is something about that statement too… hot or cold? It’s terribly unelevated! In that same vein, cold is miserable, especially in the wintertime. Don’t even think about asking me if I want a cold drink in the middle of winter.
I will say, however, I’ll take the brutal cringey question over having the barista make me the wrong drink. I’ll never forget the morning I went to my favorite local coffee shop and politely asked for a plain latte. Moments later, at the other end of the bar, the drink appeared; the barista simply smiled and nodded in my direction. But, alas, it was iced. Day. Ruined.
—Hot Coffee Snob
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