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Top 5 Favorite Coffee Shops/Roasters

1) French Truck Coffee

New Orleans, Lousiana

I’ve discovered this coffee shop during quarantine! Although I’ve never been to New Orleans, I’ve been looking to support small businesses and looked into supporting coffee shops! When wistfully researching a trip to New Orleans, I stumbled upon them, and I’m obsessed! For the past few months, I’ve been ordering their coffee bags to be shipped home to me. The coffee is so delicious, and the packaging is so cute!

2) Peet’s Coffee

All over the United States

When it comes to chain coffee shops, my favorite is Peet’s Coffee. They have quality coffee and have consistency in their drinks. I love also their unique flavored drinks on the menu! And they also have a loyalty program which I love.

3) Go Get Em Tiger

Los Angeles, California

Again, I was looking for a local coffee shop to support, and stumbled upon this one! They’re coffee is good, they have had blends in the past that some proceeds go to local charities, and they are always prompt and eager to help you if you have any questions.

4) Caffe Nero

United Kingdom

Whenever I’ve traveled to the UK, I’ve loved stopping by this cafe and grabbing a hazelnut latte. Delicious coffee and such a cozy place to enjoy your drink and maybe a pastry!

5)Smoky Hollow Roasters

Los Angeles, California

An adorable cafe in a cute location! I just wish I could sit down and have a drink. The interior is so cute and cozy! Not only that, but they have their roaster out in the open, so you can see the process of them roasting their beans!

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I hope you enjoyed my list off coffee shops! What are your favorite coffee shops around the world? I always love hearing recommendations from you!

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King Cake - Straight from Mardi Gras Season in New Orleans

While I admit I’ve never been to New Orleans, Louisiana, I have always wanted to go. I even almost planned a trip last year but for obvious reasons it didn’t end up working out. While in quarantine, I’ve been looking to support small businesses. I have a big passion for coffee, so I started buying from one of New Orleans’ well known cafes called French Truck Coffee. So for the past couple of months I’ve been drinking their coffee from the comfort of my own home! Lately they’ve been selling King Cake at their cafes. I never had previously heard of King Cakes. I was inspired by their posts and researched to make one of my own! I also did my own twist to it as the specific colors of sanding sugar aren’t readily available to me. Just know this cake will take a while to make! Because you are using yeast, the directions ask to rise the dough a couple of times. But trust me, it’s worth it!

There’s a tradition to put a tiny baby or a raw bean inside, and whoever gets it in their cake slice has to make the cake and host the party the next year. However, I didn’t do that this time around.

Enjoy!!

Recipe

Ingredients:

Dough:

2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup warm milk

2 large egg yolks, room temperature

1-1/4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 large egg, beaten

Filling:

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup sugar

Glaze:

1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 to 3 tablespoons water

Food coloring: red, blue, green, yellow

Directions:

1)  In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Wait a few minutes for the yeast to foam up.

2)  Add 1/2 cup sugar, butter, milk, egg yolks, salt, lemon zest, and nutmeg. Fold in the flour a little at a time. Beat until smooth. The dough will be soft and sticky.

3) Place onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic. About 6-8 minutes.

4) Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

5) Punch the dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 16x10 in. rectangle.

6)    Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Brush with egg.

7)    Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. For glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and enough water to achieve desired consistency. Put the glaze in 3 separate bowls. On one bowl add yellow food coloring, the second will be with green, and the third will have red and blue food coloring to make purple. Play with the amount to get the desired shade.

8) To make the lines of glaze as pictured above, use a small spoon and dribble it on both sides of the mound. Since glazes are much thinner than regular frosting, it will usually drop down the cake by itself.