Caffeine Culture

Pages 26-27

Caffeine Culture

Experience more than just an average cup of caffeine at these captivating and niche local cafes

BY FRANCESCA RICO AND SELA PEÑA, STAFF WRITERS

MIAMI HAS TAKEN THE classic café and turned it on its head as many coffee and tea bars in the city are bringing new and fresh ideas to the city. From boba tea to internationally sourced coffee beans, these shops are connecting the community with the introduction of relatively uncommon drinks that appeal to all palates.

However, these bubble tea and coffee shops embrace more than just delicious flavors. Drinking in style is prioritized in these artistic accepting cafés with aesthetics acting on the uniqueness and charm of their originality. Ranging themes inspired by nature to nostalgic trinkets, the decorations set the mood and pique the customers’ fascinations.

In addition, these shops offer top-notch customer service, making it clear that the customers’ enjoyment is a priority. Each element, from the artistic design to the exquisite flavors, is a reflection of the complexity of the city of Miami and the variety of components that make it special.

Offering a new type of caffeine culture to Miami, these shops welcome all open to a try a new flavor and form of refreshments. These shops introduce people to the modern, 21stcentury café. highlights presents two shops that do this best.

Say Tea and Smile

Pink and white flowers and pastel colored cushions fill the ambience at Say Tea & Smile. As the perfect place to order boba tea and hang out with friends, the shop sets the scene for a relaxing time that would be complete with a cup of refreshing tea.

Only a trolley ride away from Gables, Say Tea & Smile is located at 86 Miracle Mile. The shop’s location makes it very convenient for students that want to enjoy a nice drink and time with friends after a long day at school.

The shop is open every day of the week except for Monday. On weekdays, Tuesday through Thursday, it is open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. During the weekend, on Friday and Saturday, it is open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday it opens at 12 p.m. and closes at 9 p.m, opening for early afternoon tea.

The prices are also convenient for students as they range from only $5.75 up to $7.95. The shop offers a variety of delicious and unique blends of teas, appealing to a wide range of customers.

SERENE SCENE: Off Miracle Mile, the cozy welcoming enviroment invites people in for a refreshing drink.

Francesca Rico/ highlights

“There are more than 40 types of boba tea offered to customers,” employee Ana Castillo said. “You can order them with different milks, but there are between 30 to 40 for the plain teas.”

One of the most popular drinks among customers is the black sugar bubble tea. The fan favorite is made with black tea, milk, sugar syrup and the iconic tapioca pearls. In addition, the shop’s delicious “Butterfly Pea Thai Tea” and “Ube Butterfly Latte” are very unique because they are not often found in other boba shops in Miami.

Other than milk teas, the shop also offers fruit-based teas for those who prefer a drink without cream or milk. The shop also offers seven different toppings, including different bobas, tapioca pearls and more.

“My go-to drink and the one I recommend to all my friends and family is the fruity strawberry tea with tapioca pearls and one hundred percent sweetness,” senior Gabriela Puns said. “Other than the boba tea, I really enjoy the nice decor and find the staff to be very welcoming, which really adds to the atmosphere of the shop.”

Say Tea & Smile was the first bubble tea shop to open in the city, with its doors officially welcoming customers in October 2021. As the first and originalbubble tea shop in Coral Gables, its significance is big for those who enjoy the refreshment.

“I wanted to open Say Tea & Smile for the people of Coral Gables,” owner Agustin Berton said. “The concept of bubble tea is relatively new and not well-known in this city as there are not many bubble tea shops in Miami and the type of drink we sell is not similar to most other refreshments sold in the city.”

Between the proximity and the service, the shop provides a serene locale for studying, reading or meeting with others. The calm atmosphere allows one to collect their thoughts and satisfy their taste buds with a delightful refreshment.

Offering a variety of teas and blends and giving attention to detail when it comes to the design and aesthetics, the shop is a delightful place for everyone. Although Say Tea & Smile has only been open for a short amount of time, it is quickly beginning to establish itself as a staple in the city and a favorite among those in the Coral Gables community.

I Think She Is

Faced with the awakening smell of coffee filling the calming environment along the artistic sidewalks of brickell, customers divulged in a welcoming community. Decor fills the walls and trinkets around I Think She IS (ITSI), bring about childhood nostalgia. ITSI strives to be an inclusive coffee shop — it does not matter what you look like or where you are from, it is a place for everyone.

Two years ago, owner Oscar Goya opened ITSI on 169 SW 7th St. with both his daughter and art in mind. Goya wanted the environment to feel as though everyone that enters is a part of the same family. Prioritizing this inclusivity, ITSI blends in perfectly in the streets of Brickell.

Whether that be a picture of Lisa Simpson or a statue of Yoda seen protecting the bags of matcha, the decor is intended to cohesively add to an atmosphere that anyone can find comforting. Goya took many of his experiences from his childhoodin Venezuela and converted them into decor. As a result, he was inspired to add art to his place, making it one of the many elements that makes ITSI stand out among others in the city.

“The environment here is very different. We have all types of workers and customers that come here," employee Maria Leon said.

Additionally, with locally sourced coffee and food, ITSI values the idea of supporting communities close by and keeping the ingredients known. Many of the beans are brought from small farms, with some of them being out-sourced. The more popular coffee flavors, such as lavender coffee, are purchased from a farm in Africa. This out-sourcing of ingredients gives the selection at ITSI a fresh taste not found elsewhere.

TREATS N’ TRINKETS: While sipping on a delightful refreshment, one can enjoy the local art and the nostalgic trinkets I Think She Is has to offer.

Sela Peña/ highlights

Along with various coffee types to select from, ITSI keeps its prices at an affordable range, beginning at $3.50 and up to at $6. The many flavors accommodate different taste buds,

with flavors ranging from floral to chocolate. Uniquely, they include add-on toppings for your coffee like lavender, hazelnut vanilla and caramel.

In addition to serving refreshing beverages, ITSI also sells food, items like sandwiches ranging in price from $7 to $15, sweets from the bakery priced between $3.50 and $9 and superfood or smoothie bowls ranging from $7 to $13. As part of their inclusivity rule, they also include vegan and vegetarian options, like the pitaya bowl and the vegan burger.

Customers can also purchase their coffee beans to make at home. Some of the flavors available to buyers are "Streetwise," a chocolate flavored coffee, "Genji Challa," a floral peach coffee, “Great Circle Heart,” a chocolate and toasted caramel taste and "Fazenda Divisa," a creamy chocolate coconut flavoring.

Whether customers want to experience the artsy flair of the shop or the street life of Brickell, outdoor and indoor seating is available. These seats can accommodate anyone, as seating ranges from a comfy couch to a bar overlooking the busy streets of Miami. Customers can enjoy their time sitting in their preferred area while waiting for an employee to bring their order to the table.

“We are mixing everything, the art, the quality of the food and coffee by adding the stuff we love,” Goya said.

Making a stop at this cafe is definitely a must. With the enticing coffee flavors and rich atmosphere, it is the perfect spot for customers who are looking for more than an average cup. h

CUP-O-CCINO: This classic coffee shop order is always a go-to for regulars.

Sela Peña/ highlights

MUCHO MATCHA: This bold green drink offers a burst of flavor that warms the soul.

Sela Peña/ highlights

EXPRESSIVE ESPRESSO: For a quick wake-up call, the espresso never falters.

Sela Peña/ highlights