Panorama reviews local coffee

CAFFEINE FIEND

Panorama reviews five St. Louis coffee shops

LUCY LOCHMOELLER

a&e editor illustration by | NICOLE GORRELL & GRACE HU photos by | GINGER SCHULTE

C. Oliver Coffee + Flower Bar is the sort of place that brings immediate joy to anyone who walks in. Located in Maplewood, this cafe is surrounded by many other popular and unique restaurants. Despite having to battle these competitors, C. Oliver is able to hold its own and catch the eye of any passing person. Through its enormous windows, a gorgeous red and pink flower wall dominates the room. The cafe itself is simple with mostly white furnishing, however, the stunning flower wall and other floral accents bring in warmth and energy. The service is amazing; the latte is brought out in two minutes, but the speed of service doesn’t compromise the quality of the perfect coffee. The espresso flavor radiates richness and a deep bitterness. The foam and milk don’t take away from and dilute this flavor — they only add to the quality of the latte. C. Oliver Coffee knows its way around the coffee bean and the garden.

C. OLIVER COFFEE + FLOWER BAR

THE CLOVER AND THE BEE

The Clover and the Bee is possibly one of the most delightful cafes in St. Louis. Located in the heart of Webster, the vibrant and clean design of this cafe fits right into its charming environment. The cafe has bar seating for people to sit and watch the baristas, as well as an abundance of booths and tables. The walls are painted with colorful designs that feature a lot of gold accents. The workers are kind and offer overall good service, making sure everyone inside follows COVID-19 safety rules. As for the coffee, it is amazing. Their latte is the perfect ratio of espresso to milk and has beautiful, deep flavor. The espresso is perfectly pulled, and the steamed milk has the right amount of foam with no large bubbles. The menu has many fun and unique food options, making it similar to a restaurant. However, the cafe still pulls off a cozy coffee shop atmosphere. The Clover and the Bee is everything a coffee shop should be. SPREAD DESIGN BY LUCY LOCHMOELLER

DEER CREEK COFFEE Deer Creek Coffee is exactly what people picture when they think of a cafe: cozy seating, a warm aroma, good coffee and a chill space to relax. Their chalkboard menu, poster wall, worn-in furniture, fireplace and friendly staff complement one another in creating a welcoming space. While other cafes are sometimes high energy with people rushing in and out, anyone who walks into Deer Creek will feel instantly relaxed and at home, wanting to stay as long as they can. However, its coffee isn’t anything memorable. It’s not that the taste is bad, but rather that the coffee lacks strength and flavor. The espresso is sub-par, but the latte itself is still well made. Deer Creek compensates for the average-tasting coffee with a well-rounded menu, offering classic pastries, fun drinks and several different breakfast and lunch options. Overall, Deer Creek Coffee checks off most of the boxes, but falls a bit short on coffee flavor.

La Cosecha is the perfect place to stop and grab a quick cup of good coffee. The coffee company shares a store with Great Harvest Bakery, which makes a visit even more enjoyable. The store permanently smells of freshly baked bread, pastries and brewing coffee, and the background noise is filled with a humming kitchen. La Cosecha uses their own coffee brand, which gets made by a highly skilled barista. Their coffee was strong and flavorful, and topped with perfectly made foam. The amazing quality of the coffee bean was made obvious in the flavor. However, very little seating and space makes it difficult to enjoy the wonderful store. The coffee also took a bit of time to make, but that may be due to the careful skill of the barista. La Cosecha is a great cafe for a quality to-go cup of coffee, but would be even better if there was more space and seating available for people to enjoy the wonderful environment La Cosecha offers.

WEBSTER GROVES COFFEE GARDEN The Webster Groves Coffee Garden currently has indoor dining closed, so it’s hard to say what exactly the Coffee Garden experience is. However a garden cafe is a wonderful idea. There is a grass area behind the cafe that offers the perfect secluded spot for a picnic, as well as an abundance of chairs and picnic tables in the front. Even in the heart of winter, the fire pits still draw people in to enjoy a cup of coffee and relax while watching the street in front of them. Despite this unique dining experience, the service is a bit slow and the coffee is not good. The latte is milky to the point where any sign of espresso is lost. The milk should complement the espresso, not the other way around. Despite this, the faint taste of espresso that is there still seems decently flavorful. As a whole, the Webster Groves Coffee Garden is a wonderful place that offers a untraditional cafe experience, however the less than average coffee lowers its quality.

LA COSECHA