For this post, we are staying with theme of foam atop coffee. Based on the photo below, what time of day do you think it is? Does that change if I add that this is in Irvine in Orange County, California?
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| 85°C Bakery Cafe at 11:45 p.m. |
Having lived in Irvine for several years in the past, I was hard pressed to find even a fast food location open past 9:00 p.m. Things have changed. On my way home from visiting friends I stopped by
85°C Bakery Cafe. The hour drive back home was long and one of their uniquely delicious Sea Salt Coffee would surely hit the spot.
Yet at a quarter to midnight there was hardly any parking and the store was packed. The employee who took my order after a long line said they have to practically kick people out upon closing each night!
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| 85°C Bakery Cafe - Sea Salt Coffee Poster |
The reason this spot is a must-visit spot for me anytime I'm in Irvine (as far as I'm aware, this is the only branch of this cafe outside Taiwan) is this beverage of slightly sweetened iced coffee topped with a creamy foam whipped with sea salt.
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| 85°C Bakery Cafe - Sea Salt Coffee to go |
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| 85°C Bakery Cafe - Sea Salt Coffee foam |
Semi-sweet chocolate powder comes sprinkled over the top of foam, adding even more complexity to the balance of sweet, salty, creamy, coffee tastes.
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| 85°C Bakery Cafe - almost empty bakery section |
Unfortunately, the bakery was almost sold out at this late hour. But thanks to my friend Robert, who turned me on to this coffee in the first place, I tried some of their buttery baked goods such as lightly garlicky squid ink buns and Okinawan brown sugar cakes.
So when you are nearby, it's worth a visit. Just expect a line because it's all delicious and so affordable.
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| Saltstache poster |
Update:
I went back last week and saw these funny "saltstache" posters throughout the store. You can tweet your sea salt foam 'stache and add the appropriate hash tag (#saltstaches) to your tweet to be added to their gallery!
You can also find their squid ink bread at my new post by clicking
here.
Lots of good reading here, many thanks! I was checking on yahoo when I observed your post, I’m going to add your feed to Google Reader, I look forward to much more from you.
Thank you so much for your delightful comments. I am honored to be added to anybody's feed, and such nice responses encourage me to keep blogging.
There is a branch in Hacienda Heights now :-)
Yes, it's great that there is a new branch in LA County. My second post about their squid ink bread is from that newer location, even though I did not reference it or take photos of the facility.