Did you ever walk into a specialty coffee shop and look at all those menu options and have no idea what you were going to get? This week we're talking about the most basic of espresso based drinks - the latte. 

Did you ever walk into a specialty coffee shop and look at all those menu options and have no idea what you were going to get? Well, we're going to clear up some of that stuff for you. This post, we're talking all about the most basic of drinks - espresso.

There are very few coffees that our customers get as excited about as our Bourbon Barrel Aged coffees. They are, without a doubt, fantastic. If you've ever wondered exactly how we make our barrel aged coffee, here's all of the gritty details.

Interested in home espresso? This is the first in a series of what to look for in home espresso machines. We break down some of the key things you need to look for before you buy.

If you haven’t tried an shakerato yet, you’re missing out. This wildly popular summertime drink is all over Italy and we’re starting to see variants in specialty cafes in the US. We’re a little bit past the summertime drink season here in the US, but it’s worth checking this one out anyway.

Shakerato Recipe

• Ice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• Double shot of espresso or 3 oz Black Ice Brew cold brew concentrate

Put the ice in a cocktail shaker. Add the simple syrup (two pumps if it’s in a pump bottle). Pour the espresso or Black Ice Brew over the ice. Shake violently for 20 seconds. Strain into a small gibraltar cup and serve.

Some variants that we’ve seen:

• Add between 1/2 and 1 oz of grapefruit San Pelligrino sparkling water to bring out the citrus notes of your espresso.
• Instead of straining, serve the whole drink – ice and all – in a cold to-go cup.
• Use flavored syrups instead of simple syrup – hazelnut seems to be a popular choice.
• Serve it in a martini class for a touch of ultimate class.

Give it a shot (pun intended) and let us know how it works for you.

It’s Fall ya’ll! Anytime this time of year rolls around everyone starts putting pumpkin in everything and I love it. However, they are craaaaaaazy sugary or either too “spicy.” So I went on ever trusty Pinterest and found a winner that inspired me to make my own pumpkin spice latte and was way healthier.