Black vs. White Coffee: Which is right for you?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the easiest way to avoid having a bad coffee is to know which one you will like.

The way to do this? Learning the basics of coffee. Like every other subject, coffee can be broken down into many smaller categories: such as roast type, espresso, drip coffee and so on.

I’m going to be completely honest and say that I initially thought white coffee was just another term to talk about lattes, flat whites & other milk drinks. but it is far from it!

Today we will be learning about the 3 main roast categories and specifically what white coffee is.

There will also be some common flavor notes for the main roasts on the market to help you decide which roast might be the best for you!

So, without further ado…

Black Vs. White Coffee: What's the difference?

Now, before we get into discussing anything, you need to learn about the process of roasting coffee beans. Hint: It’s the most important step in making coffee

Coffee Roasting & The Most Common Roasts

The coffee roasting process is one of the most important steps in creating a great tasting cup of coffee.

Without this process, the coffee beans would stay green (yes, green!) and would have no taste, smell, or pretty much any flavor profile.

The flavors & smell that coffee lovers adore, comes majorly from the roasting process.

The roasting process can be incredibly complex as it varies from roaster to roaster and essentially is a giant chemistry project to make great coffee.

So, to start, we are going to take a quick peek into the three main coffee roasts to see how they are roasted. This will set the baseline for talking about black and white coffee late on.

Do you already know about the coffee roasting process? Click here to skip learn about white coffee!

The Three "Pillar" Coffee Bean Roasts

 

The majority of coffee on the market will fall into three main roast categories: light roast, medium roast, and a darker roast.

There are many more types of coffee beans that fall into sub-categories of these three.

For instance, you will find your city or cinnamon roasts in the light roast category. But for the most part these are going to be your three most commonly seen roasts on the market.

 

 

The coffee roasting process only begins after the harvested beans are processed and dried. After this has been done, the green coffee beans will be placed in roaster.

The amount of time the beans are roasted depends solely on the type of roast the company is trying to achieve.

In general, the green beans are roasted anywhere from 356 to 482 degrees Fahrenheit over a period of 7 to 20 minutes. As you might expect, the longer the beans stay in the heater, the darker the roast it will be.

Note: Black coffee is defined as a dark roast or darker roasted bean.

During this roasting period, a chemical reaction, called the Maillard reaction, takes place between the sugars and amino acids in the unroasted coffee beans.

This reaction creates the delicious flavors we coffee drinkers know and love!

Note: If you want to learn about the nitty gritty of coffee roasting and more about the Maillard reaction, check out the following posts & videos!

Now, a very important point in this roasting process is called the first crack.

At around 385 F, a cracking noise will occur when a lot of the moisture inside the beans has evaporated and needs to escape. 

This first crack is important to roasters as the coffee beans have approached the stage of being a light roast once it happens.

The iconic groove you see on coffee beans is from the cracks during the roasting process!

 

Now, because the beans are roasted for different periods of time, the flavors vary from roast to roast. Acidity and bitterness are two major flavors that change with how long the beans are roasted.

Below is a breakdown of the flavor basics for each main roast.

P.S. this is a great way to see which type of coffee you may like! I personally hate acidic coffee so I almost never go for a light roast.

  • Light Roast Coffee: roasted at about 356-401 F for 5-7 minutes
    • least bitter
    • more “origin characteristics” (unique flavors from the area the coffee beans were grown)
  • Medium Roast: roasted at about 410-428 F for 8-10 minutes
    • a middle ground for acidity and bitterness!
    • bright flavor profiles
  • Dark Roast Coffee: roasted between 464-482 F for 12-15 minutes
    • most likely to have a strong bitter taste
    • many dark roasts taste similar as the origin characteristics are lost due to the high heat
    • Produces oily, black beans depending on how dark the roast is

What is white coffee & where did it come from?

White coffee beans

Now that we’ve covered the basics of roasting and the most popular roasts, what exactly is white coffee?

I was surprised to find out that white coffee isn’t a type of drink like a latte or flat white.

Instead, white coffee is a roast of coffee that is even lighter than a light roast coffee.

Like I said earlier, there are the three main roasts when it comes to coffee, but there are many coffees that fall within or outside of these roasts. White coffee is a great example of this!

This extremely lightly roasted coffee originated in the middle east in Yemen, back in the early 1900’s, and was initially combined with hawaji, a spice mix from Yemen.

Hawaji, made up of cardamon, turmeric, cinnamon and more, deepens the nutty flavors of the drink while adding an earthy component as well.

If you want to try out Hawaji for yourself, you can find a great recipe here!

White coffee is typically only roasted at low temperatures, between 300 and 325 degrees Fahrenheit, and only for 5 to 6 minutes.

Now, the beans do undergo some of the roasting process, hence the color change from green to white, but they are taken out of the roaster before that important first crack.

What does white coffee taste like?

Now, as we mentioned, the beans don’t undergo “first crack” with white coffee, so unlike your typical coffee beans, white coffee has a unique flavor profile that is much more consistent, and subtle.

White coffee has been known to be more acidic than other coffee roasts and also have a nutty flavor component to the roast as mentioned before.

Due to the short roasting process, this roast has almost no bitter aftertaste to it!

I personally have yet to try white coffee so these flavor notes are based off of other people’s experiences and research, but hopefully I will get my hands on some soon!

Although I have yet to come across white coffee in my day-to-day life, the better health benefits of white coffee and increased caffeine content have helped popularity grow over the years.

Let’s go back and talk about that important roasting process now. There are two more topics that come into play with the popularity of white coffee: caffeine content and chlorogenic acid.

Caffeine Content

Remember when I talked about how the first crack happens because of some liquids in the green coffee beans evaporate and need to escape?

The caffeine in the coffee beans makes up some of the liquid that evaporates as the beans are heated.

Therefore, when the beans undergo a shorter roasting time, the higher the caffeine content will be.

White beans will have a higher caffeine content as they are roasted at a much lower temperature for a short amount of time. Comparatively, black coffee beans are roasted at higher temperatures for longer. Thus, more caffeine evaporates, and you are left with less caffeine in your cup of coffee.

Now although there is a difference in the caffeine levels, it is not drastic.

According to Latte Love Brew, the difference in how much caffeine is in a normal espresso shot vs a white coffee espresso shot is only around 4mg of caffeine.

but hey! when you’re looking for a caffeine kick, an additional 4mg doesn’t hurt!

Chlorogenic Acid

While you may have not heard about this ingredient in coffee beans, you probably have heard of the term antioxidants.

Antioxidants are found in a variety of healthy foods that you and I probably try and eat on a normal bases, such as fruit, veggies, whole grains and so on.

The antioxidants found in these foods are known to help your body stay healthy by fighting off free radicals.

Free radicals, or unstable atoms can occur in the body from a variety of things such as smoking and alcohol and can cause damage to the healthy cells in your body over time.

Some health issues that have been linked to free radicals going rogue are:

So obviously making sure you have enough antioxidants in your diet is important!

Fortunately, chlorogenic acid is one among them, giving coffee an excellent source of antioxidants.

The chlorogenic acid content in coffee, like the caffeine content, drops as the beans are roasted. As a result, lighter roast coffee has more antioxidants.

This just means that white coffee and other light roasts, aid in weight loss and have more health advantages over darker roasts of coffee.

So, you want to try it... where can you find it?

While you can try to hunt it down in your local coffee shop or grocery store, your best bet for a guaranteed find will be buying it online or at a specialty roaster.

Now, since I haven’t tried white coffee myself, I unfortunately have none to recommend, but Brew Smartly has put together a great list of their 5 recommended white coffee beans for 2023 that you can read here.

If you don’t feel like reading another article, here is a summary of a few of their recommended beans!

Note: The unique roasting process makes white coffee beans much harder and dense than regular coffee beans. Because of this you will need to have a special coffee grinder if you purchase a non-grounded bag of beans. I came across this article that has a great step-by-step guide on how to brew the best white coffee at home.

Final thoughts on the differences between white and black coffee

The roasting process has so much influence over how the flavor of your cup of coffee will develop. The caffeine content, although slight, does change with the roasting process as well as the acidity and bitterness the beans will produce.

Below is a side by side comparison of the main differences between white and black coffee!

White coffee is an extremely light roast that undergoes substantially less time in the roaster than other roasts of beans, creating a distinct nutty flavor that many people love.

The additional antioxidants found in white coffee only adds to the appeal and this roast has been officially added onto my list of new coffee drinks to try!

I hope you give it a try if you come across it, and if you do, drop a comment below to share your experience!

As always, thank you for taking the time to read today’s post! If you want to learn a bit more about the world of coffee check out these related articles:

if you haven’t already, check out the Procaffinator Instagram here for cafe review & coffee content!

I hope you have a great rest of your day and keep on procaffinating! 🙂


8 Coffee Essentials to Stock up On During Amazon's October Prime Day

Prime day is back ladies & gentlemen! Coming up shortly is October Prime Day a.k.a Amazon's Big Deal Days.  

The deals this October will run from October 10th – October 11th , so you will have 48 hours to access all of the fantastic discounts. 

This is a perfect time to do a bit of extra shopping before the holidays and to grab any essentials you may have missed during July’s Prime Day.  

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commision (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to purchase anything through one of the links :)

What do you need to shop during October Prime Day?

Before we get into the list of coffee essentials you may need, here is what you need to have to participate in this year's October Prime day: 

YOU NEED TO BE AN AMAZON PRIME MEMBER 

That’s it! 

And the best part of it is, especially, if you're on a budget, you don’t even have to pay to join. 

You can snag the next day shipping, discounts, and more using the 30- day free trial Amazon offers.  

Amazon offers a 30-day free trail if you're signing up with a new account so you can sign up for the awesome prime day deals and cancel your subscription if you don’t want to pay the $14.99/month to stay a prime member.

If you’ve already signed up for prime in the past and can't access the 30-day trial, maybe try digging out that cringy email address you made in 5th grade to get the great deals. 

Here are nine coffee essentials to keep in mind during your prime day shopping spree!

 

Travel & Insulated Coffee Mugs

Having a great takeaway/travel mug is so beneficial. You can get a discount at your local coffee shop for bringing in your own cup and help save the environment at the same time! 

Yeti and Contigo are two of my favorite brands that I would recommend to anyone looking for a new travel mug.

Eco-Friendly Takeaway Cups

If you don’t feel like investing in a good takeaway mug, you can grab some of these recycled takeaway cups to take your home brew with you.

Note: Many of these cups come in packs of 100 so be sure to check the amount you're buying!

Coffee Filters

If you make coffee at home, you know how fast you can go through coffee filters. This is a chance to save a bit of money and stock up on something that you use every day!
 

Pour Over & Drip Coffee Equipment

Drip coffee is one of my favorite things to make at home, especially using this Clever Dripper. You can just pour the water in with the grounds and leave it be for however long you want. Once you’ve let your coffee brew for long enough, just place it onto of your favorite mug and the coffee will come out! 

Pour over coffee is also perfect for those who don’t need to make 8 cups of coffee at a time. The amount of coffee I wasted in college due to not having a pour over coffee is.... unfortunate.

 

Coffee Makers & Home Espresso Machines

This is the time to save some BIG money if you’ve been looking at getting a new coffee maker or home espresso machine. In the past, some espresso machines have had discounts of $100, so if you have been thinking about getting on, now is the time! 

As I write this, this Phillips LatteGo Machine is $300 off and it’s not even Prime day yet! 

 

Coffee Mugs

Great. Coffee. Is. Better. In. Adorable. Coffee. Mugs. 

With Halloween right around the corner, now would be a great time to stock up on your favorite Halloween mugs to upgrade your home coffee bar.  

Not a Halloween fan? That’s okay! You can stock up on all the cups you accidentally broke earlier this year. Everyone is a winner with a coffee mug sale

 

Your Favorite Coffee Beans & K-Cups

An obvious essential, coffee. K-Cups of all roasts & brands have been on sale during past Amazon Prime Days so fingers crossed they will be for this event as well! While you’re shopping, you may as well see if your favorite coffee roasters have a sale going on.

 

Organizational items

Sugar, ground coffee, coffee beans, K-cups, syrups. There are so many items that you can put in cute organizers to help cut coffee bar clutter. A little bit of organization goes a long way!

 

Pro Tip: Don't miss your favorite items!

Make sure you don’t miss your favorite items by adding anything you want to your Amazon wish list. You will have easy access to these items during the 48 hour sale and won't have to stress!

Good luck & happy shopping! 


Indie Coffee: A Review of One of Madison's Best Coffee Shops

Ever since its birth back in 2004, Indie Coffee can definitely be considered one of Madison's staple coffee houses. Being located near Camp Randall, it has grown to be a must stop for locals and a great study location for college students.

Unlike many cafes, Indie coffee is extremely well known for the waffles they make in house.

Yes, that's right, Waffles.

Because of this delicious breakfast item (and others), I have been to this cafe many times over the last few years and am beyond excited to be writing this review!

A Peek into Indie Coffee: One of Madison's Best Coffee Houses

The Atmosphere

In my opinion, Indie Coffee is 100% a cafe that conquers both the relaxing and energizing environment. This is done through having a busier indoor seating area of about 8 tables as well as a shady outdoor patio area.

While the indoor area can definitely get crowded when it gets busy, the tables are spaced apart enough to avoid having that claustrophobic feeling we all hate. They also have window seating that allows you to avoid the line out of the door a bit better.

The patio seating outside is absolutely perfect for the warmer months, especially if someone brings their dog with them (when does a dog not make an experience better?)

The patio is also the perfect place to escape to if the inside gets too noisy for your liking.

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All in all, the coffee shop can be a bit chaotic sometimes as the indoor space is smaller than most other cafes in the area. However, I find the busy energy inside can definitely help you push forward with studying, even when you're exhausted.

If you're looking for a quieter experience, try coming in during the week after the morning rush.

Coffee & Beverages

I have had everything from Indie's drip coffee and cold brew to a lavender & honey latte (named the Monet Sunrise) and none of it has even slightly disappointed yet.

They offer three different drink sizes, all named after the beautiful Wisconsin Lakes (Wingra, Mendota and Monona).

I personally love drinking coffee out of a huge coffee mug, and that's exactly what you'll get when you order the "Mendota" size or 20oz coffee.

Do you love coffee mugs? Check out my post on adorable animal coffee mugs here!

Indie has some great seasonal options available along with the classic espresso-based drinks such as:

  • The Twist (a mix of espresso, milk, Ghirardelli caramel and vanilla)
  • The Milano (a slightly sweet latte that has vanilla and cardamon flavors)
  • A Mayan Spiced Mocha (Ghirardelli dark chocolate, cinnamon, and cayenne)

Note: They also offer six different types of milk for those with dairy intolerances!

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If you do stop by and find you love their coffee, you can purchase the "Indie Coffee" dark roast both in the shop or on their website.

Note: This darker roast will typically come as a whole bean unless you would like it pre-ground.

If you're after something a bit stronger than coffee (as a typical Wisconsinite probably is), their website claims that they are re-introducing a new menu that includes:

microbrews, wines, and spirits such as Jameson whiskey, Kahlua and Baily's

I personally haven't ordered anything alcoholic from this coffee shop but I'm sure it only adds to the experience.

The Food

Oh, the food. This is honestly the best part about Indie Coffee. They absolutely nail their food items by elevating simple savory breakfast staples.

The Mediterranean wrap? Divine.

The breakfast bagel? Extraordinary.

While it might take a bit longer to receive your order, their food hits the "comfort food spot" of the stomach every time. They also have a number of Gluten Free, Vegetarian & Vegan menu items for those with food intolerances or preferences.

Now... let's talk about the waffles that were featured on Wake Up with Al Roker back in 2015.

What makes these waffles so great, is the simple base that comes out crunchy in the right spots and fluffy in the middle.

I'm not sure if they have a secret ingredient thrown in there that helps create this masterpiece but what I do know is that if you're getting a waffle anywhere in Madison, you need to stop at this coffee shop.

With each fantastic waffle, you will receive a few pats of butter on the side that are perfectly warmed from the heat of the waffle, along with some delicious syrup.

I personally go for the grasshopper waffle (a buttermilk or wholegrain batter with walnuts) but if that's not for you, you can take a look at their other 5 options and pick what would be best for you!

Some of their other popular waffles are:

  • The Red & White (a waffle topped with strawberries and house made whipped cream, inspired by UW-Madison's colors)
  • Chocolate Chip (self-explanatory & delicious)
  • Cranberry & Walnut (for those wanting to be a bit healthier in the morning)

Indie Coffee: One of Madison's local businesses that you need to visit

As you can probably see now, Indie Coffee is a must stop the next time you're in need of a coffee or a snack.  The range of coffee beverages they offer, from classic to seasonal, makes this a versatile cafe with something for everyone.

They are also open from 7am-6pm every day, so you can stay late and study or just enjoy your morning coffee here.

P.S if you're a student in need of a new reusable coffee mug check out my list of brands offering student discounts!

I highly recommend the food options here as well but keep in mind, you may be waiting a while for your takeaway coffee or food item if its busy. So, if you're in a rush, try and plan ahead (or order online here!) so you don't end up missing anything!

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this review and happy procaffinating! :)

 

Related Articles:

Staying in Madison for a while? Check out the top things to do here!

We've covered coffee but if you're after some dinner check out these 15 recommendations

Are you a student? Take advantage of your discount on these travel mug brands!


The Ultimate Guide to the Best Cafes in Daylesford

Being a short 90 minute drive from Melbourne, the towns Hepburn Springs & Daylesford have become a staple holiday location for many people. The two close towns have many things to offer, from the iconic mineral springs bath house in Hepburn to the fantastic art galleries show casing some incredible artists in Daylesford.

Whether you’re here for school holidays, or just need a chance to unwind from the city life, this ultimate guide to the best cafés in the area will help you find the perfect way to start your morning (or afternoon if you feel like sleeping in) 

Note: there will be a summary at the end of each section :)

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Cafe's in Daylesford & Hepburn Springs

Table of Contents:

 

1. Harry’s Hepburn: Best Café for Families, Large Parties, & Working 

Open 7 Days a week 8am-3pm, kitchen closing at 2:30pm
115 Main Road, Hepburn Springs

Seating & Atmosphere

Although I find the café on the smaller end compared to the ones I visit at home, Harry’s Hepurn is one of the largest cafes on this list, with a variety of seating options. 

There are numerous tables capable of seating larger parties (4-8 people) and many smaller tables available, though you may have to squeeze at some points. If you make a booking, they can accommodate large parties (10-14 people if not more). 

In the summer, the coffee shop also has a lovely courtyard / beer garden where you can take your dogs and enjoy the sunshine if you don't feel like sitting at one of the outdoor tables along the front of the cafe. 

If you’re visiting on a weekend, I highly recommend making a booking through the Harry's Hepburn website as it can become very chaotic quickly.

Seating from the front window

 

Coffees & Other Beverages

The coffees are a standard size here with a regular/cup (single shot $4.50) and large/mug (double shot, $5.50) with upcharges for any alternative milks or additions. P.S. they have some of the best hot chocolate in the area!

Additionally, the café has six milks in total so you are sure to find the right milk for your drink!

Milks offered: Full Cream, Skim, Soy, Oat, Lactose free & Almond

Harry's also has one of the larger ranges of drinks I have seen with not only coffees, but juices and alcoholic beverages as well for those who want to get the party started early in the morning. 

The prices on the drinks vary but range between $9-$18 

Coffee from the front window

Food & Small Bites ($15-$30)

Like many cafes in the area, Harry serves what I would consider the food selection at Harry's to be high end café cuisine. 

The menu, created by the chef of Frank and Connies down the road (highly recommend this restaurant for dinner as well), features popular items such as the Salmon & Potato Croquette and the Open-Faced Steak Sanga, an absolute beast of a sandwich. 

This café also serves the classics such as crumpets and eggs on toast for those who don’t want to stray too far away from a normal breakfast. 

There is also a small kids menu option with basics of eggs on toast and fried chicken & chips (which is absolutely delicious)  

Prices vary for the food items but tend to sit on the higher range of $15-30 depending on add on’s or substitutions.  

If you’re not after a full meal, there is a number of house made cakes and treats to choose from such as Portuguese tarts, duck pies, cinnamon scrolls (my favorite) and more. 

Vegan, Veggie & other health-conscious options 

The menu contains a variety (that’s right, more than just one or two!) of vegetarian, vegan, gluten free AND dairy free items! As far as the cake & treats section goes, I know of two gluten free options (the citrus teacake & brownie), but no dairy or vegan options at the moment. 

Summary:

  • Pros:
    • Great place to get work done, study, or have a meeting at. There are plenty of outlets if needed!
    • Accommodates large parties
    • Kids menu available (only booster seats available, no high chairs)
    • Local Special on Thursdays: A big breakfast + a standard coffee/tea for $25
  • Cons:
    • Can get very loud if busy
    • Small upcharges like a side of cream (+$3) or scrambled eggs (+$2) can add up quickly
    • Can be cold in the winter due to no central heating

 

2. Harvest Café- Best for healthy drinks/specialty coffees

Open Mon-Friday 9am-3pm, store open until 4pm, Sat 9am-2pm, store open until 3

Located: 29 Albert Street, Daylesford, Victoria

Located on the main street in central Daylesford, Harvest Café is a health food store & coffee shop rolled into one. You will be greeted with great customer service and overall good vibes from this heart healthy coffee shop.

Seating & Atmosphere

The entirety of the store is also a shop where you can find local favorites like beautiful soaps, wine and a number of other organic wholesale items.

With my first visit I initially thought this cafe wouldn’t be a good place to sit down and work, but after returning I found the indoor seating to be quite open & welcoming, especially when they have incense burning.

One big plus I found was there are two main seating areas, one with a couch and a more relaxed "friends" style vibe to it, while the other seating area is a larger room with much more seating. In this main seating area, there are a number of tables without it feeling cramped, and there is room to seat larger parties of 6 people if not more. 

There are window/bar style seating in both rooms with outlets available if you feel like getting some work done!

An example of the selection of wines & books in the seating area

Coffees & Other Drinks:

This is where the Harvest Cafe shines... here you will find the perfect drinks or coffees for if you want to add an extra health kick to your morning such as

  • Turmeric latte (coconut milk, ginger, honey, turmeric, cinnamon) - $5.50
  • Bulletproof latte (double organic espresso, organic coconut oil) - $6.00
  • Blue Mermaid Smoothie (E3 live, banana, dates, coconut oil, sea salt, & almond milk) - $10.50

among so many other drinks to choose from, you can even add protein or cholorphyll ($3 each) to a juice as well to kick it up a notch.

I do not believe they sell alcoholic beverages to drink on site. I only saw some, mainly wine, for sale in their extensive retail section.

My Blue Najik latte

 

Food & Small Bites ($10-20)

The food selection at this cafe comes across as more "earthy" to me, with items such as:

  • Thunderstorm porridge - $16
  • Dynamite mushroom toast - $22
  • Pumpkin & tarragon rice cakes - $3/each

This cafe splits up their food service by serving breakfast items from 9-11am and the lunch items (mainly soups and salads) until 3pm.

They also have a variety of other miscellaneous items such as the beef & veggie pastie, which I got and absolutely loved, as well as the savory slice which was on special for $5. 

Their small snacks in the cooler section by the front till are UNBELIEVABLE. They have salads, wrapped dates, and a number of other items. Just absolutely excellent food here.

You can peak at their full menu via their website online here if you want to plan ahead!

The beef & veggie pastie with a carrot relish

 

Vegan, Veggie & other health-conscious options 

To no one's surprise, Harvest Cafe caters wildly to the vegan and dietary restrictive community with the majority of their menu items and snacks being vegan or gluten free. 

Summary:

  • Pros:
    • Bubbly customer service
    • LOADS of healthy options & very dietary friendly
    • Lower price point than other cafes for food
    • Fantastic retail selection with local wines, vitamins, snack guides and more
  • Cons:
    • Not as cozy as some cafes

 

3. Larder - best for starting your morning on a positive note, work friendly 

Open Friday-Tuesday 7:30am-3:30pm

Located: 57A Vincent Street, Daylesford, Victoria

Seating & Atmosphere

Larder is one of the only cafes that I have been to that radiates the exact happy energy you hope to start your morning with.

Between the upbeat but not annoying music and the abstract art and scattered bright colors around the cafe, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere right after I walked in the door. Once of my favourite parts were the colorful umbrellas they have hanging on the ceiling above some of the tables!

View from the back of the cafe

In the main cafe area, there are only around 4 or 5 tables, most sitting 4 or more people. There is also some window seating avaiable as well as outdoor street seating for those who want to enjoy the weather.

In the second portion of the cafe, there is a much larger range of seating, both window and tables. This section has less of the cafe feeling and is more like a sit down restaurant in my opinion with a much more structured seating chart.

 

Coffees & Other Drinks

Larder has a range of coffee and alcoholic drinks similar to the other cafe's in the area. This cafe has great coffee, some of my favorite in the area, and a big plus was that it came with some beautiful latte art.

I actually did not grab enough intel on the exact selection of cocktails and wine that this cafe offers but I know the price point is similar to other locations.

Some gorgeous latte art from the baristas!

Food & Small Bites ($15-$35) 

Larder is cafe in Daylesford with yet another impressive food menu, with a larger selection of options with both Mexican and Asian inspired dishes alongside some of the breakfast classics. 

They have unique dishes such as:

  • Huevos La Flamenca (2 eggs baked in a braise of tomato, chorizo, & potato) - $23
  • Asian fried tofu & noodle salad - $22
  • Buttermilk Hotcakes - $18

They also have some of the classic all day breakfast items such as eggs on toast, for a reasonable price which I love to see. 

Note: Larder does NOT allow any substitutions on their menu items

Vegan, Veggie & other health-conscious options 

Larder has loads of options for a variety of dietary restrictions, especially if you have a nut or diary allergy. You can make a number of the menu items vegetarian, but there doesn't seem to be as many good vegan options in comparison to other cafes in the area.

Summary:

  • Pros:
    • fantastic coffee
    • this cafe supports local artists
    • best of both worlds with a cafe side & a more structured restaurant side
  • Cons:
    • less seating in the actual cafe area
    • NO substitutions on the menu


4. Cliffy's Emporium  - Best for a breakfast or brunch date, best cafe overall (in my opinion)

Open: Mon-Friday 7:30-3pm, Sat & Sun 8-3pm (kitchen closes @ 2:30pm)

Located: 30 Raglan St., Daylesford, Victoria

This is a cafe I visited on a rare Sunday morning when I wasn't working. Sunday's for the breakfast/cafe industry can be incredibly chaotic and thus I had prepared myself for a more rushed coffee but was I totally wrong....  Cliffy's was my personal favourite cafe out of the ones I visited and is a cafe i give a full 10/10 for everything.

Seating & Atmosphere

Note: I was sat in the entry way dining area, I later found out there was a 2nd inside dining area but I was unable to take a look while I visited, so, keep in mind this is just my experience in this first dining area.

This cafe would be the perfect place to have a brunch or breakfast date after your relaxing weekend in Daylesford or Hepburn Springs. The set up in the initial dining area provides a surprisingly intimate & cozy dining spot, with the majority of tables seating two people and the first dining area seating only about 20 in total.

The atmosphere was the definition of cozy with the heating at the perfect temperature and the noise volume low, even on a busy sunday. The walls were all completely filled up with a large variety of retail products, a plethra of flowers, and various knick-nacks contributing to the welcoming and cozy feeling.

One of my favorite parts were the herbs or ingredients hanging above the kitchen way. I'm unsure if these were actual ingredients the kitchen uses or if it was just for decoration but regardless, it adds such a warm feeling to the area.

There additionally is a massive outdoor seating area that can definitely sit larger parties as well as some undercover street side seating available for smaller parties.

Note: There is a second inside dining area I was unable to see that I believe can seat larger parties

Coffees & Other Drinks

This cafe serves exceptional coffee, using beans from Rosso Roasting Company. They charge the standard amount of the coffees, around $4.50 for a typical espresso drink.

Milk Offered: ​Full cream, Soy, Almond or Oat. 

Cliffy's does NOT offer skim or lactose free milk

The rest of the drink menu consists of a range of beers ($9-$14), wines ($13/glass, $55/bottle), and cocktails ($14-$20).

If you're after a soft drink, they do have big brands such as coca-cola which some cafe's in the area do not.

One of the cocktails they offer that I think looks fantastic is the breakfast martini (Campari, gin, orange marmalade) $20. This one is definitely on my list for when I go back.

 

Food & Small Bites ($19-$40)

Expect to spend a fair amount if you plan on dining here, the food prices are much higher than the other cafes in the area, averaging around $30/dish. In return you can expect high quality ingredients & the overall fantatsic tasting food that matches the pricing.  

Cliffy has a wide range of food items of their 16 item menu with a number of options that can be made veggie or vegan. They also offer gluten free for about half the menu options

If you're interested in grabbing a meal here (which I highly suggest) expect an upscale breakfast or brunch menu with a wide range of options from the classic Cliffy's benedict to a Japanese curry.

I ordered a Vego roll, which consisted of pumpkin, almond tarator, cheddar cheese & rocket and it was absolutely delicious, though the pumpkin might have been cut a bit thick. It was served with rosemary fries which were done perfectly. 

A vego roll with rosemary chips

 

Vegan, Veggie & other health-conscious options 

Overall, they offer a fair amount of gluten free options and many vegetarian options as well. They have a few vegan options, but nothing too crazy in that department. 

Summary:

  • Pros:
    • Such a warm and welcoming environment and so cozy
    • Fantastic food & coffee
    • Relaxing & quiet even when busy
  • Cons
    • Much higher price point than many cafes

 

5. Wombat Hill House - Best for Pastries & Nature/Natural Light Seating

Open: Friday-Tuesday 9am-3:30pm

Location: Enter off Central Springs Road, Daylesford, Victoria

 

Seating & Atmosphere

The Wombat Hill House Cafe has some beautiful seating options, with a few tables indoors, some by the cozy fireplace and the majority outside in their greenhouse styled outdoor seating. I did visit in the winter so once the plants and vines come back to life in the summer, its sure to be even more beautiful.

Though there is definitely space for larger parties, I think there is room to seat 2-6 the most comfortably, but when in doubt, be sure to call and make a reservation!

The inside is welcoming from the moment you step in, complete with a delicious smell, something my partner wanted me to mention.

Something small that i loved was the beautifully written signs around the cafe as well. There really wasn't a "rough" part to this must-visit destination at all. The nature decorations on the wall, including some butterflies hanging from the ceiling over one of the larger tables, paired with the table numbers staked in small potted plants all add to this nature centered cafe.

An example of their cute "outdoor" seating

Coffees & Other Drinks

The coffees are again, pretty standard in both price and size (cup vs. mug) but come in these beautiful red matte cups (the small details matter!)

I found my coffee to taste almost a bit watery in comparison to some of the others from cafes but it was still delicious. 

Wombat Hill House also offers a number of wines all produced in the state of Victoria, as well as beers, ciders, and cocktails ranging ($7-$18)

Alternative milks Offered: Full cream, Skim, Soy, Almond, Oat

Food & Small Bites

As stated above, I highly recommend this cafe for their pastries & delicious treats. They bake 5 days a week at the Dairy Flat Farm, the location wheere they also make all of their sourdough bread! The quality truly shines through on these as they are absolutely fantastic.  

One notable thing about this particular cafe is that Alla Wolf-Tasker, a culinary genius from the area responsible for the awards behind the Lake House also found in Daylesford, supplies some of the produce used in the kitchen.

As stated on the Wombat Hill House website, the kitchen menu is seasonal and changes rather frequenty. However, the menu seems to feature some of the typical brunch food found in the cafes in the Daylesford.

Big breakfasts, and delicious avocado on sourdough as well as some more upscale classic foods like, proscuttio & roasted fig pizza, waygu burgers were found on the menu.

Vegan, Veggie & other health-conscious options 

Again, it's hard to say what exactly they will have as the menu changes, but the website also states they will always have some options that are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Including fresh sandwhiches if that is what you're feeling!

 Summary:

  • Pros:
    • Delicious Pastries
    • Surrounded by the beautiful wombat botanical gardens so you can have a quick walk before/after your meal!
    • Beautiful & relaxing atmosphere
    • Heated outside seating
  • Cons:
    • None to mention!

 

The Best Cafes in Daylesford: Summary

There are so many great options for coffee and food when visiting the Daylesford area. I am happy to share these five cafes & coffee shops to be my favorite during my time in the town.  You can see more photos of the discussed cafes on the Procaffinator Instagram here!

I hope you have a chance to visit one of them and enjoy the fantastic food and coffee during your holiday or stop through the area!

If you plan on staying in the area a while, check out these related articles for some ideas on things to do :)

  • Love chocolate? Be sure to check out the wildly popular Chocolate Mill
  • Check out 16 things to do in the city of Daylesford here!
  • Australia Good Food Guide's recommendations for dinners in Daylesford here!

As always, safe travels and happy procaffinating!

Do you have a favorite cafe in Daylesford? Drop it below!


Coffee For a Cause: Give Back with Each Cup of Coffee

Coffee For A Cause

It’s human nature to want to help someone in need, and with the after effects of COVID-19, where “100 million and 150 million individuals were pushed back into extreme poverty in 2021″, there are plenty of people who could use a a helping hand.

Thankfully, many companies and organizations actively make an effort to give back to those in need whether it be through a 5k fundraiser, matching donations, or donating a percentage of profits.

Coffee For A Cause is one of these companies whose foundation is built on giving back to those in need by helping create a solid foundation for the future.

 

Coffee For A Cause: A Look into the Company

Coffee For A Cause is an independent coffee company that produces, imports and distributes coffee sourced from Guatemala. Any coffee lover knows that Guatemala is one of the fantastic coffee belt countries, and thus produces some of the best coffee.

They keep great coffee simple by having five main products in which 100% of their net proceeds go to their foundation: A stronger foundation.

  • Medium roast (whole coffee beans)
  • Medium roast (ground)
  • Medium-Dark roast (whole bean)
  • Coffee gift box
  • A bag of coffee with a custom label

While some companies focus on giving back to first responders, donating to cancer research, or to a local cause, A Stronger Foundation focuses their efforts on leading

the fight for criminal legal system rebuilding. We advocate, educate and innovate around mass incarceration, probation and parole reform

The discussion around mass incarceration and the re-entry of prisoners is not a new one, though it is a very important topic to be discussing. A staggering 77% of those who were incarcerated face re-arrest within five years later after release.

Coffee For A Cause also states that

650,000 individuals are released back into society, most with very little to no resources for a truly successful re-entry

It would be difficult to say that these two statistics aren’t related at all, as ACEF states

prisoners participating in educational programs were siginificantly less like to be rearrested, reconvicted and reincarcerated.

The effects of incarceration can stretch beyond the individual who committed the crime, with the families and children also being affected.

These companies address the issues in the best way possible, with education and creating a good foundation being the number one priority.

Six More Fantastic Coffee Companies that Give Back

 

Don’t feel like switching to a different coffee supplier? No worries! There are so many coffee brands that give back to a variety of important causes. The six companies below are just a few examples of these.

  • Social Impact Coffee:
    •  Combining quality with sustainability, this company donates 65% of their profits to their local community and pay the farmers they source their coffee from over the fair trade wage!
  • BLQK Coffee
    • Created by former football player Justin Watson, BLQK coffee supports and donates 25% of profits to black and at risk communities
  • Ben & Jerry’s 
    • While they may not make coffee, they do produce some caffeinated ice cream that will make your taste buds dance. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation operates mainly through providing grants around the U.S.A and Vermont specifically. They have since awarded over $50,000,000 since the creation of the foundation.
  • Starbucks
    • Yes, that’s right! Having your daily Starbucks coffee is supporting a good cause! The Starbucks Foundation helps make the world a better place through grants that promote women & girl empowerment. The foundation also helps extend access to clean water and gets involved in a variety of youth issues.

  • Dunkin Donuts
    • This iconic coffee stop has sent over 300,000 lbs of coffee overseas to active U.S. military troops in an effort to keep spirits high (and caffeine levels)
  • Bellissimo Coffee
    • Bellissimo Coffee, an Australian coffee roaster, is partnered with the Mental Awareness Foundation. Whenever you purchase a bag of their Taketime Blend, all proceeds will be dedicated to the foundation to help the fight against mental health issues.

Keep in mind that many local coffee shops also get involved with their community! If you want to make a more local impact, definitely swing by your favourite stop for a morning cup of coffee to see if they give back to the community.

Summary: Giving back with every cup of coffee!

There are so many ways to give back to the community and have a positive impact on the world we live in. If you’re reading this post, then I’m sure you’re on the right path already!

Coffee for a cause is an excellent example of how companies with a larger reach can have a big impact on an important conversation.

Some other great ways to have an amazing cup of coffee that has a positive impact:

  • Look for fair trade coffee label
    • The fair trade coffee label helps ensure that small farmers are being taken care of. It also ensures that the coffee was farmed in a sustainable way through the creation of water projects, education and more
  • Donate cups of coffee via coffee shop credits
    • Pay it forward on your next cup of coffee! A great example of this is Bean n Loaf, a cafe located in Australia.
  • Use a reuseable coffee cup
    •  Even if you’re favorite coffee stop isn’t involved in giving back to the community, you can still make an impact on the environment by reducing your waste with a reusable cup!

That’s all for today! Keep on trying to make the world a better place to live in through the things you love. Happy Procaffinating!

What’s your favorite way to give back? Comment it below!


How To Get Your Caffeine Kick On A Train Trip

How to get your caffeine kick on a train trip

Do you also sometimes wish you could just travel with a portable coffee machine, so you don’t have to miss out on your daily coffee intake while on the road? Well, I sure do. Unfortunately, I haven’t really found one that’s portable enough, so I had to find other alternatives.

Hi! I’m Lizet, and I’m a full-time traveller. Because of the environment, I choose to mainly travel by train. Because of the views, I keep doing that. And I teach other people about the joys of train travel and how to make it a fun way to travel. Let me tell you how I manage to still get my daily coffee doses on a train adventure.

On board coffee options

Like everything on the planet, trains keep developing and improving. Sure, this process goes a bit faster in some countries than others. In fact, quite a few countries receive old trains from other countries. So, it could take quite a few years for certain countries to receive the newest trains with the most recent luxury updates. However, this doesn’t always have to mean that the most modern trains are the best. Especially not when it comes to coffee.

Sometimes updates mean more seats, but not any additional services. So, for example, modern trains in The Netherlands hardly have any restaurant or coffee options, while older trains in the Czech Republic do. Both coffee carts and full restaurants on board are a thing, and you can easily check the local booking website if either of those will be on board. The biggest plus on restaurants on board, is that there’s an unlimited amount of coffee. For the real coffee addicts among us, this means you could get multiple cups during a long journey.

In my experience, the coffee cart often only comes by every once in a while, so I’ve never been able to get more than one cup from a coffee cart.

 

Train station coffee

No coffee service on board? No worries, most train stations will have plenty of coffee options. From Starbucks or other chain alternatives to cute local coffee places with speciality coffee, depending on where you are. The bigger the train station, the more choices you’ll have in your caffeine kick.

Are you starting from a teeny tiny train station? Then, unfortunately, your chances might be limited. I’ve noticed that small stations often either don’t have a coffee place at all, or one that’s locally run at whatever times they seem fit. Meaning, their opening hours might be very unreliable or limited (or both). In some of those cases, there will be a coffee place close-by. Just check Google Maps if that’s the case and take some extra time to pass by for your coffee.

If there’s no option anywhere around the train station, and there won’t be any service on board, you have 2 more options. One is to go to a bigger train station if there’s any close by and get your coffee there. (Yes, I have done this before) Or, of course, to bring your own.

Bring your own coffee

If you want to be a 100% sure you will get coffee, which is also up to your expectations of what a good coffee is supposed to taste like, the only option is to bring your own coffee. Unfortunately, many trains don’t have plugs, so bringing the machine really isn’t an option. 😉 But there are ways.

Although thermos seem to have gone out of fashion years ago, they’re still your best friend when it comes to bringing hot beverages. Just make a batch of coffee at home, put it in a thermos big enough to quench your thirst, and enjoy hot coffee on your train. Do make sure that it’s one of good quality. It can make the difference between cold coffee after two hours and still burning your mouth after 5 hours. Honestly, if you care a lot about your coffee and are on the go a lot, a thermos is the best investment you’ll ever make.

Don’t like old coffee? Meaning, coffee you made 3 hours ago. I get that. I like it fresh as well, nothing beats the smell of fresh coffee. Then there’s 1 last option. Bring your own coffee making set. And no, I still don’t mean a full-on coffee machine. There are tiny coffee filters that you can fold and put into your bag. Bring the right amount of coffee grind, that thermos with boiling hot water and a cup if it’s not on the thermos. And make your own, there and then.

People might look at you like you’re crazy. But if you care that much about your coffee, you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

So, now you can go on any long journey without running out of coffee. Enjoy your trip! 

 

Want to read more about of Lizet's travels? Check out her awesome website here!

Related Articles:

  • Are you a student who loves traveling? Use your student discount on these travel mugs
  • If you want to travel for some great coffee these 10 trip suggestions by Expedia may be for you!
  • Know your coffee order before traveling, learn about the most commonly ordered coffees here

Who Makes (the surprisingly great) McDonald's McCafe Coffee?

McDonald’s has an absolute staple world wide with a massive 40,275 resturants around the globe, 13,345 of those being in the United States, the birthplace of the iconic chain.

They are known for some of our favorite childhood & college staples like the Apple Pie, Sausage & Egg McMuffin (growing up this was the #1 road trip fuel) and loads of other late night snacks.

The golden arches company took it one step further by creating a new subset of stores that have since become iconic, the infamous McCafé’s.

The History of Mcdonalds & McCafe Drinks

 

Opening their first store back in 1941, it took the McDonald’s founders, Ray Kroc & Maurice McDonald, 42 years before serving their first drip coffee in restaurants. Fast forward a short 10 years late and the first McCafe Restaurant, serving espresso drinks, was launched in beautiful Melbourne, Australia.

This first location was a great choice on their end as Australian’s love their coffee, with 30% of Aussies drinking three or more cups of coffee per day as of 2021.

The idea behind the McCafe was to offer better coffee drinks than their fast-food chain competitor while serving up some delicious snacks in a comfortable environment.

Since the launch of the first Australian McCafe and the launch of the first North America McCafe in Chicago back in 2001, the McCafe menu & brand has grown rapidly.  McCafe beverages started to be served at every McDonalds Drive through as of 2014.

The McCafe drink menu now contains 20 different coffee beverages (if not more) including some popular espresso-based drinks such as the cappuccino, vanilla iced coffee and macchiatos.

The Deluxe Iced Caramel Latte from McDonalds

One fantastic thing about McDonald’s restaurants being worldwide is you can get a fun twist on your usual order if you’re traveling in different countries.

Check out some of the coolest McDonald’s around the world here!

However, one thing every coffee lover knows is that you can’t make good coffee without good coffee beans, so who is supplying McDonald’s the beans that make their coffee so good for such a low price?

Who Supplies McDonalds Their Delicious Coffee Beans?

In order to have good coffee, you need to have good coffee beans.

Thats why since the beginning of McDonalds Coffee back in 1983, Gaviña Gourmet Coffee Roasters have been one of McDonald’s main suppliers. The partnership began when the fast food restaurant started serving their drip coffee, and continued on when they added espresso based drinks following the launch of the McCafe.

Gaviña is a family owned and run company that started back in the 1870’s. They are currently based in California where the roasting and packaging of their coffee beans takes place.

Although specific countries were not mentioned on the website, the company mentions that Gaviña sources their coffee from some of the best places to grow coffee such as South and Central America as well as Africa.

This is backed up on the McDonald’s website which states:

They are 100% Rainforest Alliance Coffee Beans from Honduras, Columbia, Peru and Brazil.

Additionally, the beans McDonald’s receives from these countries are 100% Arabica coffee beans.

For those who don’t know exactly what that means, arabica coffee beans are known for producing a smoother tasting coffee. Pretty much they don’t have that acidic taste that is associated with Robusta beans.

A Robusta and Arabica coffee bean side by side

One downside to this however is that according to barista supplies, “Robusta beans contain twice the level of caffeine than Arabica beans”.  So, I guess it comes down to preference on if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of caffeine for the non-acidity that can come with Robusta beans.

McDonalds is not alone in where they source their coffee beans. Some of the other major coffee suppliers such as Starbucks and Tim Hortons, also source their coffee beans from these fantastic “coffee belt” countries. 

Gavina’s Involvements with Sustainability

Gavina Gourmet Coffee is a great company due to the quality of coffee they produce and supply, but one of the most important features of this company is their focus on environmental standards and sustainability.

Since it is now 2023, we absolutely love when large companies make an effort to decrease their impact on the planet. Gaviña coffee roasters does just that by only working with partners who are certified with the Rainforest Allegiance, USDA, and Fair Trade USA.

What does being certified by the Rainforest Allegiance mean?

The seal means that the certified ingredient was produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.

The Rainforest Allegiance certification programs cover a broad range of issues by teaching on topics such as healthy foresting practices, responsible land management and helping farmers prepare for a variety of unpredictable weather conditions.

They additionally cover issues in human rights & the livelihood of the farmers and people they work with.

recent program that ran from 2018-2021 focused on developing

indicators and methodologies that will strengthen the capacity of governments and social partners to negotiate and set adequate wage levels.

Many of the pilot countries used in this project are major coffee producers such as Costa Rica and Ethiopia.

Fair Trade USA & USDA Organic

Making impacts similar to the Rainforest Allegiance, the Fair Trade certification help communities and farmers by having a

Guaranteed minimum price that acts as a safety net for coffee farmers and producers when the market prices are low

among other standards to keep coffee and other product production sustainable and healthy for both the workers & environment.

Extra Bonus Points for Gavina

Lastly, Gavina additionally achieved zero waste to landfill in 2017 and are running a recycling program with TerraCycle to increase the recycling of their product packaging.

You can learn more about their full efforts in sustainability on the Gavina website here.

How much caffeine is in McDonalds coffee?

Everyone reacts to caffeine differently, so it’s good to have an idea of how much caffeine you may be consuming in one of your favorite drinks.

McDonalds states on their website that:

We publish the nutrients in our food as required by the FDA. However, the FDA does not require publishing caffeine levels.

which is…annoying to say the least

however, for all the barista made drinks containing espresso, it is safe to assume that for every shot of espresso in your coffee, you will be consuming around 63 mg of caffeine. There are many factors that can cause this amount of vary, such as the type of bean used, but for the most post, it should be in the 60-70 mg range.

If you’re extremely caffeine sensitive, think about giving your local store a call to see if they can give you a more exact answer.

Where can you buy McCafe Coffee for your home?

There are a number of ways you can brew a cup of McCafe brand coffee in your home, a known popular item being Keurig Coffee pods or K-cups.

The McCafe K-Cups take a step beyond the normal menu with even more flavors available in k-cup pods such as Horchata Latte, French Vanilla, and of course, Pumpkin Spice for fall time. You can get a variety of these K-Cups in light roasts, dark roasts, and a medium roast as well.

You can also find McCafe’s ground coffee in a premium roast (a medium roast), breakfast blend (light roast), Colombian blend (medium to dark roast), and French vanilla (dark roast) if you don’t use K-Cups.

Some of the most popular grocery stores carrying McCafe coffee are Meijer, Costco and Walmart. Meaning you can never be too far from a cup of McDonalds McCafe Coffee.

Summary: The McCafe Coffee Story

McDonald’s is an iconic fast food chain that has grown over the last eight decades and will only continue to grow. After adding McCafe’s to the brand only 20 years ago, McDonald’s McCafe coffee has checked all of the boxes by being a good cup of coffee that you can buy affordable price.

They couldn’t have chosen a better supplier for their beans as Gavina Gourmet Roasters is a company that prioritizes the future of coffee by only working with certified sustainable partners while producing a quality product.

All of this means you can enjoy an environmentally and farmer friendly cup of coffee at your local McDonalds or in the comfort of your own home!

Do you love McDonald’s coffee? Comment your favorite drink below!

Have a great day & Happy Procaffinating!


Caffeinated Ice cream: Is it a delicious alternative to coffee?

Caffeinated Ice Cream: Is it a delicious alternative to coffee?

You've heard of caffeinated gum (ick), caffeine pills, caffeine powder, and so many other products that can give you a caffeine fix if you're not one of the people out there who love the taste of coffee.

When I was back in my hometown the other day, I got to visiting one of my favorite spots for ice cream, The Chocolate Shoppe!

They produce some of the best ice cream I've ever had, and also have one ice cream, Iced Latte-da, that is caffeinated & part of their Bang! Ice cream collection.

So obviously I had to try it!

Spoiler alert, it was fantastic, and the coffee-flavored ice cream did not disappoint my slightly frozen taste buds in the slightest.

I highly recommend stopping by a store if you find yourself in Madison, WI or the surrounding area.

But, it did get me thinking, could you actually use coffee flavored or caffeinated ice cream to replace your morning cup of coffee? Or at least give you a boost when youre craving a sweet treat?

So today were going to be diving into the caffeine content of some popular coffee ice creams out there, to see how they compare with your favorite caffeinated drinks!

In order to figure out if the caffeine levels in ice cream is enough to give you a buzz, we have to see how much caffeine is actually in our day-to-day drinks.

First off, let's start off by addressing the caffeine content we normally get out of a cup of coffee. an energy drink, or a shot of espresso.

Caffeine Content In Coffee & Energy Drinks

On average, there is around 95 mg of caffeine in a cup of delicious coffee or around 63 mg of caffeine if you're drinking an espresso or an espresso based drink.

Decaf coffee obviously has substantially less, sitting at around 5.4 mg per 12oz cup of coffee. This amount can vary, but according to the USDA, as long as the caffeine content doesnt exceed

0.10 percent caffeine on a dry basis in the package" the coffee can be considered as decaffeinated.

If you're a diehard caffeine addict with a tolerance out of this world... check out Biohazard Coffee, otherwise known as the world's strongest coffee with a caffeine content of 925 MG PER 12OZ serving, how crazy is that??

​Personally, this would be enough caffeine to last me the month, but I know some of you out there working 24hr+ shifts may need it!

If you're more of an energy drink lover, there is quite a range of the amount of caffeine that can be found in the drinks. It can be anywhere from 50-300+ mg, it really just depends on the brand.

If you're wondering how much caffeine is in your favorite energy drink, check out this guide that gives a general answer to the question.

Take this information with a grain of salt however as I'm not 100% sure where they got their information from.

However, some of the drinks I did double on some of the caffeine amounts they say are in some drinks and it seems to be accurate.

Summary:

  • Average cup of coffee: 95 mg
  • 1 shot of espresso: 63 mg
  • Decaffeinated coffee:  5.4 mg per 12oz
  • Energy drinks: 50-300+ mg
  • The worlds strongest coffee: 925 mg per 12oz

How much caffeine is too much?

For an average cup of coffee, the 95 mg is about 1/4 of the maximum intake suggested by the FDA which comes to 400 milligrams of caffeine.

You obviously can have more than this amount, but you may have some unfortunate side effects if you do so, such as

  • insomnia
  • headaches
  • upset stomache

depending on your tolerance.

For those of us who have had the caffeine jitters on more than one occasion know that the effects of caffeine can be a real pain, so be careful on how much you have!

How does caffeine get into the ice cream?

Caffeine can work it's way into ice cream in a few different ways:

  1. Natural Sources (plants, seeds...etc)This caffeine comes from some ingredients like cocoa, tea, or other items found in nature. Ingredients like milk chocolate have substantially less caffeine that coffee itself, a 50-gram bar only containing 10 mg of caffeine.Dark chocolate on the other hand, has a bit more, containing 50 mg of caffeine per 50g bar.I got in touch with The Chocolate Shoppe and found out they actually use Guarana seed (shown in the image below) to produce a massive 125mg of caffeine that is found in just one scoop of their caffeinated ice cream.

    I’ve never heard of Guarana before, but apparently it is:

    a Brazilian plant native to the Amazon basin..... and 70% of guarana produced is used by the beverage industry in soft and energy drinks, while the remaining 30% is turned into powder (1).

    according to the same Healthline article, Guarana has a number of health benefits because of the effects the caffeine has on the body such as

    • weight loss
    • pain management (who knew that caffeine could help with this??)
    • improvements in skin appearance

    I had no idea that caffeine can have such an impact on the body beyond keeping you more focus and awake, so cheers to one more reason to keep drinking your morning coffees!

  2. Instant Coffee

    Instant coffee has soooo many uses beyond a hotel cup of coffee, including being a main ingredient in the iconic TikTok Dalgona coffee.


    It can also be used as a source of caffeine & flavor in coffee ice cream, especially if you're making your own at home.Two bigger coffee brands that use instant coffee in their ice cream are Ben & Jerry's and Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream

  3. Actual coffee

    It seems the majority of ice cream brands use actual coffee or espresso to bring the energy kick to their ice cream!According to this article, Talenti, Dryers, and Talenti all use coffee in their ice cream recipes.Bonus: A number of these ice cream brands also use a coffee extract to add that extra coffee flavor to the ice cream, without adding more caffeine.So yes, if you're looking for a coffee ice cream that won't keep you up at night, they do exist! They most likely just use coffee extract in the recipe instead of the alternatives listed above.

Breakdown of different brands of caffeinated ice creams

As I don't have the time currently or the funds honestly to try as many of these delicious coffee ice cream flavors as I would like, i am going off of this awesome ranked guide by Tasting Table.

I highly recommend you checking out the reviews if you're thinking of getting any of these caffeinated treats!

  • 0-20 mg (low caffeine content, a quarter (1/4) cup of coffee )
    Turkey Hill's Colombian Coffee - 2/3 cup = 15 mg

    Haagen Dazs Coffee - 1 Tub = 19 mg, a surprisingly low amount of caffeine
  • 30-40 mg, about a half-cup of coffee
    Breyer's Coffee - 1cups = 30 mg caffeine

    Oatly Coffee- 34mg per serving 
  • 40-60 mg - 1/2 to 3/4 cup of coffee
    Talenti's Coffee Chocolate Chip- 2/3 cup serving = 43-91 mg 

    Ben & Jerry's Coffee Coffee Buzzbuzzbuzz! - 1/2 cup serving = 45 mg
    Edy's Coffee - 1 cup = 60 mg
  • 60-95 mg (around 1 cup of coffee)
    Trader Joe's Coffee Bean Blast - unconfirmed 95 mg per serving 
  • 95mg + (1+ cups of coffee)
    The Chocolate shoppe's iced coffee flavor, Iced Latte-da - 125mg/serving or scoop

As you can see, the amount of caffeine varies from brand to brand as well as the serving size!

Keep in mind that if you have 2 scoops of ice cream, you could be doubling the amount of caffeine you're having.

Conclusion: Will caffeinated ice cream actually do anything for you?

Depending on which ice cream you get and if you're caffeine sensitive, caffeinated ice cream can definitely have an impact on you.

If you are caffeine sensitive, I suggest doing some research on the ice cream you're thinking of trying as foods & beverages aren't actually required to disclose the amount of caffeine they have in them...which is very surprising in my opinion.

So instead of ending up with nightime caffeine jitters, take a closer look and plan ahead to find out the exact amount of caffeine you might be having.

Whether or not you want it to replace your morning cup of coffee...that's up to you. But in the meantime, enjoy the extra little burst of energy from your delicious treat!

If you're looking to save some money and make some delicious coffee ice cream at home, check out these popular recipes!

So! That's all for today, go find yourself a delicious treat filled with caffeine to brighten up your day and happy procaffinating!

Comment below your favorite ice cream brand or shop!


Get a Great Deal on Travel Coffee Mugs With Your Student Discount

Between the late nights in the library and early mornings in class, having a travel mug that will keep your coffee hot for hours is ESSENTIAL  

I had a few travel mugs of my own when I was a college student, and while I loved them, they can be very expensive. Especially if you want one of the nicer mugs like one of the Yeti or Stanley tumblers.   

The issue is, no student wants to willingly spend that kind of money on something that ends up being total crap and never gets used! 

Surprisingly, not as many travel mug companies supply student discounts. Actually, only very few offer one, I found TWO during my research, how disappointing! 

SO, we are going to try and find the beautiful loopholes that exist to buy the same quality mugs but in a retail store at does have a student discount.  

Extra Notes: If you're a die-hard Amazon user, there will be additional links to all travel mugs talked about at the end of each section! Also, many of these stores offer discounts or other promo codes for all the first responders out there so take a peek even if you're not a student! 

 

Here are 6 Stores that YOU can use your student discount at to snatch up some of the best travel mugs but at a cheaper price 

 

#1: L.L. Bean: Sells Yeti: 10% off purchase, free shipping on $75+ 

 

One of the more well known stores out there, L.L. Bean stays fully stocked with any camping, fishing, or home decoration items you may need. They carry a variety of camping or travel mugs, especially one of my favorite brands, Yeti. 

 I personally have had a yeti and I’ve absolutely loved it as I would have hot coffee for almost too long, about 4-6 hours. 

L.L. Bean has a variety of travel tumblers, bottles, and more in all kinds of different colors ranging from $30 for an 18oz rambler to $55 for a 46oz giant. 

My only hang up with some yeti tumblers is many come with their leak proof lid, that has a silicon suctioning rubber bit (sorry that’s the only way I could think to describe it) that can be VERY difficult to get off. 


 Get this 20 oz Yeti tumbler for $38 here

So, I would recommend going slowly when taking off the lid, as I have spilled my drink on a number of occasions when trying to take it off too quickly.  

 But beyond that, yeti is an absolutely fantastic choice for a reusable coffee mug. They are easy to clean and last forever, but if your's doesn’t, they have a 3–5-year warranty so you're covered anyways!  

 

#2: Target:  Multiple Brands @ 20% off one purchase, free shipping on $35+ 

Okay first off, WHO KNEW. 

I would have never thought that target would have a student discount program purely because of the amount of people that flock to the store every school year.  

 But yes, the holy grail of stores has a 20% student discount waiting for you for one purchase of your choosing.  This student discount does come with a few strings attached however:   

 You must sign up for circle rewards to access it 

    • Circle rewards is the Target Reward program that is free to sign up for. It also has some other great benefits such as access to exclusive deals, birthday rewards, and more!
  • The offer is only for back-to-school times 
    •  On the target website, the offer is valid from July 16th (7/16) to August 26th (8/26). It is a bummer that you can't redeem your discount at any time during the year, but the offer is annual. This just meaning if you miss it this year, you can always try for next year! 

 Target currently carries a number of great travel coffee mugs such as: 

  • Camelbak  
  • Contigo (The stainless-steel mug option is a top pick for me) 
  •  Zojirushi   

 And many more! So, the choice is up to you on which one you want! 

Get this Contigo travel mug for $17 here! 

If you want a full travel mug breakdown, check out this guide created by good housekeeping on their favorite travel mugs. Many of the travels mugs I have used are featured on this list as well so I stand by the research!  

BONUS: you can discount stack with your student discount at Target! This means if you find another coupon you want to use, let’s say…. 50% one purchase, you can combine both the student discount AND the 50% off or get EVEN MORE OF A DISCOUNT 

 

#3: Fellow: 15% using student beans, free shipping on $75+ 

Firstly, what is student beans?  

Before writing this post, I unfortunately had never heard of student beans. Student Beans is a UK based company that focuses on making the student life cheaper and easier

When you go on the Student Beans website, you can scroll through a number of categories. There are so many brands paired with the company so you can see if the ones you love offer a discount code that you may not have known about!  

Overall, the website looks to be a great place to grab a promo code and save some big money.  

 

Now moving into Fellow...

Fellow is again, not a company I’ve ever heard of before researching for this post, but I checked out their website after finding them and I’m impressed!  

Their entire brand is dedicated to home brewing coffee and how to make a coffee lover's life easier.   

Fellow has loads of accessories and goods to help you brew better coffee, ranging from pour over equipment to containers for storing coffee beans.  

Fellow also has a number of different drinkware options for you to pick from, with their travel mugs ranging from $30-$40. The price does varies based on the mug size, model and if it is apart a specific collaboration such as the one below.  

Get the classic 16 oz travel mug for $35 here!

Some of their travel mugs also have beautiful designs on them that have been created as part of their artist series. My favorite one being is this 12oz tumbler with teal print on top of the black base or the plant themed mug below! 


 

The reviews on these travel mugs go above and beyond by not just talking about the ability to keep hot drinks hot and also how well these mugs keep cold drinks like your favorite iced coffee at the perfect temperature.  

 If you're looking for the perfect student gifts, fellow would also be the website to head to! They have an entire section dedicated to gifts. You can sort by the budget youre working with and can create your own custom mugs if you want it to be a bit more personalized.  

This section has pretty much just turned into me being overly excited about all of fellow's products, so I'll end this one here.

Since I haven’t actually used on of their mugs, I am solely going off presentation and reviews for this recommendation. BUT definitely be sure to check out their website, it's honestly a do not miss. 

 

#4 Keep Cup: 15% off Discount, free shipping on $50+ 

Keep Cup is one of the tried and true reusable cups made specifically with baristas and the café industry in mind. Originally created in Melbourne, the coffee capital of Australia, the keep cup claims to be.  

a barista standard reusable cup for people to enjoy better coffee on the go.  

Honestly, I am not 100% what the definition of “barista standard” is, but what I gather is the keep cup was specifically made for easy barista and customer use. In contrast to other travel mugs that have been created for a number of uses, Keep Cup seems to have been created for coffee drinking specifically.  

I am unsure what changes were made for this to become a more coffee friendly mug but considering the popularity, it's definitely working!  

Additionally, Keep Cup is an extremely progressive brand, being 100% women owned (always great!) and always keeping an eye on their environmental impact.  

The popular coffee mugs come in a variety of colors and sizes and are some of the most popular resuable coffee cups around the world. One of the unique things I've noticed about Keep Cups is the cork edging seen on some of the glass reusable cups.

I see cups with a silicone sleeve more frequently, but the cork used here is actually made from the "Waste of wine cork production in Portugal". How cool is that!  

Get the 12oz glass travel mug for $32 ($27 if still on sale) here!

You can get this student discount easily by entering your school email info on their site, the code will be sent straight to your email!  

 

#5 Kleen Kanteen: 15% discount through Student Beans 

Lastly, we have Kleen Kanteen on the list! Another Aussie based company that focuses on the health of the planet and creating fantastic reusable cups, bottles, and mugs at the same time.

The company initially started with the mission (that has since been successful) to create the 

 first stainless steel, BPA-free, reusable water bottle in 2004 because we wanted a non-toxic solution to single-use plastic water bottles 

They have since extended their reach to many more products including some fantastic coffee tumblers and travel mugs!

Get the 12oz classic black travel mug for $30 here

Kleen Kanteen sits right in the middle of the group cost wise, with the Insulated TKWide 16oz (473ml) with Café Cap sitting at $33 and the product range being around $35-$80, depending on what type of cup or set you're looking for.  

I absolutely love that they sell sets of coffee mugs and other reusable items like the one seen below. You get a fantastic deal while getting a larger variety!  If you're looking to get more than one item and want the best deal, Kleen Kanteen would be the brand to go with! 

 

Final Thoughts on The Best Student Discounts for Travel Mugs 

Although I can personally vouch for both Yeti and Contigo, the decision on which reusable cup you think is best is completely up to you! Whether you're buying someone the perfect gift or keeping it for yourself, keep in mind these important factors such as 

  • how easy it will be to clean (I have found that mugs with a slider lid can be more difficult to clean as liquid gets easily trapped in the sliding area) 
  • spillage potential  
  • how easy it may break (I stay away from ceramic & glass travel mugs for this reason specifically) 

when choosing your travel mug so you can get the most use out of it!

An extra money saving bonus is at many cafes, you will get a discount for bringing your own cup/mug! It may only be $0.50 but it adds up when you're getting a coffee per day!

BTW: if you're thinking of studying or working in a café, check out this blog post on why you might actually be more productive working at a cafe!

Here are some additional resources to help guide your travel cup picking journey if you want more specifics on how each cup performs   

But for now, that’s all I have for you!  

Study hard and Happy Procaffinating 


Order Coffee In Australia Like a Pro (Read Before Traveling to Melbourne!)

Melbourne. 

The holy place of coffee culture in Australia.  

The place that is mentioned in any Australia tiktok video where someone is complaining about coffee or coffee snobs. 

The city where the baristas probably cry themselves to sleep every night because the coffee orders just get too excessive.  

The metropolis that is the ENTIRE reason I felt the need to write this blog post. 

Australian coffee culture is a HUUUGE thing, specifically in the arts & culture city that is Melbourne.  

I have discovered a lot about how to avoid the confusion of ordering a coffee while working as a barista near the beautiful city of Melbourne, SO in order to keep your barista’s sanity in tact, lets get straight into it.

THIS is how to order coffee in Australia like a professional

We will start off with the GOLDEN RULE of ordering a coffee

Do not order just a coffee, you need to order something specific!!!

Notice how many exclamation points I put? That means you need to follow this rule.

*Embarrassing Story Ahead* 

My first day arriving in Melbourne, was a very embarrassing one for me to say the least. 

As a coffee lover, when I am in need of something to do, I typically go to a café to grab a drink. 

The atmosphere is relaxing, it's something I’ve done 100 times, so I figured, since I was feeling a bit nervous after getting to a new country, why shouldn’t I grab a coffee?

What. Could. Go. Wrong.

I headed down to this cute café near the hostel I was staying at and looked down at the menu to see what to order. To preface this, in the states we usually have everything listed on the menu, so that’s what I was expecting to see.  

But NO, all this café had written on their menu under drinks, was the word “coffee”, nothing else.  

So naturally, as I was naive and probably jet lagged, I just ordered a coffee, expecting to get just a cup of black caffeine like you would in America.  

But no, the baristas were confused, like, extremely confused, and had no idea what I wanted. 

Naturally we ended up going back and forth with questions until the poor barista summarized that after  alllll the questioning, I had pretty much just ordered a latte *deep sigh* 

Speaking of lattes: Check out this Aussie's recipe for a great Pumpkin Spice Latte!

The whole experience was very embarrassing, especially as an American who tries and continuously fails to break the “American’s are stupid” stereotype. (Is anyone else like this or just me?) 

Hopefully with the breakdown of the following seven coffee orders, you will enter the Melbourne coffee culture with grace and hopefully not have any embarrassing moments like I did.  

 

#1: Ristretto 

We are starting off with the base of a Melbourne coffee order, a ristretto.

A ristretto, is extremely similar to an espresso shot, but is has a way more concentrated flavor to it (who knew that was even possible)  

When you pour or “pull” an espresso shot out a machine, the water runs through the coffee grounds for around 25-30 seconds, creating the espresso shot.  

With a ristretto, the water only runs through the coffee grounds for around 20 seconds.  

The less time the machine is ran, the less water goes through the grounds which creates this boulder and stronger tasting shot of coffee.

This shorter pour also creates a sweeter tasting and less caffeinated shot, which is why some people prefer it to the classic espresso shot. 

This ristretto shot is also the base for another classic Melbourne coffee drink, the Magic. 

P.S. If you want a more indepth comparison between an espresso shot and a ristretto shot, check out this blog post by Coffee Affection 

 

#2: Magic 

A Magic coffee is an EXTREMELY Melbourne coffee, you will probably only hear about this drink in the actual city or in the state of Victoria but not in too other many places, if any, in Australia. 

A magic is very similar to a latte when it comes to the amount of micro foam used but created with a double ristretto pour (see above if you didn’t read about what a ristretto is) and only filled ¾ of way up

This combination creates an extremely strong but sweeter tasting drink thanks to the use of the ristretto and because the coffee to milk ratio is much higher than a typical latte.   

 

#3: An Iced Coffee 

The way an iced coffee is made here in Australia was so strange to me when I first arrived, and honestly, I have a hard time considering it a coffee in general.  

An iced coffee in Australia is made with ice cream and sugar syrup in additon to the classic espresso and cold milk base. 

You will be essentially getting a non-blended version of a coffee milkshake when you order this one. 

This can change based on where you are or who your barista is, so its best to check with the barista to see what you will actually be receiving.  

If you’re looking for a non ice cream version of a iced coffee A.K.A the classic version in my opinion, be sure to order something along the following lines: 

  • Iced Latte: Single espresso shot & cold milk
  • Iced Long Black: Double espresso shot & cold water

#4: Muggaccino

A muggaccino.  

An order I think is entirely unnecessary and have come to the conclusion that primarily only the elderly use this term. 

This drink is just a cappuccino but you or the customer you're serving wants it in a mug instead of a normal ceramic cup.

That’s it.  

Apparently, it's too complicated to order the size separately so it has just been morphed into one word to make life "simpler."

Again, this isn't a drink I see ordered by too many people, but in case you see it on a menu or hear it from someone else, now you're covered. 

 

#5 Long Black 

A long black!  

The closest thing you will be receiving to a bulk brewed American style coffee. 

Similar to an americano but not quite, this drink consists of a double shot of espresso poured on top of hot water. 

This is the key difference between a long black and an americano.  

With an americano, the espresso is poured before the hot water.

When the espresso is poured after the hot water, such as with the long black, the crema stays intact creating a beautiful creamy looking coffee as opposed to a black or “coffee diner” looking coffee. 

If you want more details on the difference between the two, check out my other post on the most commonly ordered coffees 

 

#6: Piccolo 

Next up is the piccolo, another variation on the latte pretty much. Australians love their lattes. 

This drink is essentially a mini latte, cute right? 

The picollo is poured in a smaller glass cup, with a single shot of espresso and steamed milk.  

With this drink, you get a stronger espresso taste since the espressio to milk ratio is 1:2 instead of a 1:4 ratio like in a normal latte. 

After reading around a bit, I’ve seen that some places may use a ristretto shot for a piccolo instead of a normal espresso shot. So keep in mind depending on where you go, the taste may be different.


 

#7: Long & Short Macchiato 

I have touched on these two drinks as well in my previous post on coffees, but I have learned more since said post was published! 

These two drinks are definitely more on the “coffee connoisseur” end of things and consist of a single shot (short mac) or double shot (long mac) of espresso, foam, and a small amount of steamed milk.  

The defining feature of a good macchiato is the layering, it honestly looks fantastic when done correctly. (as seen in the stunning photo at the end of this section) 

Essentially you start with your espresso pour, either single or double shot, followed by taking a spoon and placing the micro foam from your streamed milk in the middle of the shot. 

In order to create the iconic layering effect, you then pour a small amount of steamed milk onto the foam/espresso combination, and ideally it will settle into three distinct layers

A trick to make sure the drink doesn’t mix together when you add the steamed milk is to use the back of a teaspoon. 

Place the teaspoon slightly over the surface of the macchiato, and pour the steamed milk over the back of the spoon. This just allows the milk to slowly flow into the drink, which allows it to layer much easier than if it was pourred in roughly. 

BTW, this goes for any drink that you want to layer, cocktails, shots, literally whatever, if you want to layer it, pour it over the back of a spoon!

 

The Conclusion of Your Melbourne & Australia Coffee Education 

I hope you found this quick guide to some of Melbourne’s and Australia’s iconic coffees helpful! Or at least helpful enough to avoid making the same mistakes as myself.  

Your future baristas will love and thank you for coming in all educated and prepared, trust me.  

Seeing as this post is about Australia and specifically Melbourne, here are some awesome events  to check out if you're in the area!

  • If you're looking to take a day trip and get away from the Melbourne crowds check out this list of the best day trips in Victoria 
  • Who doesn’t love a coffee shop tour? Check out this one by Walk Melbourne to visit 4 hand picked coffee shops 
  • This awesome Melbourne based blogger created a Melbourne Bucket List(with 55 things to do!!) if you're in the beautiful city, so be sure to check it out if you need something to fill your day!

 

That's all for today! Follow the Procaffinator Instagram to see some awesome latte art (or check out these other awesome Instagram's for some) and cafe reviews if you haven't already and Happy Procaffinating! 


The Chocolate Mill In Mount Franklin: A Haven for Chocolate Lovers Everywhere

Happy (late) World Chocolate Day!

World Chocolate Day falls on July 7th of each year and as an avid chocolate lover, I’ve decided to dedicate this post to one of the fantastic chocolate stores I visited recently: The Chocolate Mill, located just a short drive outside of Daylesford, in Mount Franklin, Victoria

A location that will definitely be making it onto my list of top hot chocolate shops to visit while on holiday from Melbourne… the chocolate mill embodies everything that a chocolate lover dreams of. 

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History of The Chocolate Mill

The Chocolate Mill’s narrative unquestionably exudes passion and grit.

The idea for this charming business began to take shape in 2000 and persisted until the store’s official opening in late 2003.

After purchasing the mill in 2000, the original owners Chris and Jen Weippert invested everything they had into constructing the chocolate shop, even choosing to live in a shed on the Mill’s land to try and save money.

The chocolate mill made a big impression right away after opening in late 2003. The owner’s passion endeavor won the Goldfields award for best new business just a year later.

The wonderful café I had the privilege of visiting and will be mentioning in this blog launched in 2006 and has remained open until today, though under the new owners Nicki and Adrian Straton. 

 

The First Impressions

The chocolate mill is tucked away in the Goldfield Region, off of the Midland Highway just outside of Daylesford, in Mount Franklin, Victoria.

I was disappointed to see that the café and shop were not found in a traditional Dutch windmill, but rather in a traditional wood style home with a wire-creature-filled front garden.

There were 4 huge tables with family-style benches to sit on in the café, which was extremely reminiscent of the café’s minimalist appearance. The interior also immediately reminded me of a wood cabin after entering.

I was reminded of concession stalls at sporting events or ice-skating rinks at the area of the cafe where you place your order, however the menu was obviously superior.

On the left-hand side of building, the chocolate shop was packed full of a variety of chocolate sweets and treats, clearly showcasing the talent of the chocolatiers.

Hopefully you might be able to see the employees hard at work when you go, as there are glass panels peering into the kitchen behind the counter. 

The Hot Chocolate Cafe

Getting into the good stuff now a.k.a the café and all the delicious chocolate treats, the obvious highlight for me was the hot chocolates.  

A variety of hot chocolate flavors are available at The Chocolate Mill Café, including:

  • Milk chocolate
  • Dark Chocolate
  • White Chocolate
  • Spicy Chili Dark Chocolate
  • Vegan Dark Chocolate (prepared with soy milk)

I opted for my personal favorite, the classic milk hot chocolate, while my boyfriend got the white chocolate as he is completely obsessed with white chocolate everything for some reason (sorry white chocolate lovers)

Sitting at $7.00 per hot chocolate, the price is definitely on the higher end compared to other cafes in the area, but it did not disappoint in the slightest and was worthy of the slight investment.

The hot chocolates came in big white handless mugs, and had a very strong, rich chocolate taste.

Now, all of the chocolate and hot chocolate at the mill is made with 100% Belgium chocolate, which is a huge plus as it is some of the best chocolate in the world, providing the unmatched richness found in this hot chocolate.

If you’re not familiar with the powers that Belgium chocolate holds, check out this article covering why Belgium chocolate is one of the best!

Additionally, a portion of the cup’s rim was covered with some cooled melted chocolate, giving you an extra chocolatey hit as it melts from the hot chocolate as you drink!

Family Friendly Tip: The cups were quite sizeable so if you’re visiting The Chocolate Mill with children and want to save on cost, one hot chocolate could easily be split between two kids.  

Lastly, if you’re looking for anything other than hot chocolate, the café has a variety of coffees, teas, and other chilled drinks in addition to a number of delicious looking tarts and cakes that unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to try. 

The Chocolate Shop 

Like I said before, the shop portion of The Chocolate Mill is absolutely stocked. According to this article by Daylesford Life, the Mill manufactures around 12,000 (!!!) chocolates A WEEK. 

Beyond being made of the fantastic Belgium chocolate we discussed before; the chocolate is certified fair trade according to the Mill website.

This is a HUGE bonus as the fair trade certification helps ensure that the farmers maintain a living and fair wage among other things. 

There were too many items to count, but my favorites consisted of these lovely, molded chocolates, coming in a variety of shapes, many of them being animals.

The variety chocolate boxes, in my opinion, are equally beautiful and would make a wonderful gift, especially if you are unable to choose just one chocolate item (which is fair if you are super indecisive like me).

 

The shop website also states that they are

happy to assist people with specific dietary requirements, for example different coeliac requirements, religious dietary requirements, nut or lactose allergy or intolerance.

truly showing that there is something for EVERYONE at this chocolate store.

If you don’t see yourself planning a trip to Daylesford anytime soon, do not despair! You can visit The Chocolate Mill’s online shop to take a peek at what treats they have and get them delivered straight to your door. 

Cost Breakdown & Summary of The Chocolate Mill Experience

As I mentioned before, the hot chocolates were $7.00 each, a bit expensive but definitely worth it. I decided not to buy any of the chocolates from the shop because I am currently living on a backpacker budget, but I can only image how good they are.

Cost: Overall, we spent $14.00 during our trip to The Chocolate Mill. 

I definitely recommend stopping into this chocolate haven if you’re in the Daylesford area, whether it be for school holidays or just a quick vacation from Melbourne.

Although the Mill isn’t flashy and doesn’t resemble a typical café, their hot chocolate is the perfect solution to these cold, wet, winter days and is worth the short drive from the town. 

You will also be sure to find a treat in the shop, and even if you don’t (for some reason), it is still an experience in its own to see all the different designs and creations the chocolatiers have to offer. 

As of now I don’t believe they do kitchen tours to show how the chocolate is made, but I hope they consider it in the future as that would be something I would definitely take part in! 

 


Jackolantern sitting in a spooky halloween setting

21 Coffee Mugs to Get Your Coffee Bar Ready For Halloween

Halloween is slowly approaching but it’s never too early to start decorating your house, or coffee bar in this case!

This post will go through 21 awesome Halloween themed mugs that I think would look stunning in your at home coffee bar.

Before getting into the goods, there is a little background on my interactions with the die-hard spooky community and what I love about them, but if you’re not interested in that, scroll on down to the first category!

My Spooky Community Introduction

A few years ago during covid, I got into the beanie baby trading industry in an attempt to raise money to go on a trip to Canada.

I learned a few things during this period in my life, the first being that beanie babies can actually be worth some money.

Maybe not as much as all the clickbait articles say, but I made around $1,000 selling them in total so they’re definitely worth something

The second thing I learned was about the Halloween and Spooky Community.

I have NEVER met a group of people, who go so hard, all year round for their favorite holiday.

And I admire it. SO MUCH.

I absolutely loved Halloween growing up.

My dad, siblings and I would decorate the whole outside of the house and come up with ways for my dad to hide and scare the other trick or treaters.

It was the full deal, dry ice, smoke machine and all.

But unfortunately, as we grew up and time went on, we stopped decorating and going all out and it’s something I actually miss a good amount.

So, in honor of all of the die hard Halloween fans out there, I am creating a multi-part blog that will give you a full breakdown of the products I think would be a killer addition to your at home coffee set up.

Whether you’re full on and have a espresso machine with the milk steamer or if you are living more like me with a jar of instant coffee, there should be something for everyone to help spookify your house for the upcoming Halloween season (and let’s be honest for the rest of the year as well)

Coffee Mugs Galore

We’re starting off with the absolute staple of any coffee bar or any home really

I don’t think anyone can argue with the fact that when you drink out of a coffee mug that you LOVE, it just makes the morning (or anytime) 10x better (as discussed in this article here)

Since there is an ENORMOUS amount of coffee mugs out there, this first part of the series will also be divided into 4 themes

Horror Movies

Hocus Pocus (obviously this movie deservers it’s own section)

Thermal or Color Changing Mugs

Classic Halloween Mugs

There will be many more themes covered in future portions of the series such as starbucks tumblers, comedy, and more, so see the end of this blog on ways to stay updated on future posts!

Horror Movies

I don’t mind a good horror movie when it comes to the classics like the Halloween series

But once you step into paranormal horror movies or psychological thrillers…..

I’m out, no thank you, I just can’t cope with the thought that something out of The Conjuring could potentially happen to me

But in case you are much braver than myself and could watch horror movies all day long, these are for you!

“Just A Girl Who Loves Horror Movies”

A.K.A you’re not me

Get it here!

“The one where Pennywise and Jason are friends”

Pro Tip: The next time you get scared during a horror movie just picture the characters living out one of the iconic friends’ episodes

Get it here!

“Pennywise From IT”

Bring Pennywise to life with this thermal mug, changing from all black to this spooky face when hot!

Get it here!

“Friday The 13th”

If you’re a fan of this movie but don’t exactly want Jason’s face in your kitchen, check out this much cuter version here

Get it here!

“Serial Killers Galore”

Fun Fact: There are 5 famous Serial Killers including Jeffree Dahmer that are from Wisconsin, the same state as me! How lovely.

Get it here!

“Finally Caught”

If you and your best friends are all a little crazy deep down, this set of 3 mugs might be the perfect way to commemorate the friendship

 

Get it here!

Hocus Pocus

This absolute staple for any Halloween movie night initially came out in 1993 but recently had a remake (which if you’re reading this blog you’ve probably seen) that was released in September (2022)

If you’re a die hard Sanderson Sister, you’ll love these!

“Sanderson Sisters Broomstick Co.”

It’s always great to support a small business, right?

Get it here!

“Our Favorite Cat Binx”

Hocus Pocus Fun Fact: The voice of Thackery a.k.a Binx is NOT the actors voice! According to this LifeSavvy article, the role was technically played by two people. Sean Murray was the actor but the voice behind it all was Jason Marsden!

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“Sick of Morning”

The amount of people I could give this one too…

Cheers to all the anti-morning people out there

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“It’s Just A Bunch Of Hocus Pocus”

Combine your groovy and spooky sides with this colorful travel mug!

This is by far one of my favorites in this section

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“A Color Changing Cauldron”

Bring home actual magic with this stunning COLOR CHANGING Cauldron

Bonus: It has a spoon! It’s the little things.

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“Sanderson Squad Goals”

Another awesome set of coffee mugs to add to your collection!

 

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Thermal & Color Changing Mugs

You’re really getting a 2 for 1 deal with these mugs

They’re like those shirts we got on vacations as kids that would change color in the sun, you know the ones

“A Starry Eyed Feline”

Change your cat from black to space colors with this mug (no shade to the black cats out there, we love you!)

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“Would You Like Some Boo-Long Tea?”

This is for all the tea lovers out there, you don’t need to be a coffee connoisseur to enjoy a good mug!

Pro Tip: If you love tea, check out this blog here!

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“A Gory Start To The Morning”

Just like those awesome color changing bloody bath mats we’ve all seen online, this mug brings a bit of gore to your morning

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Classic Halloween Mugs

We are taking it back to the basics with these ones, from pumpkins to cute halloween sets, these are perfect if you want to join in on the halloween fun without all the horror and gore

“A Ghosty Friendship”

Honestly what’s Halloween without including a seeing a good Jacko lantern?

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“Vintage Whistling Ghost”

Even though this mug may not be very spooky, there’s something about the vintage feeling that makes it a must have!

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“A Black Cat Best Friend”

See I told you we dont shade the black cats!

This large 15 oz mug (with an adorable top) is perfect for those who need allllll the coffee in the morning

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“Double Double Toil and Trouble”

Who knew that Shakespeare was responsible for creating these iconic lines? (Not me clearly)

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“A Classic Rustic Set”

I can just picture these mugs sitting on a rustic wooden coffee bar

This set of 4 perfectly represents the Halloween spirit we all grew up with!

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“A Nightmare Before Christmas”

Although Jack and Sally may have their own section in future parts of this ultimate Halloween blog, I had to include this set in the classic as the movie has become an ultimate staple for both children and adults

 

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Well, that’s all for the first (but definitely not last) portion of the ultimate Halloween coffee bar series!

There is much more to come (including many MANY more mugs and tumblers) so make sure to follow along by checking out the Procaffinator Instagram for updates

OR

by signing up for the Procaffinator email list (which should be getting added soon!)

Want more inspiration for your home coffee bar? Check out these blogs!

  • Rebekah Dempsey’s article covers the in’s and out’s of having an at home coffee bar such as where to put it in your house, storage, and more!
  • Alternative Brewing dives into how to pick the best coffee machine for you and gets into their best picks
  • You can also check out my other post on 7 adorable mugs for animal lovers

I hope you can use some of these mugs to upgrade your coffee bar for Halloween!

Drop a comment to share your favorite coffee bar item!

As an Amazon affiliate, I receive compensation if you decide to purchase through some of the links in this post