Sunday afternoon cafe stop with BB — went for the Cafe Latte ($8) + Matcha Latte ($8.60) combo at a neighbourhood specialty cafe. Phase 2 had re-opened the sit-down cafe option and we were slowly easing back into it for the post-brunch coffee window.

We ordered:

Cafe latte — $8
Matcha latte — $8.60

Total: $16.60 for the pair.

The $8-8.60 pricing is firmly in specialty cafe territory. Higher than the chain coffee shops, well below the absolute boutique cafes at $10+. Mid-to-upper specialty range, which is where most of the neighbourhood third-wave cafes have settled into.

The cafe latte was the standard cafe-default order. Espresso shot pulled clean from a single-origin bean, steamed milk poured into proper microfoam texture, latte art on top — a tulip or a leaf depending on the barista. The kind of latte that delivers a recognisable cafe experience without going so technical that it requires beverage-program-level appreciation.

The matcha latte was the more interesting order. Ceremonial-grade matcha whisked into the steamed milk so the texture stayed silky without clumping. Bright spring-green colour, slight grass-and-bitter note coming through the milk and slight sweetener. The kind of matcha latte that actually tastes of matcha rather than just being a green-tea-flavoured milk drink.

The matcha latte cost $0.60 more than the latte, which is fair for the matcha sourcing cost. Most cafes charge more for matcha because the ingredient cost is significantly higher than coffee.

We sat at a small table near the window, drank slow, talked about nothing-much. Sunday afternoon cafe stops feel different from weekday ones — slower, less rushed, more deliberate. The kind of stop that anchors the end of the weekend.

Phase 2 cafe stops were back in the rotation, occasionally.

Overall: 4.3 / 5. 😋👍🏼 Reliable specialty cafe stop — would re-visit.

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