I am Italian. Therefore, I drink and LOVE coffee. So when I say the Hickory S’mores Latte at Felix Roasting Co. is the most amazing coffee beverage since Caffè Ginseng, I mean it. It’s literally Fall in a cup.
Call me a coffee snob or whatever you have it, but Starbucks coffee just doesn’t do it for me. My coffee either needs to be real, Italian tasting espresso, or it has to be unique with a twist. So when I heard of Felix Roasting Co.’s Hickory S’mores Latte, I had to go check it out for myself. The coffee shop opened late this September 2018 and is located on Park Avenue South between 30th and 31st street.
The entrance makes a strong visual statement. Step inside and you are embellished in palettes of rose pink, teal and bronze. The printed hand-drawn wallpaper on either side of the entrance is ornate in colorful pink and blue flowers recalling the Arabic coffee flower. The design is mirrored in the cushioned seats. Green star-shaped terrazzo floors adorn the center of the coffee shop, accentuating the wood-paneled coffee bar anchoring the space. This modern yet fun space is designed by world-renowned Ken Fulk.
Details here don’t go unnoticed as everything was created with purpose. From the hand-drawn to-go cups and sugar packets to the bronze milk taps (and yes, I said milk taps!), everything is made with aesthetics in mind. The bronze taps offer milk made from scratch in their kitchen including almond, cashew, pepita, and oat. Your coffee break cannot get more curated than this. I walked up to the counter and ordered their latest coffee sensation, the Hickory S’mores Latte, alongside a plain croissant. They had some other wild flavors, all baked day of, and provided by Supermoon Bakehouse. The 3 specialty flavors of the day included a bi-color Blueberry & Rosemary croissant, a Ham & Cheese croissant and an Almond croissant. But I stuck to my plain croissant, mainly so I could keep my palette cleansed in order completely savor the Hickory S’mores Latte!
Expert Barista Reagan Petrehn is the bright and creative mind behind these one-of-a-kind coffee beverages. He brings me over to the center table and proceeds to talk me through the process of creating the Hickory S’mores Latte.
Step 1.
First he adds the espresso followed by steamed graham cracker infused milk to the beautiful coupe glass covered in melted dark chocolate and a graham cracker-dusted rim.
Step 2.
The coupe glass with espresso and steamed graham cracker infused milk goes under a bell jar. A hose is attached to the bottom of the platform that leads to a container of hickory wood chips. Reagan proceeds to torch the hickory wood chips as the bell jar begins to fill with hickory wood smoke, infusing the beverage with a Fall and camp fire-like flavor.
Step 3.
He unveils the beverage and begins to toast the house-made salted caramel marshmallow on what I believe to be a hickory wood branch with the blow torch. It’s the cherry on top, or in this case the marshmallow.
Once toasted, Reagan places the Hickory branch on top of the latte and you have a coffee masterpiece. The mocha colors of the latte give the drink an inviting and warm feeling, the latte art adds a touch of elegance and the marshmallow completes it adding that Autumn flavor everyone is craving this time of year.
I carried my art piece over to my table so I could enjoy it alongside my croissant. Have you ever tasted something that has so much influence and character, it transported you somewhere else? Perhaps, a slice of cake that was exactly like Nonna used to make or the very first sip of your favorite cup of coffee. The drink tasted like Fall in a cup. Literally, it tasted like a sweet camp fire bringing back summer memories of roasting marshmallows by the Lake. The hickory smoke did not remove flavor from the espresso or graham infused milk, but rather added an extra something making it the perfect, comforting Autumn beverage.
This time I tried the Hickory S’mores Latte, but next time I’ll be trying other amazing coffee beverages from their long and unique menu list. Perhaps the Deconstructed Espresso tonic..Inspired by the great wineries of Northern Italy and California, the bar has plans to open the cellar space below and introducing one-of-a-kind tastings, demonstrations, and other happenings. A date has not been announced just yet, but it’s certainly something to keep on your radar.
When you wake up with that Fall chill in the air and are craving a warm morning brew (that doesn’t involve pumpkin)…head to Felix Roasting Co. It is open 7 days a week and offers beverages all day from 7AM (8AM on weekends) to 6PM, but the Hickory S’mores Latte is exclusive…they only make 10 a day so make sure to come in early if you want to experience this unique coffee drink!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Felix Roasting Co. All opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.
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