Rated: ♣♣♣

I am in love with milk-based coffee drinks, and I’m pretty sure I have recently developed an addiction to coffee. K and I have become furniture scavengers ever since we purchased our house. After checking out an estate sale in the Sunset, we were on our way to Quickly to pick up some milk tea. On our way there, we ran into a brand new gourmet coffee shop called Brown Owl Coffee. And with my recent obsession with birds and coffee, I had to try out this place. If you’re interested in eating a little something with with coffee, they also serve baked goods made from local bakers.

I ordered a latte, while K got a drip coffee. The latte was strong and dark, the way I like it. Though, the froth was a little too foamy for my taste. K loved his drip. The first thing he noticed was the roast (which Brown Owl does themselves). The flavors tasted like cocoa and spices. A very unique cup of coffee.

Brown Owl Coffee
1131 Taraval St
(between 21st Ave & 22nd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94116
Neighborhood: Parkside

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Rated: ♣♣

Is there something extra special about Special Xtra? I’m sad to say, I personally don’t think so. I first heard about Special Xtra from SF Gate’s 92 Best Dishes in SF list. The same day I read the article, I rallied up my team at work and took a field trip to a little alleyway in the Financial District.

We each ordered the Macau Iced Coffee which was listed in SF Gate. Then we watched in anticipation as the barista mixed our drinks. She added (what seemed like) almost a cup and a half of whole milk, some simple syrup and a double shot of espresso made from Blue Bottle Coffee. The drink is served unmixed for aesthetic reasons, and I will admit that it looked very tasty.

After a quick stir and a giant gulp, I was disappointed. It tasted like a cup of milk with a hint of coffee. I liked that it wasn’t too sweet, but it didn’t have much coffee flavor at all which was a shame. I was mainly disappointed because I was expecting something similar to a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and got something totally different. I personally enjoy being able to taste and sense all of the aromas and flavors of coffee, and this drink didn’t do it for me. But hey, if you’re not a coffee drinker or you like weaker coffee, this drink could be amazing for you.

I would prefer to take my $3.50 and spend it on a Vietnamese Ice Coffee from Curbside Coffee (truck on the corner of Spear and Folsom). Their coffee is liquid crack.

Special Xtra
46 Minna St
(between 1st St & Shaw Aly)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Neighborhood: SOMA

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