Coffee Nomad

Gloria Jean’s Crème Brulée latte is a caramel latte with no whipped cream.  In retrospect, I which I would have requested whipped cream.

Cost for a medium (2 shots of espresso): 3 dollars and change.  Tastes exactly as you would expect a caramel latte should taste… good espresso, whole milk.  It wasn’t too sweet, much to my surprise and delight.

All in all, the name “Crème Brulée” is probably the best thing this drink has going for it.  I was picturing myself breaking the hard-candied outer shell of a real crème brulée as I sipped on this basic caramel latte (thank you Amélie).

A knack for naming is something Gloria Jean’s has in spades.  The names of their icy blends, specialty espresso drinks and whole beans are all tantalizing.  They make me want to buy a bag of Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Coffee for $15… uh, maybe later.

The wife had her usual cherry almond Italian soda.  It could have used a bit more almond flavor.  It tasted more like cherry peanut than cherry almond.  But, with Italian soda, I think it depends most of all on the experience of the barista in question.

This particular Gloria Jean’s is located in Arizona Mills mall, in Tempe, AZ.  The coffee shop itself features a lot of tasteful retail coffee paraphernalia and a ton of big windows that lure you into sitting for hours to chat and people-watch.   AZ Mills Mall, in case you are wondering, is on the North-East corner of Priest and Baseline, off of I10.