Good morning!
Okay, chances are, it’s probably not morning while you’re reading this right now. Morning is a very small, wonderful window of time between it’s-about-to-get-awesome-o’clock and I’m-bummed-it’s-gone-o’clock. Its glory manifests itself only to those who rise early enough to enjoy it and take notice of its beauty.
Usually for me, morning includes drinking coffee. Coffee helps me start my day right.
And let’s face it, I need it.
With coffee as my long-term habit and much-needed ritual, it’s only natural that one of my first endeavors when moving to St. Louis would be to scope out the coffee landscape. That joyful task had to happen before all others.
I've visited several shops in St. Louis so far and hope to feature all of them soon, but my current and possibly forever-favorite is just a couple blocks down the character-filled streets of DeMun.
KALDI'S COFFEE
Kaldi's Coffee has been a staple in the DeMun neighborhood since it opened as Kaldi's first location in 1994. Since then, Kaldi's has moved their roasting to a new facility and opened 15 more shops in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Atlanta. This particular shop is located right next to the beautiful grounds of Concordia Theological Seminary, making Kaldi's a perfect coffee stop before any afternoon picnic or outside reading adventure.
I've only lived in this neighborhood for two short months now, but Kaldi's has already won my heart. I've succumbed to its charms and quirks, and it has become my favorite spot to start any day.
Sitting at the bar each morning, I can smell the sweet aroma of hand brews being made right in front of me. As I was sitting there a few days ago, a conversation was struck between me and another regular, Aloysius, as a result of a mutual love and enjoyment for coffee. I told him I was new here, and it provided a great opportunity to muse on the quirky parts of St. Louis, community, and, best of all, coffee.
We both mused on how the location we were sitting in, the DeMun Kaldi's Coffee, was uniquely known for providing people with the opportunity to connect with strangers, as we were doing just then. On first glance, the shop might seem to have a couple imperfections. It might seem as if it is too small and has too limited seating, and it might seem old and quirky, coming with all the imperfections of being in a building that is around 100 years old. But those qualities, as well as the welcoming atmosphere created by the people who work there, is just what makes the DeMun Kaldis' a place where people can accidentally elbow the person next to them due to limited space and end up having enjoyable conversation.
It is a place where people come for coffee and end up getting community.
Its rhythms are unforced yet purposeful, bustling yet peaceful, always steadily humming vitally with a mixture of vibrant life and quietness. In the words of Aloysius: “This environment is like an English garden- it’s cultivated but looks like it happened by accident.”
In addition to vibrant community, the DeMun Kaldi's definitely delivers on the commodity it promises- caffeine. Kaldi's offers a traditional espresso menu and always has two espresso roasts on the ready- their Espresso 700 as well as a seasonal single origin coffee.
Here are a few drinks to check out whether you're new to specialty coffee or an old pro.
1- The Gibraltar
The gibraltar, also oftentimes called a cortado, is a four ounce drink and includes two shots of espresso and two ounces of steamed milk. For those who aren't yet to the point of drinking straight espresso, this drink is a perfect gateway. It allows you to clearly taste the flavor profile of the espresso while still having something that takes more than ten seconds to drink.
I always prefer this drink with the single origin espresso due to the fact that the single origin is normally a more unique flavor and I prefer to play it on the adventurous side. Ask the barista any time about the single origin and they can give you a description!
2- Drip Coffee
It might seem weird to feature drip coffee on a must-try drink list, but it's worth mentioning that Kaldi's Coffee doesn't just do traditional coffee drinks well, they do all coffee well, even simple necessities like drip coffee. You can without-a-doubt count on walking into a Kaldi's, begging them for a quick drip coffee, and getting handed a cup of quality goodness.
The coffees are always fresh due to the fact that they change them out every hour and a half if not sooner!
Every morning, the DeMun Kaldi's has four different roasts: their Cafe Kaldi (a blend of Latin American and African beans), a rotating single origin roast, the Highlander Grogg (a flavored coffee only available at this location), and a decaf option. Note: You'll catch the single origin and Highlander Grogg only before 11am, so don't sleep in too late.
3- The Turkish Latte
Every few months, the crew at the Kaldi's Roastery comes up with seasonal drinks and bakery items that are only available in stores for a limited amount of time. This winter, they rolled out the Turkish Latte. The latte comes in three sizes- 8, 12, or 16 ounces- and is made with a cardamon and cinnamon flavored syrup that is made in-house. It's definitely worth trying before it's replaced with next season's drink!
These are just a few great suggestions if you're looking for something to try out. Feel free to check out their full drink menu and their vegetarian food menu on the Kaldi's website, or stop by to check it out for yourself! (Start with a blackberry key lime scone, the crustless quiche, and a gibraltar, and your day is sure to get off to a great start!)
Address:
700 DeMun Ave
Clayton, MO 63105
Hours:
Monday - Saturday 6:00am - 10:30pm Sunday 7:00am - 9:00pm