The Sweetest Thing

I decided to treat myself today.

And lately, this “treating myself” has become a weekly routine.  After my French phonetics class each Thursday, I run to one of the coffee shops in town and grab some chai.

I tried warm chai for the first time last year, and little did I know, I’d be addicted with the first sip. And let’s just say that my chai addiction has become exponentially worse.

  My friends like to refer to me as a “chai-nnoisseur,” or an expert on the best-tasting chai, and as far as I’m concerned, Donkey has the best chai I’ve ever had.

  I can’t seem to figure out what Donkey does to make it the best chai; heaven knows I’ve certainly tried to replicate it with my store-bought chai-mixes. But Donkey’s chai (whether hot or iced, vanilla or spiced) is significantly better than Starbucks, the Front Room and Bibliotech.

  Right now, I’m struggling to figure out how to describe why Donkey’s chai is so different.

  The chai latte at Donkey is smooth, creamy and satisfying, and it leaves an aftertaste of gingerbread long after your last swig. The chai powder is evenly dissolved in the steamed milk, unlike in other chais, in which the liquid chai isn’t mixed well with the milk, making for two distinct tastes. I’m grimacing at the thought.

  Anyway, on a day like today, where the weather is chilly but the sun is warmly shining through Athens’ vast wealth of trees, a warm chai is definitely my beverage of choice.

  But this is not the typical Donkey chai. It’s seasonal. This particular chai, Chaider, is a tasty blend of chai and steamed apple cider. The aroma of freshly baked apple pie is floating from my mug to my nostrils. Although the appearance is not very appetizing (It’s probably good that it’s covered by a lid.), it tastes like liquefied hot apple crisp with a hint of gingerbread. I’m smiling inside.

  Chaider (or any chai, for that matter) is definitely a perfect choice to satisfy your sweet tooth on a cool, crisp autumn day in Athens.

A Conscious Experience

I’m craving Donkey.

Craving the taste, the smell, the look.

Donkey Coffee and Espresso was the first Athens shop I ever stepped into.  Needless to say, this small-town coffee shop has a special place in my heart—it was my first real memory of college life.  During pre-college in June of 2008, I mistakenly referred to the local favorite as “The Donkey,” to which I was harshly reprimanded by the HTC upperclassmen, who continued to correct us unknowledgeable freshmen.

During this premier adventure into the Donkey abyss, I looked around the café, noticing students concentrating on their laptops with ceramic mugs steaming with the hot, non-fat soy latte inside.  A hint of the freshly-brewed coffee aroma seeped into my nose, triggering my imagination.  If this is what college is like, I thought, then this is definitely the place for me. 

I was impressed by the relaxed atmosphere of the place, and I still am. Local artists’ works align the walls (including the cupcake artwork by Cait). Worn-out wooden tables, chairs and old-fashioned sofas cover the interior. The music of indie and not-so-mainstream musicians gently plays on shuffle through the speakers. And on certain nights, the sound of live local bands or musicians can be heard from the back room.

As for the look of the cafe, it’s almost as if it is made of a series of connected compartments, with little nooks for people to hide in their studies.  Each nook contains different artwork on the walls—one with photographs, one with old-fashioned “Sunday best” hats, one with Passion Works artwork.  Recently, I discovered the final nook—the upstairs.  I knew it existed, but I somehow never got around to going up this “mysterious upstairs room.”

I climbed the narrow, wooden staircase for the first time on Saturday.  A mural of musicians (The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Louis Armstrong to name a few) was displayed on both sides of me.  Although I hate to admit it, I’ve only heard of a handful of the dozens of musicians in the mural painted by Kevinn.

At the top of the stairs, I became confused. Where the heck am I going? So, I just decided to turn to the right and explore.

Around every corner was a new room, each with different theme of artwork, of course.   Couples were on dates, chattering over board games or their caffeinated organic beverages.  Groups of friends were discussing the happenings of the previous week.  Or, if you happened to overhear my group of friends on Saturday night, we were getting a good laugh mapping out our futures using the Lord of the Rings Oracle, just one of the many games Donkey carries on its shelves.

I’m used to the hurried hustle and bustle of my hometown Starbucks, where customers scurry in and out within five minutes, music blares in your ears and the bright lighting almost gives you a seizure. But the overall attitude of Donkey customers is not simply “get in, get out,” it’s “I feel like sitting down, propping up my feet and having a deep conversation.”   And this is what gives new meaning to Donkey’s tagline “Caffeine with a Conscience.”