By Michael Vallens
Steam Punk Coffee Bar and Kitchen Valley Review
The Steam Punk Coffee Bar and Kitchen is a small café that specializes in high quality, great tasting caffeinated beverages as well as offering breakfast, lunch and pastries. Owner Amy Cohen is surrounded by a group of helpful and happy employees, which make entering this establishment more of a Cheer’s-like experience. I have heard through the grapevine and read the outstanding reviews of the Valley Village café and had the desire to see what all the rumbling was about.
I decided on a Monday afternoon for an initial visit. I entered the establishment and was greeted by Amy, Jen and Brea. The trio was hard at work attending to a decent crowd that filled a good 75 percent of the spaces available; some people were studying, some reading novels and some even playing board games, which are on display as soon as you enter. Music blared from the speakers, is owner and employee approved and gives the place a sense of vitality. There is also a ton of Steampunk art pieces on display which add a sense of mystery and intrigue that the Steampunk genre of literature encompass. For those interested, most of the art is for sale, labeled with price tags. There is ample seating inside the air-conditioned cafe and a few tables outside on the sidewalk.
I studied the menu, which was posted on a chalk board written with clear handwriting and decided that I was in need of an afternoon pick-me-up. I ordered the Chai Latte with Almond Milk (pictured above). The beverage was delivered promptly and the size was the first thing I noticed. In a world where we are used to “Venti” and super-sized portions, the Chai Latte was in a rather modest, normal sized cup. The presentation was very appealing and the latte art was of that of a cool looking spiral.
Upon first taste, it’s the sprinkling of cinnamon sugar and notes of clove that stand out. The taste was divine and I had trouble controlling initial reaction as my eyes rolled to the back of my head. How can something taste so good? The latte is creamy and settles warmly, and is definitely a treat to behold. It even stands out against its competitors’ version. Two words to describe it would be: perfectly balanced. I decide to order another one as I grab a seat outside and dive into a good book, my idea of R&R.
A few days and countless cravings later, I decide to return to Steam Punk Coffee Bar and Kitchen on a quest to cure my insatiable appetite. I wanted to try something different and went with the highly reviewed Mexican Mocha (pictured above), a spicy cousin of a more traditional Mocha Latte. What makes this beverage so popular? After my primary sip, what stood out are the robust, bold flavors of cinnamon and espresso. There is a nice caffeine kick that coffee lovers will seek and it is indulgent enough to cure a sweet tooth craving.
I complimented the Mexican Mocha with the Nutella laced Cranberry Scone with Pistachios (pictured below). This scone can be described as crumbled goodness, the tart tasting cranberries along with the nutty aftertaste of crunchy pistachios paired well with the indulgent Cocoa/Hazelnut spread. The scone, which is by no means dry, soaks up and combines beautifully with the Mexican Mocha to creates memories that last.
Besides the excellent latte’s, Steam Punk Coffee Bar and Kitchen are known for some of their other menu items, one of the stand outs being the Chicken and Waffle combo known as The Stack. It’s sole purpose is to cure that sweet and salty craving that comes along once in a while. It will be the next item on my list of foods to try, and I am counting the days until I can return. Steam Punk’s owner, Amy, realizes that she has been successful with the help of her hardworking and accommodating staff as well as the high quality of the food and beverages. But it’s the humble nature of the owner that makes it a unique adventurous experience that keeps bringing in new customers. Thankfully, business is thriving and it’s truly a blessing that there is a place like Steam Punk Coffee Bar and Kitchen in the Valley Village area to satisfy the booming consumer demand for high quality coffee, tea and foods.
Steam Punk Coffee Bar and Kitchen
12526 Burbank Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 508-1276
Hours: Every day 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
www.steampunkla.com
steam·punk – (noun)
1. a genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.