Dogwood

Dogwood and I have crossed paths many times over the years -- my old coworker used to joke (kinda) about how she and her husband had a line item in their monthly budget for their Dogwood consumption. A good friend and former coworker and I would often meet at the Northeast location to catch up on our careers and how we were doing since we last worked together. A good friend of my partner's exclusively brews their coffee over pour-over at home. But I haven't been back since I switched to the decaf life, so I figured it would be a good idea to head back there to check it out again in this new phase of life.

One thing that always impressed me about Dogwood is how well they integrate with their communities. While they specialize in single-origin beans and coffee runs, they have partnered a lot with several community organizations to help raise money for different organizations and projects. Most recently, they partnered with DAP - Domestic Abuse Project for a run of October beans. They've also partnered with many local organizations, including AuSM, RECLAIM, and Every Meal. You can learn more about their partnerships here. I know supporting a good organization can often make my coffee taste a bit sweeter.

The Vibes:

The space is so eclectic and designed with intention. They infuse the right amount of color to make the space warm and inviting, while still staying away from the sad beige modern trend. It also has a great blend of seating options for all you could need in a coffee shop. Bars to watch the traffic passing or watch the baristas work, larger tables for catching up with friends, and amazing seating nooks with individual plug-ins and an overhead light. While not loud, depending on the style of your work, you might get some background music or noise in the background, but overall, its a great place to lock in for a couple of hours and get some things taken care of.

The Coffee:

Turns out, there is amazing news - EVERYTHING can be made decaf, according to the barista I chatted with. Literally any of their lattes, mochas, etc, can be made with decaf. They also have a few decaf single-origin beans available for sale, making the decaf options here plentiful. That includes some of their awesome and innovative specials, including the sweet potato maple bourbon latte and the smoked maple latte. In addition to their decaf options, they have a great selection of other drinks available, including several types of teas, hot chocolate, and even kombucha on tap! Overall, I think they have something for everyone here, making it an awesome and accessible option.

I ordered the decaf caramel latte and it was very good. It took a little bit to make, but I attribute this to the baristas really wanting to get it right and delivering high-quality drinks, so I was more than happy to wait -- really, no issue at all. I had mine made with whatever was standard for them with milk (whole milk), but they ask each customer what type they'd like to use and have several options available. I think perhaps what I liked most about their latte was how much the espresso really shone in the drink. It was well crafted and really tasted like you were having coffee instead of some lattes which really feel like you are drinking nothing but sugar or syrup. Instead, the great taste of the espresso was the highlight of this drink and overall it was very solid.

So I think no matter what you are looking for, Dogwood's got it with their wide variety of options and a well-designed, comfortable space.

The Quick and Dirty:
What I tried: Decaf caramel latte
Outlet: Many in the alcoves for working, sparse elsewhere
Vibe: Funky, quirky, friendly
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
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