FOAM, SWEET FOAM: Cold Foam Coffee Spreads Across The Chippewa Valley
a little roundup of specialty coffee drinks featuring this simple yet delightful topping
Amidst the hustle and bustle here at the Volume One office, a cup of coffee (or three) often provides a much-needed moment of reprieve. In recent weeks, iced coffees topped with a luscious layer of flavored foam have sweetened these moments even further.
Maybe you saw it coming, but it's about damn time we address the cold foam coffee craze sweeping through Chippewa Valley cafes – from large chains to mom-and-pop shops.
As reported by Eater, a food and dining culture publication, this creamy creation first popped up at Starbucks locations around the country. Though Starbucks can't take all the credit for cold foam's popularity; its influence has trickled into small businesses, too.
Cold foam is a light and airy milk- or cream-based topping – frothed without heat – designed to rest on top of cold drinks including iced lattes, cold brew and even lemonade or other drinks.
Local joints across the Chippewa Valley – including but not limited to Whirlybird Coffee Co., Hiker Coffee, Legacy Coffee, Crust & Crumb Baking Co., Grind n’ Go Coffee House and Chao Eatery – have embraced the trend, serving up this foam delight atop cold brews, matchas, lattes and more.
Cold foam is a light and airy milk- or cream-based topping – frothed without heat – designed to rest on top of cold drinks.
Over recent weekends, a quick stroll around downtown Eau Claire and Water Street revealed even more local coffee spots leaning into the trend.
Call me classic, or call me a coffee snob, but the foundation of a coffee – in my opinion – is truly where all the magic happens. Racy D'Lenes Coffee Lounge (404 Riverside Ave., Eau Claire), located along the Chippewa River, has got my best interests in mind with their signature "Gold Press" drink.
Compared to a regular cold brew, it undergoes a much longer steeping process – often up to 48 hours. This "extended extraction" yields a deeply concentrated, remarkably caffeinated beverage.
Top it off with the café's new cold foam add-on and you've got yourself enough energy to power through an all-night session to get the next issue of Volume One out the door.
In full transparency, it wouldn’t be a coffee shop review without a stop at my ol' stomping grounds, SHIFT (615 Graham Ave., Eau Claire). While I’m not always a fan of maple syrup-based drinks, the current staff won me over with the shop's new "Maple Cream Cold Brew."
I wasn't sure if the cold brew streak would continue from one coffee shop to the next, but Nelsonville-based Ruby Roasters' version is not to be overlooked. Finished off with SHIFT's house-made maple cold foam and a dusting of cinnamon, this drink practically begs customers to dive headfirst into a crisp pile of golden leaves.
By this point in the day, I was forced to skip Eau Claire Downtown Coffee (205 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) and their lineup of frothed creations (I guess it would be unwise to have more espresso shots on top of concentrated brews in such a short amount of time). However, word around the Volume One office is that their seasonal cold foams continuously shift; EC/DC's team of baristas bring fresh ideas and specialty drinks seven days of the week!
While by no means was this a comprehensive list of every cold foam-topped creation out there, consider this your sign to take a drive – or an on-foot mosey – through your downtown, be it in Eau Claire, Menomonie, or Chippewa Falls.
There's a good chance you'll happen upon a local coffee shop with a delicious cold foam drink waiting for you.
Visit Volume One's Coffee Culture mini-site online for listings of coffee shops located throughout the Chippewa Valley, including their respective websites and social media pages where menu offerings are often listed. If we missed your favorite spot for coffee, send us a message and we'll add it to the growing list.