By Izzy Surmiller and Alex Lattanzio
There has been a noticeable rise in independent coffee shops throughout Dallas and in popularity with Ursuline students. Local coffee shops have more variety and have more well-rounded and classic drinks rather than the trendy drinks at Starbucks, such as Dubai Chocolate or ube coffees. I went to two coffee shops that are not in the Dallas area but are in the Richardson and Plano area and they are both amazing.
I first visited Communion Coffee Shop and it was incredible. I was there on a Monday afternoon at 4 pm and I have to say there were at least 20 people inside and outside on the patio, which in my opinion is a lot for a Monday afternoon.
It was a perfect space to study after school and if you have pets you can bring them to the patio. It was a clean aesthetic and it is not just a coffee shop: they also have a small store. The store had candles, kid toys, coffee accessories and small trinkets.
I got two drinks suggested by the barista; she said what people like the most is the Lockwood latte, and her favorite is a matcha with oat milk, lavender and coconut. The coffee is definitely for the morning: it was strong, but still good, just maybe on the strong side for an afternoon.
The matcha was truly perfect and didn’t taste like “grass.” It was a perfect balance of coconut and lavender, and the oat milk added a nice touch of creaminess.
The next shop I visited was Eiland Coffee at Canyon Creek. I got the French Press and I didn’t enjoy it, it was strong, and I later realized I forgot to add the syrup because I thought it automatically came with syrup in the drink. If you enjoy strong coffee, the French press is for you. Eiland features a barista creation menu which I know you can’t find at Starbucks.
Two local coffee shops, Summer Moon and Merit Coffee, have also seen a rise in popularity. Both coffee shops are Texas based chains, with multiple locations around the DFW metroplex. Summer Moon, just around the corner from Ursuline, features a specialty “Moon Milk,” their signature sweet cream, that is always a big hit with new customers. Recently, the chain introduced matcha to their menu, which has become very popular with their clientele.
I interviewed Megan, a barista at the Summer Moon Midway Hollow location, on her time working at Summer Moon. Something she loves about working at Summer Moon is that “the owners really take an initiative to come and visit each shop, even though we’re a chain and we’re pretty big.” Although Summer Moon has multiple locations throughout Texas, they all roast their coffee beans in Texas oak, which as Megan says, “puts a little bit of home into our coffee and what we do”.
Each day at Summer Moon, more new faces come in and ask about their specialty coffee drinks. Megan says that “keeping it fresh and new every week,” like introducing matcha, has brought many new customers to their location.
Similarly, many UA students also frequent Merit coffee, which also features delicious coffee drinks and snacks. Another well-loved study spot for UA students, Merit has five nearby locations that all serve specially sourced coffees from South America and Africa. Ursuline Junior Stella Clary loves Merit’s special matcha drinks each month, especially the bluebonnet matcha this month. Stella loves “the atmosphere at Merit and it is perfect for late night study sessions.”
Both coffee shops have their own unique flair and are certainly gaining more attention. If one thing is certain, Ursuline girls love coffee, and these two local shops do not disappoint!
Merit Coffee Company: 11700 Preston Rd #606, Dallas, TX 75230
Summer Moon: 4343 W Northwest Hwy #390, Dallas, TX 75220
Communion Coffee Shop: 514 Lockwood Dr, Richardson, TX 75080
Eiland Coffee at Canyon Creek: 2701 Custer Pkwy #917, Richardson, TX 75080
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