As exhaled breath becomes visible and snow begins to fall onto the once vibrantly green grass, the craving for comfort and warmth becomes stronger and stronger. On the coldest of days, nothing sounds better than a place that greets you with open arms and a big cup of hot chocolate. Thankfully, there is one location that can provide just that: Haute Coffee. However, the food itself is mediocre.
Located on 12 Walden Street in an alleyway on the bustling streets of Concord, Massachusetts, the light pink coffee shop can easily be missed, as it looks very similar to the residential homes of the area, but the circular sign with two intertwined poppies will let passersby know otherwise. The location of the cafe renders many benefits to customers because, after enjoying a meal, people can partake in an excellent morning out with some shopping at the nearby clothing, dessert, and book stores while simultaneously learning more about the colonial town from the informational signs that line the sidewalk.
There are many places to park in this area, with many free lots in a close proximity to the coffee shop. However on a very busy day, commuters might have to search for street parking which can be a hassle.
When I walked through the establishment’s black doors at approximately 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning, the place was practically full, with people lining every wall. Through the hecticness, the baristas greeted every customer with kindness, willing to give any suggestions if the customer was stuck on what to order.
The menu of Haute Coffee has many different breakfast and lunch options, including Haute’s signature baked goods made fresh daily. Customers can also choose from a variety of unique drinks including the Apple Cider Chai ($6), the Maple Spice Latte ($5.35), and the Ginger Turmeric Chai Latte ($5.25). If you are looking for something more traditional, you can select one of the many classics featured on the menu such as fruit juices, hot chocolate, or a standard cup of coffee. Additionally, there are gluten free and vegan options to cater to customers’ dietary needs.
The establishment is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The kitchen closes at 2 p.m., making only drinks available to be ordered afterwards. The hours may be inconvenient for Westford residents due to the lengthy commute to Concord after a school day that ends at 1:55 p.m.
After placing my order, I peeked inside the dining area to see that it mirrored the ordering station; each of the ten tables were occupied with workers, students, and families. Because of this, it took a while to get a seat, but I finally did after waiting around ten minutes.
Even though the cafe was very busy, it somehow provided me with a calming effect that I had not previously experienced at many cafes. The large windows and the numerous pieces of art lining the brick walls of the dining room curated a sense of intimacy and coziness for all of the diners.
Haute Coffee also provides all customers with free WiFi, making it the perfect place to get any extra schoolwork done during the weekend.
Sixteen minutes after placing my order, I received my gluten free pumpkin muffin ($4) and my large cup of hot chocolate ($6.50). Although I understand it was very busy, I would have appreciated if the wait-time was cut down a bit.
The pumpkin muffin was served room-temperature when I got it, and it didn’t meet my expectations. When I ordered it, I was expecting a potent pumpkin flavor, but when I tasted it, it was very subtle and was more of an undernote. The sugar sprinkled on top added a crunch to the muffin, but didn’t do much to bring out the flavor.
The hot chocolate isn’t something I would think about ordering again. Although it was the perfect temperature when it came out, the overall taste of it wasn’t remarkable. The chocolate flavor was understated and bitter. Additionally, the texture was slightly watery and was on the thinner side. In my opinion, you could get a much cheaper and better tasting one closer to home.
My dad ordered one of the seasonal drinks called the Iced Gingerbread Brown Sugar Latte ($6.85), which also failed to impress. The coffee had more of a cinnamon flavor than anything and left him feeling disappointed with the overall product.
Overall, I would recommend Haute Coffee to anyone wanting to start their morning or afternoon with friends or family. Although the food itself is average, the cozy atmosphere makes up for it and provides a great meeting place to catch up with loved ones.
7/10
