Homer’s Coffee House: What to order

Homer’s Coffee House is tucked just off Metcalf on 80th Street in a stone building that I often drove past before going in for the first time yesterday.

The interior of the coffee shop is open, with a half-dozen wooden tables and a cluster of couches in the back right corner. The shop is known for its espresso drinks and the menu is full of caramel and chocolate mixtures. I opted for a latte — espresso and steamed milk.

The latte was clean and the finish was light. It was muddy without lingering — meaning I could taste the coffee but didn’t feel like it sat with me the whole afternoon.  

But the true star of the drink menu wasn’t coffee at all — it was Homer’s Mexican Hot Chocolate. The vanilla and cinnamon come through right away and then blend nicely with the cocoa.

The cinnamon adds some kick to the sweetness — this is the kind of hot chocolate that needs a cookie to dunk in it. Topped with whipped cream, it could be the richest dessert that Homer’s serves — it just happens to be in a coffee cup.