There are a few things I miss about high school- the in-person kind, anyways. Cole Dahlia is one of them. Waking up at the crack-ass of dawn to drive me and Cole Dahlia to school? That’s not.
And that’s where my morning took me: begrudgingly stumbling out of bed. I put my sweatpants on backwards, grabbed the car key, and begged for the sun to rise. Don’t get me wrong, my morning drives provide more than a modicum of sanity. Especially with Cole; in terms of passenger seat companions, she takes the cake.
If you can’t guess, my morning involved coffee. I swung by Carmel Valley Coffee Co to nab Cole Dahlia her usual, but I had a special plan for me. After my routine interlude of acting as Cole’s mom, I sped over to Alta Bakery in Monterey. My body and mind gradually greeted the morning at the thought of a latte and pastry. I parallel parked, quite expertly, and purchased today’s contestant.
How’d it do?
1. Location: 4.4/5
It’s quite far from my house, constituting a sweet salutation to the highway and a merge that was too close for comfort. That being said, the location is great. It sits essentially at the tip of what I consider to be the main street in Monterey, Alvarado Street, a little jaunt lined with shops and restaurants and whatnot. It’s on a corner, which I have an unexplained affinity for.
2. Aesthetic/vibe: 9.8/10
I love when coffee shops have a quirky, or even illustrious, history, and Alta really delivered! Alta resides in the Cooper-Molera Adobe, an establishment dating back to 1827! The adobe once functioned as the home of successful merchant, sea captain, and historical figure John Bautista Rogers Cooper in the early 20th century. Passed down through generations, the property eventually landed in the hands of California State Parks, operating as a museum before falling into semi-disrepair. When the lease expired in 2016, it was picked up and developed into what we know it as today- a caffeine dealer!
I’m going on a tangent. In addition to the genuinely interesting history, the property is interesting and beautiful. As it was once a home, it has several rooms, providing a lot of indoor seating, and even a backyard with more seating! The music is calming, the decor beautiful, and the overall vibe calm and a nice blend of modern and historic.
3. Coffee options: 7.5/10
The usuals are there, and a few nice fun additions! They have a monthly specialty latte- peppermint latte in December and a hazelnut latte in January! Hazelnut is my JAM, though for blog purposes I remained true to my usual caramel. They have something called a golden milk latte, and unfortunately I was too scared to ask what that may be. Milk from a golden goose?
4. Actual coffee: 18/20
This hit every mark for what a latte should be! All in all, it was very good. The foam wasn’t very dense (if that makes any sense,) but there was a nice balance of sweetness and bitterness that we like to see in our lattes. Yummy!
5. Price: 9/10
A medium latte will run you about $4, a beautifully low price. The cup sizes are a bit small; the sizes of the small, medium, and large are 10, 12, and 16oz respectively. 12oz is a bit small for a medium, but with a price like that I really can’t complain.
6. Cups: 3/5
The art of the cup is often an overlooked essential in many caffeine dealers, and I can’t help but feel as though Alta falls into the category of those who neglect the potential for cupular success. The cup is indeed made from plants (yay! Earth!) but there’s no logo, and the cup even told me not to microwave it! Blasphemy and disappointment ensue.
FINAL SCORE: 51.7/60= 86.2%
A justifiable score for a quirky and beautiful caffeine dealer. The layout, vibe, and location were absolute standouts. If you’re looking to snag a quick bite to eat, their pastry selection rivals that of Carmel Bakery and will surely not disappoint. A solid B seems ideal for this pleasant and sweet caffeine retreat.
See y’all next time!