I have some time between errands one early afternoon and I remember a friend telling me about the best coffee shops she likes in town. Humble is high on the list for her. I, personally, had never been to Humble even though I have lived in downtown Albuquerque for almost a year and I got to see the construction of Humble’s new location on Central, yet, I hadn’t found much time to pay them a visit. I have a couple of hours to kill so I decide today is gonna be the day I try out Humble Coffee Company.
I travel on foot, enjoying the beautiful day. My jacket is already unnecessary this early in February but I wear it to hide my camera. As I walk up to the front door of 505 Central Avenue, I notice the locally-famous coffee-bean-logo on the glass door. I take a moment to acknowledge how thoughtful the logo is. In fact, it’s genius. It’s a coffee bean and it’s the letter “H”. It’s simple, recognizable, and iconic. I walk in. The place is almost empty except for a few people sitting alone but that’s only because Downtown Albuquerque isn’t really a “lunch” place. People are having lunch up the road in Nob Hill. I am warmly greeted by the staff whose name I should have written down. The décor is fantastically done and I appreciate the time (and/or money) that likely went into installing some of the art pieces. The color coordination is well thought out and even magical. Something about it makes me want to buy a cup of coffee.
I make my way to the counter and I notice they sell burritos so I ask the barista about them. He answers sincerely saying “They are better in the morning” making a “so-so” hand gesture. I truly appreciate the honesty and I pass on the burrito. I love the solidarity. So, I order a 12-ounce Chai Tea Latte. I know Chai Tea is not coffee but I think you can tell a lot about a coffee place from their Chai Tea Latte. It is such a simple drink, (chai tea, milk, cinnamon) it can be done a lot of different ways. You can tell whether the baristas do their craft for the love or only for the money. Plus, I just love Chai Tea.
The Chai Latte at Humble blows my mind. It is spicy like a Chai should be, and mildly sweet by default just how I like it. The milk was steamed to perfection and of course there was some neat little Latte Art topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon. I know why Humble has been so successful thus far. They hire great people to make their drinks. I drink my cup too fast so I go back and order another one! This time I take my time and sit-back, enjoy the drink as well as atmosphere. I run into a friend of course. It’s bound to happen anywhere you go in our little town. We have a short, pleasant conversation and we go back to our own space. I finish the second cup and I make my way out waving thank-you to the staff for their service. They wave back with a smile and I walk out the door. I want to visit Humble again and next time I want to try some of the pastries they have from Fat City Confections. Also, if I manage to make it in early-morning, I will absolutely try one of their burritos.