HOME BREWED BAR - the story of how i became a coffee person

I was never a coffee person.

Until three weeks ago.

When I started college.

No, I didn't suddenly become a coffee person because I've been staying up until 4:00am every morning finishing calculus homework and writing 15-page research papers for some ridiculously advanced humanities course. My workload is actually very manageable this semester. So why am I now spending half of my budget on coffee drinks from the subpar Peet's Coffee located half a mile from my dorm?

Here's the truth: When I wake up in the morning (often just an hour before my first class starts), I'm hungry but too lazy to get food. Let me explain. The dining hall closest to my dorm closes at 9:30am meaning its no bueno when that's the time I wake up on 3/5 weekdays. Additionally, my classes are, at minimum, a 20-minute walk from my dorm. On top of that, the food here is no where near as good as the coconut chia seed pudding I had at Le Pain Quotidien a couple weeks ago.

So at the end of the day (or rather, the beginning of the morning), the only logical solution is to spend $5+ on my daily "extra hot, triple shot, sugar free, soy milk medium mocha."

Yes, I realize that I'm absolutely ridiculous.

But this post isn't about that obnoxiously long drink order I just described. A couple days before leaving for school, I paid a visit to Home Brewed Bar, a cute little coffee shop located on the edge of Old Town Pasadena. 

Wanting to try something new, I ordereed their iced lavender milk tea. Lavender-flavored foods/drinks can easily go awry, but this was perfectly floral. A little on the sweet side, but refreshing and uniquely delicious all the same. 

The interior was also extremely inviting. There were unique light fixtures and wooden tables with communal-used books stacked at the ends. Above all, it was minimalistic with a neutral color scheme and simple tree-art wallpaper. It's really too bad I discovered this gem so close to my departure date. It could have easily been my new favorite study spot.

While I ventured to try the lavender milk tea, my mom stuck to her usual and ordered a cold-brewed black coffee. Of course, I had to try some of her drink to see what I was missing out on, and was blown away by how smooth the taste was. 

Now I know I started out this post saying I'm now a coffee person. I think I need to clarify that assertion. I'm not a coffee person. I'm a coffee drink person. I hate black coffee. But I don't hate Home Brewed Bar's black cold-pressed coffee. I think that says something.

So whether you're a "I need my 5 cups of black coffee a day in order to function properly" or an "I enjoy a Starbucks vanilla iced chai latte from time-to-time" kind of person, you'll be able to find something that floats your boat at Home-Brewed Bar. Go check it out.