I’m a self-professed “coffee shop person.” Coffee shops are my hangout. But too often they’re overcrowded and I find myself fighting for the last dried-out, week-old blueberry muffin left in the front display case. Or worse, someone steals my prized comfy chair by the window while I’m waiting in line. It’s not a relaxing experience.
So you can imagine my delight when my husband and I stumbled into Cüppencake Espresso Bar and Bakery Lounge in the northwest side’s Dominion Ridge Shopping Center. You see, Cüppencake Espresso Bar and Bakery Lounge takes the label “lounge” very seriously. Outside there’s a wrap-around patio with couches and tables for warmer weather. And even though we arrived during the Sunday morning rush, their bright dining room had more than enough chairs, barstools and sofas to go around.
There was plenty of food to go around, too; the baked case was stuffed with muffins, quiches and the café’s signature Cüppencakes. Did I mention the trays of buttermilk biscuits and cinnamon rolls I spied cooling on the counter? Cüppencake was a dream come true and I hadn’t even ordered yet!
From basic espressos to chai lattes, Cüppencake’s drink menu has all the coffee shop staples you’d expect. My husband and I weren’t feeling fancy so we opted for the drip coffee. It was smooth and fresh with a tangy edge. It didn’t even need cream.
The bakery menu is almost overwhelming. We decided to share three baked goods because neither of us could choose just one. Since the biscuits on the counter were practically calling my name, I had to try one. Served with butter and mixed berry preserves, this biscuit was fluffy on top with a crispy, buttery bottom half. I highly recommend slathering on the preserves. They’re pleasantly sour and chock-full of juicy blueberries.
Next, we tasted the chocolate scone. Warmed to perfection, this scone is pillowy, flaky bliss drizzled with melted bittersweet chocolate. It was indulgent without being overly sweet. Great with the drip coffee.
Could we leave without sampling the cafe’s namesake, The Cüppencake? Of course not. With flavors like carrot cake and tres leches, Cüppencakes are cupcake-trifle hybrids with layers of filling, cake and icing pressed neatly inside a plastic cup and a lid. They’re less messy than a frosted cupcake and completely portable. Yes, please!
If you order the tres leches Cüppencake like we did, you’re in for a treat. Layers and layers of delicate sponge cake are enveloped in sweet, velvety vanilla bean-infused cream—but magically, the cake isn’t soggy at all. Topped with sliced almonds and garnished with strawberries, this rich Cüppencake is so vanilla (in the best way possible). Just call it sin in a cup. We’d promised ourselves that we’d only have a few bites and take the rest home because it was still breakfast-time. Confession: we ate the whole thing.
I plotted my return to Cüppencake before we even walked out the door. So if you’re tired of cramped coffee shops with limited menus, head to Cüppencake Espresso Bar and Bakery Lounge where you can enjoy an array of baked goods in a relaxing environment. Who says you can’t have your [Cüppen]cake and eat it too?
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