Senior Project - Black Rock

Welcome to one of Boise's top coffee hangouts for college students. Located on Broadway, conveniently right behind campus, is Black Rock Coffee Bar. Don't be fooled by its simple exterior. This place has so much personality and energy, they'll have you ordering decaf.

To my surprise, this isn't the only location in Boise, let alone the state. They're sporting five locations in Idaho (including this one) and over sixty locations shared between Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, California, Washington and Oregon. Lucky us, we can enjoy the taste of Black Rock even if we're out of town.

Whether you're driving to another state or just up the street, most locations (if not all) have a drive-through. Today, I decided to travel by foot since this location is only a few blocks from where I live. My partner and I walked right up to the window, where we were greeted by two smiling baristas. But what should we order?

To the right is a small snipit from their menu. Not pictured is their selection of smoothies, "coffeeless" beverages and energy drinks. Psst. That's how they reel in the college students. Luckily, if you're a part of that crowd, they offer a 20% off student discount, bringing the grand total of my drink order to a measly $3.00 and some change. Score.

Now that Boise has officially said farewell to winter and the temperatures are rising, iced drinks are becoming commonplace. Today, I ordered an iced matcha latte with oat milk. They also offer soy, hemp and coconut milk for all of your non-dairy needs.

I've never tasted matcha quite like theirs before. It's savory but in a very characteristic way. The best way I can describe the flavor profile is buttery. Having ordered their matcha plenty of times before, I would, however, recommend ordering it hot. Its iced counterpart doesn't do the tea quite as much justice. Nonetheless, this drinks scores 5 beans.

But how does the atmosphere compare?

What is usually a hip and bustling spot for college students is now empty. Chairs stacked on tables, signs removed, cleaning supplies visible. This explains the lack of photos of the interior and photos in general. All inside operations have ceased until further notice and they transitioned to operating solely through their drive-through.

It's quite a strange world we now live in, in more ways than one. During these tough and uncertain times, businesses have had to become quick-witted entrepreneurs and adjust their entire business model. Curbside delivery, boxed lunches for service workers, no delivery fees and online ordering. I'm especially thankful for businesses like Black Rock who are able and have chosen to continue business. Huge thanks.

"Every day is a new chance to have a good effect on our neighborhood. Our approach to building quality drinks and quality relationships is one and the same... intentionality."

But despite the current situation, which has quite literally sucked the life out of the coffee experience, paying Black Rock a visit was still well-enjoyed. Atmosphere aside, the baristas are truly what brings the life and color to this place. Having been here enough times to count on one hand, all of those experiences being consistently positive, I am confident that this wasn't just a one-time experience. They are always friendly, accommodating and sociable.

I wish I had asked their names to give them a proper thank you but- thank you. These two were incredibly lighthearted and positive, which my partner and I both appreciated, especially at a stressful time like this. As sad as this sounds, this was actually the first time my partner and I had human contact since the quarantine had started (give or take five days).

If this project has taught me anything, it's that so much of the coffee experience is rooted in the conversation that is had, rather than the drinks themselves. Whether that conversation is had with the baristas or those you're grabbing a drink with, the coffee experience is an incredibly social one. Each coffee shop has its own conversation. Its own crowd. It's own personality. An entire culture.

Having the opportunity to visit both old favorites and those entirely new, has given me a new appreciation for this. For the places that are new to me, I've been given a glimpse into their background, the types of people who frequent, the spins they put on traditional (and non-traditional) coffee drinks, and why they do what they do. For those that are old, I've been reminded as to why coffee shops play such an important role in so many peoples' lives. In no particular order: coffee, conversation and community.