Consider yourself a coffee connoisseur? Itching for a new coffee shop for study breaks or to call home in between work meetings? Curious what else Boise's coffee scene has to offer? If yes, you've come to the right place.

Welcome to Operation Coffee, a comprehensive blog cataloging an amateur coffee snob's experiences at a handful of Boise's local coffee shops. Join me as I travel to three coffee shops I've yet to visit and three tried-and-true favorites, listed in order below.

As we explore, I'll be providing a brief look into each spot's background and culture, while giving an in-depth overview of my personal experience. What's there to know? What makes this place stand out amongst the rest? What's to expect on a first visit? Is there consistency on a second, third or fourth visit? Is it worth a visit at all?

These are all questions I hope to answer through my photos, reviews and ratings. Heads up- for those in a rush and in need of a quick recommendation, I've created a comprehensive rating system that is located conveniently right at the top of each blog entry. I'm hoping this serves as a tl;dr ("too long; didn't read").

This rating system is comprised of 5 categories:

• Atmosphere: What was the interaction like from the moment I stepped in the door to the moment I stepped out? Did the staff create a positive and welcoming atmosphere? How busy is it? Is it loud or quiet? Is it study-friendly?
• Taste: How does it stack up to drinks I've had in the past? Is it too sweet? Too rich? Just right?
• Options: Are there dairy-free milk alternatives? Do they serve traditional and non-traditional coffee drinks? Do they serve food/pastries?
• Accessibility: How much parking is nearby? Do they have bike racks available? How close to campus is it? How much seating is available?
• Price: How reasonable are their prices, food and drink? Is it college student friendly or is it a more specialty coffee shop where one would “treat themselves?”

All photographs and graphics (with the exception of coffee shop logos and menus) were taken, edited and designed by myself. Photographs shot with a Canon 80D 55mm lens and edited with Adobe Lightroom. Graphics designed using Canva.

Disclaimer

Let it be noted that this blog was completed throughout the COVID-19 epidemic (January 2019-May 2019). As one could imagine, the project took a few twists and turns from its original plan. Many of the coffee shops that were on the original list had to be nixed due to businesses ceasing operations until further notice. To pay tribute to those that were nixed, I've included an "Honorable Mentions" category. Those included within this category are all coffee shops I have been to previously. All photos are from past visits and are my own.

Let it also be noted that throughout this time, businesses that are able and have decided to remain open, have had to adapt to an entirely new way of serving customers. The coffee experience at the first two locations (Certified Kitchen & Bakery and Caffeina) were vastly different than the rest, simply due to the fact that at that time, social distancing was not yet in effect. Curbside delivery, drive-through and pickup have replaced the sit-and-stay coffee experience, which makes rating atmosphere and accessibility somewhat difficult. That being said, when rating the COVID-19 affected locations, I've tried my best to keep these discrepancies in mind.