TELLUS COFFEE, WALNUT CREEK
When it opened in February inside the brick Schroeder building downtown, this independent craft coffee shop was doing espresso drinks and pour overs of small-batch, organic and fair trade coffee to go. Among those cups: Ethiopian, Costa Rican, Brazilian, Honduran, Sumatran and Colombian coffee, with hopes of adding wine and beer when indoor sipping resumed.
Now, you can enjoy four craft beers, eight wines, a seasonal watermelon frosé and a variety of lattes, cortados and macchiatos. Those coffee beans are roasted in-house using a zero-emissions, electric roasting machine. And you can indulge in those sips from the comfort of the booths, stools and tables. A brick wall provides a lovely contrast to the bold black, emerald and white marble decor and massive, eye-catching plant wall.
Co-owners Ali Shahidi and Janay McCullough also offer a variety of loose leaf teas and matcha and golden milk lattes. There’s an impressive food lineup, too, featuring truffle mushroom fries, baconwrapped Brussels sprouts and housemade doughs used to make short rib bonbons ($8), empanadas (3 for $13), a breakfast sandwich ($8) and savory crostatas ($4.50 each). Also look for house-baked sweets, from a salted chocolate chip cookie to a dark chocolate brownie.
THE CUP» In the summer heat, we crave Tellus’ cold brew made with a light Ethiopian roast and chicory root ($4-$5). Tea and non-coffee drinkers will love the hibiscus infusion ($4.50-$6.50), which steeps overnight with lime and agave, as well as seasonal offerings, like the current iced horchata latte and pineapple limeade.
THE EATS » We love the empanadas, especially the beef and veggie and the black bean and cheese. For a sweet tooth, the zesty lemon bar ($3.50) is hard to beat.
DETAILS » Open from 8 a.m. Monday-Saturday and from 9 a.m. Sunday at 1410 N. Main St., Walnut Creek; www.telluscoffee.com.