the quest for the best chai latte in Athens

by Reese Faulknor

Hello, I’m Reese!

I’m a second year student at the University of Georgia studying English and Entertainment Media Studies. Since I’ve been a college student, I have become a fanatic of chai lattes. I had never tried one before coming to UGA, but now they are my favorite study drink of choice.

That being said, my chai horizons are not very broadened. I’ve pretty much only ordered them from coffee chains, and while they get the job done, my old faithful Starbucks’ vanilla chai latte is probably not the best out there. I just so happen to live in Athens, GA, which is a diverse hotspot for local businesses. Including coffee shops. In my two years of living here, I have hardly been to any.

An awkward selfie with my first Starbucks gingerbread chai of the season last Christmas (try it this year, it’ll change your life!)

This presents a problem. I love chai lattes, but there’s dozens of great chai lattes within a few miles of me that I’ve never tasted. So, I’ve come up with a solution.

The plan:

I am going to visit five local coffee shops: Jittery Joe’s, Molly’s Coffee Company, Sunroof Coffee, Baladi Coffee, and A Thousand Faces. At each location, I will order a chai latte (spiced, if the option is available) and rank each in the effort to find the best. Each of these locations have been recommended to me at some point since I’ve lived here, so I hope that by visiting all of them, I might get a well-rounded view of what all Athens has to offer (or at least see if my friends have good taste).

In the interest of scientific integrity, I will be ranking each on the same scale. Each chai will be rated, 1-5, on different qualities.

Sweetness: Is the drink sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth? Is it too sweet?
Smoothness: Is the drink smooth to drink? Is it so creamy that I know it’s going to upset my stomach later?
Spice: How potent is the flavor? (Even if the shop doesn’t specifically offer a spiced chai, I want to be able to taste some kind of spices. Otherwise, I’d just be ordering a latte.)
Economy: How much am I paying for the chai? Am I getting my bang for my buck?
Environment: What was the environment of the shop like? Would I spend time there again?

At the end of the project, I will choose the chai with the highest ratings and officially crown it The Best Chai Latte In Athens.

that being said, coffee is always best enjoyed with a friend.

My roommates, Rian and Dorothy, and I before a concert in Atlanta (my mom made me send this to prove I made it there alive).

So, in the interest of preserving the ideal coffee shop experience, I will be bringing a new friend with me to each location. I’ll document our conversation along with the quality of the chai. Almost like the chai latte version of Hot Ones, if you will. I won’t be forcing my friends to order a chai latte with me, but, like most scientific experiments, second opinions will be consulted in order to prioritize accuracy.

My friend Melea and I grabbing boba (close enough to coffee, right?) in downtown Athens.

My friend Natalie and I walking back to my car after a concert (doesn’t it look like we had a great time?)

From a non-scientific perspective, I think this experience will be a great way for me to connect with my friends a little more. College has made our schedules so busy and complicated.

If I can’t make time to have coffee with my friends every once in a while, then what’s the point?

so, come with me to find the best chai latte in athens!