Chit Chat: Cafe & Bakery
Chit Chat:
Cafe & Bakery
In the heart of Manteca, California sits a hidden treasure that everyone needs to check out. Located between Louise Avenue and South Main Street, Chit Chat is an amazingly charming, family-owned bakery and cafe. Established in 2018, Chit-Chat is the leap of faith that was taken after 7 years of dreaming and careful planning. Tiffany, the owner, wanted to create a place where visitors can feel a sense of relief when preparing to take on the day. She has definitely done so with soaring success.
They offer a wide variety of beverages that sit outside of the norm when it comes to cafe offerings. One of which is most notably known as the ‘bumblebee latte’ which features turmeric and honey as the main ingredients. This coffee creation features a deep infusion and harmony between their dark syrupy espresso, creamy milk, sweet honey and various spices used to create the unique beverage. If you’re looking for classic offerings, rest assured that lattes and cappuccinos can be ordered as well. In the hopper is Mr. Espresso coffee, this roaster, based out of Oakland, CA, is famously known to be a long standing company in the industry for utilizing oak wood to roast their beans instead of the industry standard of gas utilized roasting. By using oak wood, smoke is infused and imparted into the beans, creating a unique flavor some may find very enjoyable. I’ve discovered that this darker style of roasting can mask the true flavor profile of the bean origin being developed, but those who love darker coffees will thoroughly love what is being produced here at Chit-Chat and by Mr. Espresso. Overall, it is definitely worthwhile getting coffee here, especially because they have an attractive Kyoto-style, Yama-Glass Cold Brew Dripper Tower. Yama is an industry leader when it comes to manufacturing glass products and coffee brewing equipment. This brewer differs from the more commonly used Toddy Cold Brew full-immersion brewer in its unique way of slow-dripping the extraction process. This method really accentuates those subtle, delicately floral, and sweeter notes of coffee with jaw-dropping clarity. The top chamber is equipped with a water control valve, which when filled with fresh water, slowly drips onto a bed of ground coffee contained in the second glass chamber. Once the grounds have been fully saturated, a spiral flow limiter allows for the fully extracted cold brew to enter into the final glass coffee decanter ready to be served. The brew process can take up to 8-16 hours and truly adopts and applies the idea of low and slow to the medium of coffee brewing. There isn’t a definitive answer when it comes to what is better between Toddy and Yama because they are certainly both great methods of cold brewing coffee, however, it’s worth noting that cold brew made by a Yama Glass Dripper is rare to find in shops. More importantly, it develops a unique set of flavors in the cup that differs enough to separate itself from the Toddy. Whether is that better, or worse, is up to you and your lovely taste buds.
Check out their beautiful latte art by @barista.deborah
Other amazing things that Chit-Chat offers are baked goods produced in-house. My kids absolutely love their cinnamon rolls, but what they love more is that they are constantly coming up with themed-pastry and food offerings. At the time of this writing, all food and drink offerings were Valentine’s Day themed. They have a great rotation of pastries and even offer delicious savory and sweet crepes on Saturdays. On normal work days, they have bagels, personal pizzas, and egg bowls as available options. I haven’t tried the egg bowl yet, but it looks incredibly decadent. During our most recent visit, we got the whole spread on crepes. I don’t think I’ve had a single bad tasting or mediocre baked item yet if that’s even possible here. If there is anything negative to say, it’s been bad for my wallet, but what is life without investing in your overall bliss by indulging in sweet treats and coffee drinks by the gallons?
Chit-Chat is also a rental space available for events such as tea-parties and other miscellaneous celebratory gatherings. I haven’t inquired on the rates yet, but it’s nice to know that such an option is available if my wife and I decide to throw a birthday tea party for our daughter. If you haven’t had the chance to check out Chit-Chat yet, give them a visit @ 273 W Louise Ave, Manteca, CA 95336
They’re open 6AM-3PM Mondays-Fridays and 6AM-2PM on Saturdays. For more information, check out their Facebook page: here.