Deer Creek Cafe Profile
4:22 PM
Roaster: Goshen Coffee for espresso and drip coffee
Opened: 2010
Drinks
Menu: Lengthy list of flavored
lattes, as well as the more traditional espresso drinks. Decent selection of
loose leaf teas as well.
Food
Menu: Full breakfast and lunch menu, as
well as pastries and smoothies.
Espresso
Machine: Two-group La Marzocco
Brew
Options: Pour overs, iced coffee, espresso
Location: Ladue, MO
Rating: 2 out of 5
Review:
I
didn't go to Deer Creek expecting much and I'm glad I didn't. It underwhelmed even my diminished expectations. The service was
poor, the drink was sloppily made, and the atmosphere was uncomfortable.
When I stepped into the large open space, I was met with silence broken only by the chatter of the baristas and tapping of laptop keys. No music played in the background to provide comforting white noise, which left me listening to the nerdy conversation of the two young baristas behind the bar (Dungeons and Dragons–I'm not kidding you).
When I stepped into the large open space, I was met with silence broken only by the chatter of the baristas and tapping of laptop keys. No music played in the background to provide comforting white noise, which left me listening to the nerdy conversation of the two young baristas behind the bar (Dungeons and Dragons–I'm not kidding you).
The shop could be warm and welcoming if it wasn't for the
library-like silence. The walls are a deep red with artwork from local
artists decorating the customer area. The wall behind the bar features
busy, colorful chalkboard menus with bright illustrations of
specialty drinks, smoothies and food. The pops of color and numerous options are a little
overwhelming, but the menus add to an interesting, distinctive vibe.
What
was most disappointing about Deer Creek was the coffee. The shop only
puts one shot in the 12-ounce size and two in the 16- and 20-ounce sizes.
What's the point? The milk-to-coffee ratio is so skewed, you might as
well order a steamer. To
try to counterbalance the single shot, I requested less milk in my latte.
Still, it tasted weak. And to make it worse, the milk was poorly steamed with
giant, ugly bubbles, and the drink was served in a
beat up mug with smudges around the rim. Not worth $3.50 or even $0.50.
I
tried to at least enjoy the comfy space, choosing to park it on an
overstuffed loveseat facing a fake fireplace. The setting sun shot
orange bands of light across the space, making the dark red walls even
warmer and richer. Before I could kick back, I had to brush away big
crumbs from some unknown pastry that covered the ottoman and loveseat.
Given the slow pace of the shop and constant conversation of the
baristas behind the bar, there's no reason the place wasn't spotless.
They had the time.Deer Creek has potential. Improve the caliber of the espresso and skill of the baristas in an artsy space like that and they've got a hit. Of course, I don't expect the owners to undertake the sizeable task of fixing the undrinkable coffee, sorry service, and cold atmosphere any time soon. As it stands, I won't be making a followup trip.
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