The deep, warm flavor of the thick, piping hot Turkish coffee is paired in my mind with the memory of sitting on a gravel patio, eating with my mom and her students as we prepared for our trip to Europe. The comforting warmth and spice of a hot chai tea latte is integrated into the memory of shopping with my mom on a rainy New York City day, my hair soaked and fingers tingling from the cold. When I think back to last spring, the cold relief of a biting cold brew as my friend and I sweat through Nulu Fest hits me.

For me, coffee and drinks carry memories. Drinks are as much a part of my memories as food, and locally-owned cafes are a staple of any outing. Shopping isn’t the same if I don’t have a latte in one hand, and my day doesn’t feel right if I don’t start it with a cup of chai, matcha, or coffee. Drinks can mark a place, like the maple syrup in all my lattes on my road trip to Vermont, or a season, like the apple chai lattes of the fall, or a person, like my friend who gets a “dirty chai” no matter where we are. 

So, I’ve decided to start a new series this year: Cafe Wednesdays. These new Louisville cafe and coffee shop reviews will come every other week, alternating with our Food Fridays. 

For the inaugural Cafe Wednesday, fellow staffer Claire Dixon and I visited the freshly opened Phalcha, a cafe in Germantown. From the food, to the drinks, to the interior, Phalcha is off to a strong start. 

The cafe features an exposed brick wall, large windows lighting up the front booths, plants of all varieties, and colorful seating. The day Claire and I dropped in, the shop’s AC was broken, but the staff was still gracious and the service was timely. Phalcha’s name, the Newari word for “resting place,” comes from the four Nepalese co-owners, and Phalcha sure met its name. 

What really set Phalcha apart from other Louisville coffee shops was the iced coffee flight they offer – four small different signature lattes for $11.50. This is what Claire and I went for, and we weren’t disappointed by any of the drinks in the flight. The matcha was classic and refreshing, and the butterscotch latte a yummy, sweet classic. The ube latte was delicious as well, topped with a picture-perfect toasted marshmallow, and the strawberry rose latte smelled just as delicious as it tasted. We also each got the avocado sandwich – one of Phalcha’s vegetarian food options – and were shocked with how good it was. There was no shortage of avocado, exactly my kind of sandwich. 

Phalcha also offers a variety of ice cream flavors, sold by the scoop, and decadent waffles, though I’d highly recommend the sandwiches.

All in all, Phalcha provided the perfect taste to go with my memory of a spring day with one of my fellow staffers.