Spencer’s Coffee, Downtown Bowling Green

Talk about tall cotton.

Chai Tea Lattes are one of the reasons I get out of bed in the morning, that’s all.

When we first moved to Owensboro, over 10 years ago, there was a GREAT coffeehouse, Beyond the Brim, that made excellent Chai Tea Lattes.  Although I’m crazy wild about them now, when Starbucks came to town and Beyond the Brim went out of business, I thought Starbucks Chai Tea Lattes paled in comparison.

I love Starbucks Chai Tea Lattes so much now it’s mind-boggling to think Beyond the Brim’s could have been better.

Naturally, any time I go to a coffehouse, my first order of business is to see if they have Chai Tea Latte’s on the menu. Since I drink so many of them, I thought a Battle of Chai Tea Lattes was called for on Genuine Kentucky.

Disclaimer: Just because I didn’t particularly enjoy a Chai Tea Latte at a particular coffeehouse doesn’t mean you wouldn’t love it to distraction. Furthermore, just because a coffeehouse’s Chai Tea Latte doesn’t light up the room doesn’t mean their coffee and other beverages aren’t en fuego.

Disclaimer aside…  Let’s do this!

Chai Tea Latte at Etcetera

Chai Tea Latte #1:  Etcetera Coffeehouse in Paducah

The Etcetera Coffeehouse in Paducah is deliciously eclectic. When it comes to ambiance, it’s just so right it’s scary.  However… when it comes to Chai Tea Lattes (at least the one I had a few weeks ago)… you’re better off ordering something else.

Anything else.

With apologies in place, I simply have to say this was not a good Chai Tea Latte. I did finish it, though, so it wasn’t hideous – which is more than I can say for one I choked down in the Bowling Green mall a few years ago. I, at least, finished the unassuming Chai Tea Latte at Etcetera.  However, there are other drinks on the menu – so choose one.

On a scale of 1 – 10, I’d give the Chai Tea Latte at Etcetera a 7.

The fun and eclectic Etcetera Coffeehouse is at 320 N 6th St, downtown Paducah.

Chai Tea Latte at Harden Coffeehouse

Chai Tea Latte #2: Harden Coffeehouse in Campbellsville 

The Harden Coffeehouse is absolutely gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that it’ll soon be starring in a Pictures of the Day post all by itself. Stunning. On a recent trip, my husband Michael ordered a special coffee and I, of course, went the route you’d expect me to go.  His coffee was an absolute work of art! It’ll be featured in the upcoming gallery of pictures.

My Chai Tea Latte was also lovely. While it tasted better than the Chai Tea Latte at Etcetera, it didn’t have the exotic flavors you come to expect from a Chai Tea Latte. It could have been a black tea latte, a Lady Grey latte… basically any other tea in the world could have been used in place of the Chai as far as my taste buds could tell.

Having said all of that, it still tasted darn good, which is more than can be said of some Chai Tea Lattes you find in coffeehouses.

On a scale of 1-10, the gorgeous Harden Coffeehouse’s Chai Tea Latte ranks a very healthy 9.5.  As I said, it tasted very, very, very good and for people who don’t plan their days around Chai Tea Lattes, it’d be considered the best one they ever had. It’s also quite a looker in it’s beautiful little white mug.

The beautiful Harden Coffeehouse is  at 202 E Main St, downtown Campbellsville.

Spencer’s Coffee in Bowling Green: Chai Tea Latte Perfection

Chai Tea Latte #3: Spencer’s Coffee in Bowling Green

Before I get to the Chai Tea Latte, I just want to say something about the baristas at Spencer’s. These young women were some of the friendliest, happiest, coffeehouse workers I’ve ever met. They obviously loved their job and couldn’t have been any nicer. Their friendliness has absolutely zero to do with the battle of Chai Tea Lattes, but I’m never one to let friendliness go unrecognized.

When I saw how friendly everyone was and how beautiful the building was, I could only hope that the Chai Tea Latte lived up to the moment.

It did more than that. I simply cannot imagine a Chai Tea Latte being any better. And, for the first time ever, my Chai Tea Latte was decorated on top just like my husband’s “fancy” coffee drinks always are!  The moment called for me to wave it under his nose, “Look, I’m artsy too!”

The Chai Tea Latte at Spencer’s isn’t just beautiful, it’s delicious – with the unmistakable, exotic flavors that make Chai Tea Lattes what they are.

Maybe I should say, what they should be.

On a scale of 1-10…. well, actually, the Chai Tea Latte at Spencer’s crushes the scale… but in keeping with the numerical boundaries I, myself, set, I give it a 10. A perfect 10.

Spencer’s Coffee is at 915 College St, downtown Bowling Green and you really should go right away.