One of Our Favorites: Crema Coffee
Story and photos by Hal Goodtree
Cary, NC – Crema is the thin layer of foam at the top of a cup of espresso. If you’re serious about your coffee, Crema Coffee in Cornerstone Plaza (corner of High House and Davis Dr) is just the place for you.
Crema Coffee Roaster
With all coffee, it starts with the beans. Crema roasts their own beans – as far as we know, it’s the only coffee house in Cary to do that.
From Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to Sumatra Mandheling, the flavor is startlingly fresh and rich.
Trust me – you can taste the difference.
A Comfortable Room
Crema is tucked on the side of Cornerstone across from High House. It’s a cosy space with comfy leather arm chairs and warm walls. African masks and souvenirs from the travels of Kevin, coffee roaster and co-proprietor, decorate the walls. Kevin’s lovely bride Regina makes customers feel right at home.
Coffee Like a Connoisseur
Kevin makes a mean cup of coffee, drawing little pictures in the steamed milk and coffee foam.
Here’s a brief run-down of espresso drinks:
- Traditional Macchiato: 35–40 ml, 1 shot (30 ml) with a small amount of milk (mostly steamed, with slight foam so there is a visible mark)
- Modern Macchiato: 60 ml or 120 ml, 1 or 2 shots (30 or 60 ml), with 1:1 milk
- Cortado: 60 ml, 1 shot with 1:1 milk, little foam
- Piccolo: 90 ml, 1 shot (30 ml) with 1:2 milk, little foam
- Galão: 120 ml, 1 shot with 1:3 milk, little foam
- Flat white: 150 ml, 1 or 2 shots (30 or 60 ml), with 1:4 or 2:3 milk
- Cappuccino: 150–180 ml, 1 or 2 shots (30 or 60 ml), traditionally with significant dry foam, today often found with wet foam
- Latte: 240–600 ml, 2+ shots (60 ml), with 1:3–1:9 milk
Every continent on Earth seems to serve coffee it’s own way from Cafe Cubano to Vietnamese coffee. Don’t forget Turkish Coffee, Vienna Coffee and Irish Coffee. More coffees of the world.
Details
Crema Coffee
Monday – Thursday 6:30 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 6:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 7:00 am – Noon
Sunday 8:00 am – Noon1983 High House Rd.
Cary, North Carolina 27519
(919) 380-1840
Now that’s a real coffee. NO whipped creme! All these mocha frappa – whatevers are desserts masquerading as a coffee drink. Not to mention that a cappuccino has hardly any calories , and those milkshake things pack 600!
While I love that they roast their own beans and serve coffee as it should be, I find their hours to be a bit ridiculous. Closing at noon on weekends? I want to support the local business and the local roaster, but find a hard time making their hours fit to my schedule.
Have to agree on the hours comment. Closed on Sunday I respect, but noon on Sat, and it turns out they’re closed all 3 days of Memorial weekend. Something on the website to say would have been nice at least.