Love You a Latte: Happy Valentine’s Day from illy

Valentine’s Day is imminent, and love is in the air. As students prepare for the holiday, one coffee shop in town is here to satisfy your festive needs. While Princeton offers plenty of caffeine options, illy Coffee At Earth’s End offers a quaint alternative to the staple stores. Just a five-minute walk from Fitzrandolph Gate, the cafe recently launched its lineup of five affordable Valentine’s Day beverages — each costing around $5 — for February. The lineup ranges from seasonal lattes to specialty matcha. No specialty pastries accompany the menu.

After my 9 a.m. Spanish class I took my first trip to illy in desperate need of a pick-me-up. I tried the famous Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte, advertised on their Instagram page. While I love Valentine’s Day and a fun seasonal beverage, I was initially skeptical. Adorned with whipped cream and heart sprinkles with the wafting fragrance of chocolate, I feared this special would taste too sweet or artificial. However, the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte quickly became my favorite of the February menu. It was a perfect blend of mocha and tasty strawberry flavoring, accurately encapsulating the common holiday treat.

As I sat savoring my coffee, I basked in the modern red and black interior and abundant natural light flowing in through the big windows. I witnessed the ebb and flow of business as students swarmed in and out of the cafe for their after-class caffeine kicks.

Later that day, I returned for a mid-day treat before a long study session at Firestone Library. Now the cafe hosted a pair of students working quietly, lattes in hand, and a group of men conversing at the bar before heading to their parked Vespas outside. I ordered the Dozen Roses, a rose and almond latte topped with dried petals. This beverage would probably suit those who enjoy rose water or coffee with herbal notes. However, it was not my cup of tea — or coffee, rather. Nevertheless, it offered a nice blend of muted almond flavors and a floral sweetness.

When I arrived the next morning, illy was full with families and students, so I ordered my Be Mine for the road. The Be Mine was advertised as a red velvet and white mocha cappuccino dusted off with some cocoa powder. This drink was a delectable start to my day. The delicious chocolate flavor blended well with subtler tones of red velvet, all without entering the sickeningly-sweet territory that seasonal drinks often do. However, the white mocha slightly overpowered the red velvet taste, which I had been looking forward to.

Finally, I ventured back to illy for the Cupid’s Choice, another personal favorite of this menu. Offered as iced or hot, this mocha latte was a sweet blend of chocolate and coffee. The coffee was crowned with a tiramisu-flavored cold foam, which, while light and airy, was lacking in comparison to the dessert that inspired it. Despite this, the iced latte was a nice treat to end off my exploration.

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to try the matcha special, Love You So Matcha — a drink with a matcha base complemented by white mocha and strawberry add-ins. Since I don’t drink matcha, I can’t really speak on this beverage. However, based on the other specials I was able to try, I assume that this would be a flavorful Valentine’s treat for adventurous matcha-lovers on campus.

Overall, the specialty Valentine’s Day menu at illy was a perfect way to jumpstart my holiday, offering delicious and festive treats. I will say I would have appreciated more variety on the menu — it seemed all of the drinks featured mocha or strawberry in one way or another. While they were satisfying, I wished illy had explored some more unique flavors. However, the names of each beverage were catchy and endearing.

Exploring illy‘s Valentine’s Day menu has introduced me to a new favorite local spot. No matter your Valentine’s Day plans, I recommend stopping by.

Marley Hartnett-Cody is a member of the Class of 2028 and a contributing writer for The Prospect and a print designer at the ‘Prince.’ She can be reached at mh8519@princeton.edu.

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