Recently, came back to give Black Phin another go. The last time I visited was over a year ago. It was a completely different location, but still the same vibe.
The Parking: A decent-sized parking lot, dedicated to the space. I was able to find a spot almost immediately, even though it was almost full. I stopped by around 11:30 am and spent a couple of hours, actually, writing this post live from Black Phin, and it was a steady stream of people throughout the visit.
The Atmosphere: A boho chic vibe. I remember there being a whole section for plants in the old space. This space brought the plants too, adding a great touch of green, earthy nature vibe. There’s also a large section of pottery to browse and purchase. A larger seating space to lounge with friends or work out of, like me. Limited options for seating by outlets if you are working or studying. There is even some seating by the coffee bar. Definitely a great place to grab to have yourself a coffee date.
The Meal: A whole meal, because I ordered a beverage and sammie. Love the Vietnamese-inspired menu. For my sammie, I got the Viet Breakfast Sandwich. Vietnamese sausage, a hash brown, baked egg, American cheese, pickled onion, and spicy mayo all on a soft potato bun. A solid breakfast sammie. All the components worked well together, nothing overpowering the other, but being super well-balanced. Sometimes I feel like the sausage can take over the whole palate and be too salty. This had the right amount with a touch of sweetness. Delicious. My only note is that I would have liked an added texture. The hash brown was likely meant to be, but the steam can soften the crunch, making the texture one-note.
To wash it down, I ordered the Matcha Den Da. A dirty matcha, meaning matcha with a shot of espresso, topped with ube cold foam. I appreciated the staff asking if I was okay with the sweetness, along with milk of my choice. I, of course, asked for it less sweet and went with regular milk. I usually do. I’m glad I got the ube top, it actually added the perfect level of sweetness. Without it, I think it would have been lacking sweetness, even for me! I appreciated the balance of espresso and matcha. The espresso was nice and smooth, the matcha provided an earthy flavor, and the ube added the sweetness it needed. The caffeine boost I really needed.
I’d definitely come back here to try out other items on the menu and to chill. A great atmosphere to get work done, read, or meet up with someone. Not unlike most spots these days, it does add up, my drink plus sammie was just over $20 *insert sweaty smiley emoji here*. I did fully enjoy everything, and if you have that coffee money to spend, check it out.
Rating: 9.2/10
Address: 1152 Harmon Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
Side Note
I’m on the hunt for my go-to coffee shop. My criteria are that:
a. It obviously has amazing coffee/matcha. Preferably at a reasonable price, and/or has a loyalty program, so the staple can benefit my caffeine addiction.
b. A good space where I can bring my laptop, notebook, and book to post up and have space and an easily accessible outlet.
This is for weekends when I have time to write my blogs and enjoy some me time.
If you have any contenders, let me know!
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