A full day of school after pulling an all nighter felt more grueling than the last minute Major Assignment grinds on the horizon. Tired, I was looking for coffee shops nearby that had something intriguing to wake me up (the caffeine being a bonus), when Kaizen & Coffee showed up on Google Maps, only 0.3 miles away. 

At only a seven minute walk from the Upper School, the coffeeshop is an accessible and easy way to get some much needed energy in the morning, or a snack after school. Though the store closes at 4 p.m., hustling for a Strawberry Matcha was imperative, since they run out of ingredients quickly in the afternoon.

Two drinks stood out to me–the Miso Caramel Latte and the Mission Mocha. The Miso Caramel was salty and slightly nutty, which unexpectedly paired well with the slightly bitter coffee. The Mission Mocha, however, had an especially unique combo: Kaizen & Coffee added Gochugaru pepper to the already rich drink. Though I was admittedly nervous to try it, the spice was just enough to leave an enjoyable burn in my mouth—and the taste of the dandelion chocolate and coffee still came through.

While the drinks were good, the price surprised me—the average price per drink was around $7.50, making it on the higher end, especially for high school students. The drinks were delicious, but I would consider this coffee shop more of a treat than an everyday coffee.

Regardless, Kaizen & Coffee has a relaxing environment for studying after school, despite its small space. When I visited after school, the line was short and the cafe was uncrowded, indie-pop music playing in the background. Once I managed to find a seat, I got out my computer and locked in on my homework, able to get a surprising amount of work done before they closed the shop up. Though it’s possible that the caffeine was getting to me a little, I found that Kaizen & Coffee offered a relaxing place for students to work and hang out after school, with unique drinks to accompany it.