Kettle Coffee and Tea

Small-town vibe, dogs at your feet, and greats eats: Kettle Coffee & Tea of Escondido offers all these delights. Seating is available inside for those who wish to escape the breeze and outside for those accompanied by furry friends. The menu concentrates on specialty flavored teas and espresso drinks but also offers an array of breakfast items, baked goods, and a few paninis, sandwiches, salads, and sides. We stopped by for lunch and ordered a Chai Tea Latte with almond milk, an iced Honeybell tea, and some munchies.

The Chai Latte tastes like a holiday treat. It is spiced quite nicely with what seems to be a good amount of cinnamon as well as chai. Even the foam is tasty! Almond milk makes a difference, especially if you’re used to regular dairy, but the substitution is mild and enhances the holiday feel. Honeybell tea has a stronger aroma and is reminiscent of summertime. It is quite sweet for having no added sugar and particularly fruity with strong floral notes: a great drink for a day in the sun.

Our mouths were watering once the food arrived, especially when we saw the cheese melting out of the freshly pressed panini and sprouts popping out of the turkey sandwich. We opted for the half-portion sandwich which consists of sliced turkey, gouda, sprouts, tomato, spring mix, red onions, mustard, and mayonnaise between all-grain bread. It is so packed that it is hard to fit just one whole bite in one’s mouth. The flavor combination is tasty and satisfying, gouda a good addition. The bread, though a bit dry, has nice grain and a slight garlicky taste. Our second sandwich, the turkey panini, contains a small amount of sliced turkey, prepped with pesto and gouda between sourdough bread with solid panini grill marks. Unlike most paninis, this one is not overly greasy or dripping oils, despite the amount of cheese and pesto within. It is easy to eat, ridiculously enjoyable and clearly a cafe favorite.

Our sandwiches were complimented with a side of soup and a 1/2 salad as well, both unique and delicious. Butternut curry soup is a seasonal recipe and has a much stronger butternut taste than curry. The soup is on the thin side, but a tad lumpy since it is clear the butternut is blended in house. We recommend this if you’re looking for something warming and with fall spice to it. The Farmer’s Market salad was our final selection and we chose to add chicken for some extra protein. The salad traditionally comes with greens, mint, quinoa, pear, goat cheese, candied pecans, and cranberry vinaigrette. The kitchen happened to be out of pears the day we visited, but the fresh strawberries it substituted were just as good. This salad is so refreshing and the goat cheese pairs so perfectly with the vinaigrette and shredded chicken breast.

Friendly staff, great food and a wonderful atmosphere are just a few reasons to stop by Kettle Coffee & Tea.