So... quick story time. A few weeks ago, my sisters and I were driving home (probably on our way back from getting coffee) and we saw a van labelled Vinaka Cafe. Obviously we were excited - but not just because it gave us another chai to try.
Quick & Fun Background
Growing up, my siblings and I had the opportunity to go to the island country of Fiji (right by Australia and New Zealand). Most people are familiar with Fiji Water, but not many people realize that 25% of the Fijian people don't have access to clean water. Nearly one million Fijians live below the poverty line, and it is not uncommon to die from diarrhea and other waterborne illnesses.
We worked with a nonprofit organization called Give Clean Water and installed water filters in rural villages. Although it's been years since I last travelled to Fiji, I still look back fondly on my journeys.
Here's a (very amateur) video I made years ago after a trip to Fiji:
So, what does this have to do with Vinaka Cafe?
Vinaka is the Fijian word for thank you, a word you will hear quite often if you ever visit Fiji. I immediately wondered if Vinaka Cafe was owned by Fijians, Fiji enthusiasts like myself, or just a random small business owner who thought it sounded cool.
Needless to say, we had to check it out for ourselves.
Our Experience
Vinaka Cafe is located in the heart of Carlsbad: Carlsbad Village. Those of you who are familiar with Carlsbad know that the Village is the best! There are tons of cool local eateries, as well as cute boutique shops. Also, it's right on the ocean. What more can you ask for?!
The inside of the cafe paid homage to its Fijian name. The Fijians' trademark wood carvings and bark prints hung on the walls, and the space just felt... islandy. A hint of nostalgia swirled in my stomach, although it might've just been hunger.
Now, the part you've been waiting for: the coffee. We've recently started ordering a dirty chai and a vanilla latte in hopes of increasing our likelihood of getting a tasty drink. This time was no different.
The dirty chai was... decent. It was a nice blend of spices (my guess is cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg), none of which were overpowering. I'd assume they use a chai concentrate, although I can't say that with 100% certainty. The espresso was not bitter but the drink was rather watery. All in all, these factors made for an entirely unremarkable latte.
Rating: 3/5 - FINE, but wouldn't order again
The vanilla latte, on the other hand, was magnificently bad. The main mystery was the lack of vanilla flavor all together. Although the drink was sweet, it seemed like it just came from a basic cane syrup. It was basically a very strong, oddly sweetened plain latte.
Rating: 1/5 - couldn't finish the drink
All in all, I love the idea behind Vinaka Cafe and their location is enviable. However, their chai misses the mark. Carlsbad Village has an immense (shocking, really) number of coffee shops, so I am ever hopeful that one of them is hiding the perfect chai. All I have to do is find it!
Be sure to comment down below and let me know your thoughts! Have you been to Vinaka Cafe? What's your order?
Hugs & scones,
Micah from Chai Everything
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