Pasha Coffee & Tea

Name of Coffee Shop: Pasha Coffee & Tea

First Impression: Pasha is located on the corner of St. Elmo Ave along with a few other cute stores. St. Elmo is one of the many historic districts in Chattanooga and it seems to express itself like a small pearl amongst the wildflowers – the old buildings renovated or reinhabited by baristas, artists, florists, and little fashionista consignment shops; all situated at the foot of the overgrown mountain.

When I entered the shop, the first thing I noticed was that the coffee bar was in a different room and was visible by an opening in the wall. It was like the 1950s diners – the ones where you can see the cook in a window, and where they would pass the plates to the servers. It was different, but I liked it.

The atmosphere was college oriented: Bon Iver playing in the background, and about every chair was taken by someone with a laptop…typical.

They had an entire back room for seating, which was great. Unfortunately their music didn’t reach the back room, and the lighting was too dim for my liking. For a coffee shop, lighting is everything – it taints the entire atmosphere and the mood.

Nevertheless, they earned my favor back with their knowledgable and helpful baristas.

Comfort or Sitting ability level (out of 5): 5. They have a nice set up of tables and chairs against the walls. The tables are just big enough to fit two laptops, so you can study with a friend. They also have an entire back room filled with couches, coffee tables, lamps and shelves.

Name of Beverage purchased: Americano – Ethiopian Sidamo Espresso Roast.

Presentation (out of 5): 4. The Americano’s crema wasn’t smooth, but the mug was a fantastic, ceramic cup with their logo plastered onto the side. Very eclectic. See picture below.

Isn’t it a great mug?!

Aroma: Citrusy

First sip impression: Not super hot (depending on the person this is good or bad), but the very first thing I thought when I tasted the espresso was that it had clean, drinkable features.

Coffee depth: Medium espresso. Has a high acidity level, but because the coffee had a clean wash, it only had an acidic aftertaste.

Coffee tones: The espresso had a very strong fruity flavor. They were using an Ethiopian Sidamo blend from Bongo Java, which is a coffee chain in Nashville – their Ethiopian blend is medium bodied, and so it was very drinkable compared to Starbucks Ethiopian roast which is bold and highly potent.

Pairs well with: I would have loved to try a piece of banana nut bread with this coffee, but I also think that it would pair well with anything slightly citrusy.

Employee Friendliness (out of 5): 5! When I asked to take pictures, the barista was very friendly and said absolutely! She is a photographer as well. I noticed that the barista’s were knowledgable and willing to talk to customers about their coffee product.

Ability to Study (out of 5): 5. It was really quiet for a busy coffee shop. There were about seven other people studying there, and it seems to have a relaxing atmosphere. They were playing Bon Iver, Coldplay, and Local Natives in the background. They also have free internest with a purchase.

Over Rating (out of 10): 8. The lighting in the back was very dim, and therefore It would have been hard to study without a computer. Also, when looking at the coffee bar, the stacks of cups and syrups were very unprofessional looking – cluttered and sort of disorganized. But besides these small things, I would love to go to Pasha again. This three year old Coffee shop is, in my opinion, very unique and on its way to success.