*OK maybe let’s not get too hyperbolic about that but we now have TWO cafes, is what I’m trying to say, and the last time I read the Barista Bible, I’m pretty sure there was a passage about how it might only take one man to part a sea, but it takes 2 cafes to start a scene. Nespresso, 3:14.

Way back in August of 2023 when we came back from our Coaster Crew vacation, I was walking my usual trail through Brookline when I noticed that a storefront that has been abandoned for YEARS was displaying mysterious activity. I peeped in one of  the windows and saw that a counter had been placed inside, with what looked like a fry-grill thingie behind it. There was also mail on the counter! I texted Henry post haste like, “Wake up, babe, something’s brewing on the blvd!”

It seemed like they had some set-backs because a good solid year of non-activity followed. But then process began again and signage was put up, lots of “coming soon!” promises. But this started last spring! Eventually, a sign was put up with the name and I found the place on Insta. I followed immediately but there was no information other than it was going to be a Yemeni cafe.

Earlier in the year, they started posting legit updates, showing sneak peeks inside and then FINALLY they launched their soft-opening about two weeks ago!

Chooch and I walked there today on my break and I was so excited! The place was poppin’ for it being 2PM on a random Wednesday. I loved to see it!

I ordered the Socotra signature latte with pistachios, Chooch got a Spanish latte, and we got a slice of honey cake and pistachio milk cake to share.

This place is beautiful! I couldn’t get a picture of the banquette area which is lined with these gorgeous cushions, because it was taken by a party of women and I didn’t want to be like, “Say cheese, latte-lovers!”

I don’t know about Chooch’s, but my latte was very refreshing and delicious and 100x better than anything I’ve ever gotten across the street at 802 Cafe. Maybe it’s because that place is run by this woman who genuinely rubs me the wrong way – one time she got real condescending with me because I ordered a latte that came with cold foam and asked for it hot with almond milk and said, “But the cold foam is fine” because I’m so used to people asking if I still want whipped cream or cold foam when I ask for a milk alternative, and this bitch goes, “WELL YOU ASKED FOR IT HOT SO THERE WON’T BE ANY COLD FOAM…!?!?!?!!?” in this fucking sneering shit-eating tone and I was so close to telling her, “Cool, then you can just SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS” but Henry was with me and he was already giving me a disapproving stare as though he was anticipating attitude. Also, I overheard her saying unsavory shit about the vaccine during Covid so I’m pretty sure I know exactly where her votes go. DOWN THE FUCKING COMMODE.

But anyway, I liked it better when it was run by the really nice man before her, and he had a wonderful big dog named Max who would hang out in the cafe but now this bitch has a NO DOGS ALLOWED sign on the door, further telling you everything you need to know about her ass.

And before that, it was a Brookline classic called Cannon Coffee and I truly miss that place. It was a legit coffee-lovers cafe. I used to get real macchiatos there.

Anyway!!! Back to Socotra. I will say that it was on the richer side, price-wise, but the quality of what we got didn’t make me mad about it. Both of our cakes were what I would call an afternoon delight without the scandalous innuendos. Especially the pistachio milk cake! It was straight up sopping in a puddle of milk like a missing lyric from the Starland Vocal Band’s notebook.

We also had to wait quite a while for our order even though there was only one order in front of ours, and then the people after us somehow got theirs first. I don’t know what was going on but I will cut them some slack since they just opened and are likely ironing out their kinks.

Idiot Henry texted me and asked us to bring him something home, which was annoying and at first we decided we weren’t going to since he could have just met us there – he got home from work shortly after we left – but then I felt bad (what is wrong with me!?) and got him a piece of the pistachio milk cake which he promptly beasted and agreed that it was very good.

Henry liked it, you guys.

Then on our walk home, we stopped to talk to Jeannie the Crossing Guard who has known Chooch since his elementary school days (she is such a lovely lady) and right after that, the passenger of a car driving by yelled, “IT’S CHOOCH!” out the window and it ended up being our friends Niffer and Weird Paul! Chooch is very popular in Brookline, it was like I was walking with the mayor.

Well, anyway. That was my Brookline cafe review.

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