Ya know how some folks just absolutely need coffee to start the day? That's not me. But, it is my friend Kaitee. Whenever I am around her, my coffee consumption increases 100%.



Black Rock Coffee Bar was one of our caffeine adventures while in Mesa. This West Coast-based coffee chain also features energy drinks.



"Black Rock Coffee Bar is among the coffee chains that serves Italian sodas, or at least an innovative, in-house derivative that tastes like the beverage but also offering the powerful kick of caffeine. Black Rock's marketing slogan is "Fuel your story," and Fuel is also the name for its store brand of energy drinks. According to Structure, Black Rock developed the recipe internally, as a way to save money on supplies for its cold beverages — energy drinks with the addition of flavored syrups and served on ice or blended with milk," according to Mashed.



Local baked goods are dependent on the location and vary from place to place. My go-to muffin is blueberry, and this version wasn't too bad. I like when it has that streusel topping that makes it a little bit more special. this one was a bit more plain and rustic but still decent flavor.



The first item on the menu I saw was the Caramel Blondie, which is a caramel white mocha, and I was already. It doesn't take much, really.



The drink, of course, was sweet and had a thick dairy flavor that cut through some of that bitterness of the espresso. Beyond that, it's a familiar flavor that you can get a similar version of at many coffee shops. Solid for what it is, which is comfortable and reliable.



Grade: B