Vines & Tines: Cozy, quirky comfort at The Vintage Coffee House in Talent

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 16, 2023

I’ve driven by The Vintage Coffee House and Sake Bar in Talent nearly every day since it opened last May. It always seems to be buzzing with patrons, which to me signals something amazing is being served up within that quaint little black building — and yet somehow, I’ve never been inside.

As snowflakes drifted from dark clouds on a frigid February morning, a warm mug in my hands sounded like the perfect solution to a cold day.

My coworker, Julia, and I made our way through the front door and stopped to take in our surroundings as we were warmly greeted by the barista.

There were several mismatched tables surrounded by vintage chairs of all shapes and sizes; plenty of seating to go around for about 25 people, without feeling too crowded. Patio seating both in front of the shop and a shared space next to Gather restaurant provides even more space and would be lovely on a warmer day.

Light was provided by an eclectic array of pendant lamps, ranging from chunky glass globes to a sputnik fixture with spiky little bulbs.

What immediately drew our eyes however, was the custom woodwork on the back wall. Composed of small pieces of what looked to be woodburned lumber, the artful arrangement gave the space an immediate cozy feel.

As we moved towards the counter — taking a step down from the front door landing — I noticed a sign signifying they used Griffin Creek coffee, which is a local coffee roaster based in Ashland. Having tried Griffin Creek coffee before and loved it, I was excited to try Vintage’s espresso drinks.

The front counter showcases the shop’s delectable baked goods — with bagels and scones being produced by local favorite, Little Shop of Bagels, and its other pastries created by Medford’s Cake Bar. The menu also touted sandwiches, vegetarian chili and more breakfast and lunch bites.

There is a wide variety of beverages available at Vintage, ranging from coffee, tea and hot chocolate, to wine, beer, hard cider and sake.

Looking for something to warm me up, I ordered a small non-fat vanilla latte ($5.96) and a gluten-free peach cobbler scone ($5.71). I don’t have a dietary restriction on gluten, but I’ve found that treats made without it can sometimes be just as good as their “regular” counterparts. The scone in question was dusted with cinnamon and sugar on top and looked absolutely delicious.

Julia selected a mixed berry scone ($5.70) and a small tea latte ($4.21) — called London Fog — made by steeping Earl Grey tea in milk.

The barista offered to warm our pastries, to which we heartily agreed.

Orders in, we selected a table near the center of the shop, eyeing the collection of vintage coffee pots and accouterments on the shelves near the back door. Soft alternative music played in the background, easily allowing for quiet conversation as we waited.

After a few minutes, the barista delivered our drinks and pastries to us.

The thick ceramic mugs were perfect for wrapping our still-chilled hands around, and the pastries were almost as warm as though they had just come fresh from the oven.

The scones were deliciously chewy in the centers with thick crumbly edges; Julia’s amply studded with berries, mine generously covered in cinnamon. I would have liked to find more diced peach pieces in mine, but the overall flavor was so good, I didn’t miss them much.

Julia and I both noted that our drinks were the optimal temperature, hot, but still able to be sipped on immediately.

My vanilla latte held the perfect balance between the sweetness of the vanilla syrup and the bitterness from the espresso. While this particular coffee drink seems simple, it’s one that often gets marred by too much or too little syrup, or a bad pull of espresso. Vintage Coffee House’s version was so good, I immediately wished I had ordered a larger size.

Julia also enjoyed her London Fog. The citrus-floral aroma and flavor of the bergamot in the Earl Grey tea paired nicely with the subtle sweetness of the steamed milk, she noted.

Owners Phoenix Sigalove and Lichen Richardson (who also run the Daddy Ramen food truck), have created an absolute gem in this new venture of theirs. The atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious fare at Vintage Coffee House makes it the perfect place to meet up with friends, or sit quietly with a book, mug in hand.

The shop also features live music by a rotating cast of local artists from 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and has just started offering live music Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon as well.

And if that’s not enough, the coffee shop also plays host to Sigalove’s monthly “Dinner Club” featuring special meals on select nights. To find out more about the Dinner Club find “Daddy Ramen” on Facebook.

Although it has only been open for a short time, I can easily see this establishment becoming a pillar of the community — bringing good food and great people together for years to come.

Vintage Coffee House and Sake Bar, located at 250 E. Wagner St., Talent, is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Find Vintage Coffee House and Sake Bar on Facebook.