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These guys have got my number. I do believe that coffee is a crucial part of life. Not just any coffee but GOOD coffee. I admit I may be a coffee snob, but I feel myself very fortunate to know a bit about coffee and that I have a desire to learn more and more. If you look through this blog or my other blog TheLeftoverQueen you will see much about my love of the bean. So when we relocated to St. Augustine, I made it my personal mission to seek out the best of what St. Augustine has to offer by way of coffee. I will also be enjoying many of the eating establishments here as well, so stay tuned for more. But now, for the coffee.

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I love the look of Crucial Coffee. This adorable little coffee shack on the corner of Cuna Street, right near the Castillo de San Marcos is so inviting. It does remind me of those coffee shacks in New England I so love. It is unassuming yet brings attention to itself with brightly colored doors and twinkling little lights. You just can’t help not to go in.

Coffee seems o be an art in St. Augustine too. Perhaps because it is a college town, but the coffee shops here do have quite a bit of competition. So they have to offer unique drinks. Crucial Coffee caught my attention several months ago because I saw that they were advertising Bubble Tea – usually a fruity tea served iced that has tapioca bubbles on the bottom that you suck through a big straw. It may sounds strange, but it is delicious. So I went in one night to get bubble tea. But I was disappointed. They only have it seasonally. So I decided to go back a different day to try one of their coffees. Such a day came last week. I was taking a break from cookbook writing and decided to go venture out for a few hours. When you walk into Crucial Coffee you are bombarded with a lot of choice all handwritten on chalkboards that seem to line all the walls of this tiny place. They even offer coffee drinks with a shot of liqueur, for an extra kick! I love Thai Coffee, so when saw it on their menu I was intrigued. So I ordered one. The barista asked me if I wanted whipped cream, although not typical for a Thai iced coffee, I could not decline.

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She poured the coffee from a premade pitcher. I can accept that for an iced coffee concoction. It was dark in color, like chocolate and reminded me more of a mocha than a light and creamy Thai Coffee. Sipping it was a delicious experience indeed. It was sweet with a bit of a cinnamon kick and perhaps some lingering cardamom. But a traditional Thai Coffee it was not. Still I did enjoy it. I also really enjoyed sitting in their cute little courtyard. Many other patrons also chose to sit in this area and enjoy their coffee treats.

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I will be back to Crucial Coffee for Bubble Tea and I am sure they will entice me back for more coffee drinks as well. I give it Thumb up. Perfect for an afternoon pick me up on your way back from the Castillo or St. George Street shops.

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