It was barely 11 a.m. on a Friday, but we were already exhausted from the day and ready to re-caffeinate. Luckily my sister knew a place. A new to Illinois, a small chain from Texas, Summer Moon. Which happened to have our state’s first and for now only location in Crystal Lake.
My sister and I were just cruising around the Crystal Lake area in Tipper, my sister’s car. The hula girl on the dashboard swayed along to Adele in between a Target Run and a trip inside Cut it Out Scrapbook.
Inside Summer Moon
We opted to venture inside Summer Moon although there was an option to take Tipper through a drive-through. Passing through a pair of doors we stepped into a decent-sized, glamping-inspired, coffee shop. As we waited in line to order coffee there was a rack of apparel items, coffee mugs, and other items to browse through. The colors, golden yellows, earthy greens, and light rosy pinks of the merchandise reflected the aesthetic of the coffee shop.
I focused on the menu, asking my sister what she recommended. The names of the drinks cleverly play off the brand of the shop. I went with the Blue Moon and my sister chose the Winter Moon.
We chit-chatted and waited for our drinks. Meanwhile, the design of the barista area mimicked an ornate 1930s dinner with black and white patterned ‘tiles’ and hanging sphere lights dangling soundly off of a wooden awning.
When the Barista calls out “Betsy” I go up to pick up my drink. She places a three-leaf clover onto the top of my cup, a fun little gesture for St. Patrick’s Day!
Relaxing with a Blue Moon
Once we both have our drinks, we go find a seat in the busy coffee place, snagging a seat closer to the door. The back area with the cozy fireplace and the chairs by the cute Instagram spot is already claimed.
I, in the most me fashion, awkwardly take photos. Although the entire place is super Instagram-friendly. They welcome photos and shoutouts! At the counter and on some of the tables they post both their local and national Instagram accounts and even encourage tagging them in your post.
The place has relaxing earthy tones, with pretty green paneling only going halfway up the walls, leaving room for a lighter, neutral white tone. There is a Pho-brick wall with their logo ‘painted’ on in white also indicating the location of this place. Their own branded wallpaper hugged the sides of the ‘bricked’ wall.
Wallpaper that was branded and specifically for their cafe?! How cool! They even snuck their logo into it as if it was whispering, proudly, how clever it was. It had a white background, with campy and coffee-inspired items, like a campfire and coffee beans cupped in hands ‘stamped’ in black. Among the field of stamps also stood a smattering of Summer Moon-labeled mason jars.
We sipped on our drinks as we took in the campy but cute decor surrounding us. I am a sugar person, so when it comes to coffee at a shop, I seek out the sweetest. Maybe this is because, ironically, at home, I drink it black.
A sweet equation
Some sweet drinks drown out the coffee flavor, while other coffees only have a slight hint of sugar. This blue moon achieved the right equation of sugar to coffee in an incredibly tough math equation that turned into an enjoyable potion! I marveled at the blend of coffee and sugar intertwined and how they highlighted each other in a playful sincere way.
I stole a sip of my sister’s Iced Coffee. It seemed to have gotten the equation correct as well. It was both sweet and flavorful. She said her drink focused on their ‘home’ brewed moon milk. The whipped milk floated and bobbed on top of the drink adding texture and flavor to a delicious concoction!
My sister and I take the rest of our drinks with us as we realize lunchtime is quickly approaching. We floated on our sugar rush as Tipper carried us safely home, the Hula girl swaying along to the music on the way.
Return to Northwest Suburbs
Great coffee!