Essencia Artisan Bakery and Chocolaterier

QUICK TAKE: Worth a try for the quick in-and-out croud. Not the best place to stay and relax.

I thought I would stop into Essencia for a cappuccino and maybe a bite to eat if anything caught my eye. I decided not to eat anything there because the offerings were few and far between. I have had slices of pizza there before that were OK, but the pieces they had out looked like they had lasted past their prime. It was the tail and of the lunch hour and they had probably been made several hours earlier. I decided to go for a mocha instead of a cappuccino since I had not tried one there before and I wasn't in the mood to be disappointed, at least not to the degree of error possible for someone who may or may not be able to make a good cappuccino. The mocha actually tasted like a very good rich, smooth hot chocolate. Unfortunately that was not what I was going for. The flavor of the coffee was completely lost in there somewhere. I will be back to try something less flavored to really get a better idea how their coffee is if I am in the immediate area, but I probably wont go too far out of may to do so.
The Beans are roasted locally by Lincoln Avenue Espresso who do a pretty good job, but the blend is Essencia's own creation.
The atmosphere in Essencia is alright, with tables out on the sidewalk in front, but there is something that just doesn't seem that inviting to me. It's not a place where I would go just to relax and and feel comfortable spending a large chunk of time, say, reading a book or doing some writing. It may be that it's right across the street from the dead mall or that there are only a couple of tables near a window. It's definately worth checking out in the morning if you want a fresh baked cookie and a coffee, but it seems to cater to the in-and-out business lunch crowd more then a relaxing coffee shop.

Essencia Artisan Bakery and Chocolaterie
4 North 3rd. Street
Yakima WA 98901
(509)575-5570