reasons why the new café in Harvard Square is rocking my world

A couple of weeks ago a new cafe opened up in Harvard Square in a space once occupied by a very tiny and very depressing Au Bon Pain. Café Crema, which you can read about here and here, has made my life complete. It's right near where I catch the shuttle to work in the morning, so I already have been there an absurd number of times, considering it has just opened. I love it because:

1.) The iced coffee is perfection.

2.) The chai is also perfection.

3.) The muffins and scones are the actual size and texture that muffins and scones are supposed to be. (Unlike the baked goods at certain chain establishments that are of a size and texture more on par with a bowling ball or paperweight.) The cocoa banana muffin is my favorite--it is moist and fluffy and has real chunks of chocolate and banana in it. And it looks like something that came out of an actual, normal muffin tin, and was created by and for humans.

4.) There is a cool lofty area to sit in, funky furniture, and the flowers on the tables are beautiful.

5.) The staff is friendly and happy to have customers. This may seem like a given, but that's not always the case at some of the Harvard Square establishments I like to frequent. At one sandwich shop, for example, I once asked someone behind the counter if I could have one of the special sandwiches of the day. He informed me that he was not, in fact, in charge of the special sandwiches, and I would have to ask someone else. I responded, "Oh, okay," and he shot back, in a high-pitched voice (pretending to toss long hair--which I have and he did not) "Oh, okay!" Because requesting a sandwich in a sandwich shop is such audacious behavior that it merits mocking, apparently. So I go to that place less than I used to. Plus, Cafe Crema has sandwiches, too. (So there, obnxious sandwich guy!)