I’m a local to Idaho. I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve slept in the mountains, walked the streets, and made great memories. I’ve spent countless hours hanging out downtown, rafted the river multiple days in a row, and have grown up eating Delsa’s Ice Cream.
But somehow, in all this, I’ve missed Rembrandt’s Coffee House in Eagle.
I’m not sure exactly how this happened – I’m a guru for local gems! How could I have missed a place so integral to the heart of local coffee shops?
Rembrandt’s Coffee House is an extremely unique place. Chances are, if you’re a local to Idaho and are reading this blog, you’ve been there and you know what I mean.
Located in what used to be an old church building, Rembrandt’s is homey to the heart. Walking in, I found myself confronted not with posters of BUY BUY BUY! but rather with a genuine warmth. The place is lit with the kind of lights that remind one of embers after a fire has died down. The walls are decorated with abstract and beautiful paintings. The place is drenched in history, I could feel it leaking out of the golden colored walls. Walking up to the cash register, I realized that although good coffee is a definite goal here, the real aim of Rembrandt’s is to inspire community among people. This was made even clearer when, after I was done ordering my coffee, I turned around to take a seat. The ‘sanctuary-turned-living-room’ is filled with couches, chairs, coffee tables; and plenty of each. The couches aren’t your run-of-the-mill crapperware either- they’re genuinely comfy cozy sofas! Rembrandt’s is quality from the door to the floor, that none can argue.
Standing in line to grab my coffee, I realized I knew the barista who would be making my coffee! I found this ironic; here I was trying to do an unbiased review of a local coffeehouse when someone I knew would be making the very coffee I would be reviewing. Yet, it seemed appropriate. If the goal of Rembrandt’s is truly to inspire community, how is this better demonstrated then by me knowing the person serving my drink? I found it comforting to know this place is for locals, by locals.
I got a Pumpkin Spice Breve – a favorite since the trees have turned colors and leaves have fallen. The 16oz double-shot brewwas served “for here” in a large ceramic coffee cup. This, again, added to the community, almost family, feel. On top of that, the coffee, which I had ordered “just a little dry,” had beautiful coffee art on the foam! I felt like I would be destroying an incredible painting just by drinking! And yet, I found the true art to be beneath the beautiful froth.
The coffee was truly good. Because I got a flavored drink, I can’t attest to the house blend, but all the same I enjoyed what I did have. The start was smooth and clean – nothing to distract the flavor. As the liquid moved its way to the middle of my mouth, just touching my palette, I found myself enjoying a curious taste- almost as if this was a mysterious fruit I hadn’t tasted before. I wouldn’t call it bad by any count, but it was different. The final decent of the coffee to the back of my mouth was again clean, with a sweet aftertaste similar to what you might find in an apple, or pear. The finish was a little weaker then the start, with a bit of an odd aftertaste. That being said, it did leave me wanting more, and that’s all that really matters in my book. I finished the cup, and really was satisfied with the product.
The truly remarkable thing about Rembrandt’s Coffee House is that the atmosphere yearns for community. Although undoubtedly a rare event, I’d hate to be there on an evening when the seats are empty and the air still. It’s the type of place I’d love to walk in to and order “the usual.”
People talking, working, thinking, reading, and pondering are really what makes Rembrandt’s Coffee house the type of place I will come back to.
And return I will, if only to savor the sweet environment- oh, and a cup of coffee.
But really, how in the world did I miss this for so long?
The Coffee Guy
