Spencer’s Place
Another day, another coffee. This week was my choice and I decided it was time to visit one of my favorite shops in the valley. Spencer’s Place. I go there at least once a week to work on homework and projects. Besides having some of the best coffee and an environment that creates a strong community, they have a very unique staff.
Spencer’s Place was founded in 2019 by Karin York (pictured above,) however their story “… began 29 years ago with the birth of Spencer. Spencer was born in 1990 with Down syndrome — a genetic disorder caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21. At that time, the possibilities for individuals with special needs and abilities were extremely limited and it seemed like there were few others like Spencer.
Today, that’s still true in many ways. Spencer is one of a kind. He is hard working. He is loyal and loving. He is a spitfire and brings those around him immense amounts of joy.” (spencerplaceaz.com)
Inspired by her son and her background in special education, Karin opened Spencer’s Place in Surprise, AZ. There she and her family “…are working hard to create a coffee shop and bistro to help train former students and people with disabilities to be successful in their careers.” (Kelly Beaubien)
Their recommendation for new time visitors is their lavender latte. Though it is highly recommended, Kat and I turned our attention to their holiday menu which was prepared with half a dozen Valentine’s Day themed drinks. Kat’s choice was Love Potion; white mocha and strawberry. In alignment with my love of outer space, I chose To the Moon and Back; white and dark mocha with cherry.
We agreed that the foam of our drinks was perfect. As well the espresso complemented the fruit in our drinks well. Kat’s reminded us of strawberry milk; sweet and smooth. I was reminded of being a kid again drinking Nesquik on a hot summer day. Kat did a little dance upon her first sip. On the opposite side of the flavor range, Moon and Back had a powerful presence in your mouth, you knew it was chocolate however, it was a welcome experience.
Spencer’s Place has a wide variety of flavors and drinks to choose from, including teas, lemonades, lattes, and coffee. But don’t just take our word for it. Check it out yourself and let us know what you think!
Located at: 15341 W Waddell Rd B101, Surprise, AZ 85379
https://ability360.org/livability/employment-livability/spencers-place/
Make sure to follow us on TikTok @lattesandmochas28 where we post videos of our adventures!
