Coffee cabinet facts for kids
A coffee cabinet is a super yummy, thick drink, a bit like a milkshake, that's mostly found in Rhode Island and parts of southeastern Massachusetts. It's made with coffee ice cream, coffee syrup, and milk, all blended together!
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What is a Coffee Cabinet?
Imagine a delicious, creamy drink that tastes like coffee and ice cream mixed together – that's a coffee cabinet! It's a special treat that many people in Rhode Island love. It's not just a regular milkshake; it has a unique coffee flavor that makes it stand out.
What's in a Coffee Cabinet?
Making a coffee cabinet is pretty simple! You need three main things:
- Coffee ice cream: This gives the drink its creamy texture and coffee flavor.
- Coffee syrup: This adds even more coffee taste and sweetness.
- Milk: This helps blend everything together into a smooth, drinkable treat.
All these ingredients are put into a blender and mixed until they are perfectly smooth and thick.
Where Can You Find Them?
Coffee cabinets are a big deal in Rhode Island! You'll find them in lots of local places, especially old-fashioned ice cream shops and diners. Some famous spots that serve them include:
- Delekta's Pharmacy in Warren
- The Original Vanilla Bean in South Kingstown
There's also a restaurant chain called Newport Creamery, mostly found in Rhode Island. They serve a similar drink called an "Awful Awful," which is a type of cabinet made with ice milk.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The name "coffee cabinet" is a bit of a mystery! No one is completely sure how it got its name. One popular idea is that the person making the drink, often called a "soda jerk" (which was a common job at soda fountains long ago), kept the coffee syrup in a special wooden cabinet behind the counter. So, people might have started calling the drink a "cabinet" because of where the syrup was stored.
The earliest known mention of the "Coffee Cabinet" was in a magazine called The Spatula in 1903. It described the drink as being very popular and even "a meal in itself" because it was so filling!
What's the Difference: Cabinet vs. Frappe?
If you travel outside of Rhode Island, you might hear a similar drink called a "frappe." In many parts of New England, a frappe is just another name for a thick milkshake. So, while a coffee cabinet is a specific type of coffee-flavored milkshake, the word "frappe" is often used for milkshakes in general in other areas. It can be a bit confusing, but both are delicious!
