Apartment Dining: Maté Factor
Photos by Grace Baines
Written by Grace Baines
Let’s talk coffee. Besides being the lifeblood of most college students — and a great way to start a cold morning before class — it is one of the most popular beverages in the United States with 54% of Americans over the age of 18 as regular consumers of the toasted bean (Harvard School of Public Health). But coffee has a lesser-known cousin called Yerba Mate. Yerba Mate is basically tea with the caffeine count of coffee. Much like tea, Mate has health benefits linked to its high vitamin and mineral count and some suggest that it may lower certain cardiovascular risks.
Now, why all the talk about this beverage? Because, there is a local coffee shop that serves this beverage (and a myriad of other tasty treats): Maté Factor. Right across Habersham from Kroger, it is a charming place to go for all occasions. The shop has been open for about eight and a half months and has already gathered the attention of both locals and students. The atmosphere and interior design are incredible. A sense of the old world welcoming in the new. Repurposed barn beams support a loft style seating area, with a recessed booth area below. A few cozy seats and another booth offer even more indoor seating to enjoy studying, dates and relaxation. With some of the friendliest and most open people I’ve ever met working behind the counter, I guarantee you will leave feeling relaxed and at peace in this place.
As the weather is getting colder I find myself drawn from iced beverages to hot mugs of deliciousness. My personal favorite at Maté Factor is the Mocha Mint. The gentle mint flavor matches the earthy — not quite green tea, not quite coffee — flavor splendidly. One of their more popular drinks, the Mayan Mocha, is very good as well and comes highly recommended by the employees of the store. And as a new addition to an already well-loved menu, they have now begun to offer sandwiches in addition to all of the other highly tasty baked goods. I recommend the Egg and Cheese; I don’t know if I can accurately sum up the amount of yum in this sandwich so you’ll just have to take my word for it. But seriously, it’s the breakfast of champions.
When I talked to Hushai, an employee at the establishment, his recommended dish and drink were an Iced Mango Mate and a Deli Rose Sandwich. And when asked what the group’s favorite part about Savannah was the answer was charming. “We like the warmth from the people; having the avenue to easily connect with people’s hearts,” said Hushai.
A SCAD Alum, Blake Lewis, offered his review of the most interesting drink he’d tried so far: the Dandelion Root. “I didn’t think I would like it. You tend to have an animosity towards that idea because you feel it would be too herbal, but I did like it.” When asked what his favorite part about the Maté Factor was he answered, “I like the nice sense of calm this place has. It’s very conducive to reading and relaxing.”
With the shop open every day except Saturday, you can swing by and give the Maté Factor a try whenever you’d like. Find them at 401 E. Hall Street or on their website. And as a final question, when asked if there was something they wanted students to know about the establishment, the group answer from Maté Factor was, “Have you heard what’s going on? Come to the Maté Factor and find out!” So come by to give the establishment and try to embrace your inner relaxed mate drinker.
