Wander & Wonder

While in Romania this summer, I discovered a new coffee chain that recently took off in eastern Europe. This coffee shop is the shining example that often times, less truly is more.

Walking into a 5 to Go, you’re instantly struck by its minimalist yet fun ambience. To give you an idea, most of the shops are less than 10 square meters, really emphasizing the idea of get in, get your coffee, and get out (all whilst smiling).

©Copyright 2024 – 5 to go

The menu is straightforward, focusing solely on what matters most: delivering a great cup of coffee. There’s no overwhelming array of options (*cough cough Starbucks)—just a small selection of coffee and pastries. 5 to go prides itself on its special blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, and rightfully so as their coffee was truly delicious. My favorite part is their wide selection of flavored syrups, all made in-house! My favorites were the classic vanilla and pumpkin, and the more unique gingerbread and amaretto.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of 5 to go is the prices. The small coffee (330ml) costs 5 lei ($1.50 CAD) and the large coffee (which is actually ginormous at 500ml) costs 10 lei ($3.50 CAD). I mean when is the last time you paid $3.50 for a giant flavored coffee frappe with whipped cream? Sorry Montreal, your $7 latte just doesn’t cut it anymore.

The last thing I wanted to mention is how quickly we were served. Literally within 2 minutes we had paid with our coffees in hand. There was no long line of sighing customers, even though people were coming in and out of the 5 to go non-stop. It was so impressive. There is nothing worse than being stressed about being late for school or work in the morning, or wasting half of your lunch break because the line for coffee is taking too long.

Overall, 5 to go provided such a cozy start to our mornings while in Romania. And I forgot to mention that once you are served your coffee, there is a cute little booth with cinnamon, cocoa powder, and sugar which provides the perfect final touch to an already lovely experience. I really hope that 5 to go continues on its path of success, and that it stays true to its core as it continues to expand throughout Europe, and hopefully to North America one day!