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Review: Goodthing Coffee serves up unique and fast-selling drinks and desserts

Goodthing Coffee opened in October 2024 and is a popular spot on Burlingame Avenue for trending desserts and decadent drinks.
Goodthing Coffee opened in October 2024 and is a popular spot on Burlingame Avenue for trending desserts and decadent drinks.
Abby Zarahn

When I first stepped into Goodthing Coffee, I was immediately drawn to the shop’s minimalist, clean, open interior and unique selection of drinks. The coffee shop, located near the intersection of Primrose Road. and Burlingame Avenue, opened in October 2024 by a couple, Shuo Yang — a trained pastry chef — and Vincent Lan — a hair stylist. I visited Goodthing Coffee on March 22 for the first time. Here are the items I tried and my thoughts on them.

The “Urban Angel” (matcha einspänner) is a variation of an iced matcha latte topped with a pistachio cream, giving the drink a velvety texture.
“Urban Angel” (Matcha Einspänner)

An einspänner is a Viennese drink made with espresso poured over whipped cream, named after a horse-drawn carriage (whose coachmen were said to be the drink’s original patrons). This einspänner was a variation of the traditional version, with the coffee being swapped out for matcha. At first glance, the drink was beautifully presented — the milk mixing with the matcha, topped with pistachio cream, and finished with crumbled pistachios. The creaminess of the whipped cream blended well with the matcha base. I initially expected the matcha flavor to be very present. The flavor was excellent, with the matcha not too strong but not too subtle, and the drink wasn’t overly sweet. However, the einspänner did feel a bit heavy with the combination of a pistachio cream and most of the drink consisting of whole milk, so I’d suggest getting the drink with a dairy milk alternative. Overall, I’d rate this drink a 4.5/5. If you enjoy matcha — or aren’t a coffee person like me — I’d highly recommend trying the Urban Angel.

The “Urban Angel” (matcha einspänner) is a variation of an iced matcha latte topped with a pistachio cream, giving the drink a velvety texture. (Abby Zarahn)
The Pistachio Einspänner is the perfect drink to serve as a wake-up call in the morning, combining espresso and pistachio flavors, complemented by the thick layer of whipped cream on top.
Pistachio Einspänner

This einspänner was similar to the structure and sweetness of the Urban Angel. However, the Pistachio Einspänner contains the traditional combination of espresso topped with pistachio cream and pistachio crumbles. The pistachio flavor was very subtle, and the drink wasn’t overly sweet; however, I didn’t expect the espresso flavor to dominate most of the drink. Compared to the matcha einspänner, I didn’t enjoy this variation as much, but if you are a coffee person, I’d highly recommend trying it. I’d personally give this einspänner a 3/5.

The Pistachio Einspänner is the perfect drink to serve as a wake-up call in the morning, combining espresso and pistachio flavors, complemented by the thick layer of whipped cream on top. (Abby Zarahn)
The Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie is soft and has a nice crumble to it, with the chocolate and walnut flavors having a heavy presence in the cookie.
Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie

This cookie had a nice crumble to it, and the texture was soft and a bit buttery. It was a little on the larger side, and there was a good amount of walnuts present. I enjoyed getting chocolate and walnuts in every bite. Overall, it wasn’t bad, and the cookie wasn’t loaded with sugar or butter, so it complements drinks nicely. If you are a chocolate lover or cookie enthusiast (and aren’t allergic to nuts), I’d recommend trying this. I’d give this cookie a solid 3.5/5.

The Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie is soft and has a nice crumble to it, with the chocolate and walnut flavors having a heavy presence in the cookie. (Abby Zarahn)
With ample Dubai chocolate-inspired topping, Goodthing Coffee’s Dubai Chocolate Chip cookie had strong chocolate and pistachio flavors.
Dubai Chocolate Cookie

When I saw this cookie for the first time, I was very excited to try it. Dubai chocolate has gone viral on the internet, so I was very interested to try a dessert inspired by the popular food trend. I found the cookie to be very dense and crumbly (a bit more than what I would’ve liked); however, the cookie itself had a subtle chocolate flavor and wasn’t insanely sweet. The cookie was topped with a thick, crunchy knafeh-pistachio mixture (similar to the inside of a Dubai chocolate bar), coated in chocolate, and finished with lots of crumbled pistachios. The chocolate and pistachio topping slightly falls off the cookie while eating it. Still, all the components of a Dubai chocolate bar were present and worked well with one another, leading to my rating of this cookie as a 4/5.

With ample Dubai chocolate-inspired topping, Goodthing Coffee’s Dubai Chocolate Chip cookie had strong chocolate and pistachio flavors. (Abby Zarahn)
The Hokkaido Cheesecakes was light and creamy with a very distinct flavor.
Hokkaido Cheesecake

Goodthing Coffee is known for their cheesecakes, and they didn’t disappoint. The Hokkaido Cheesecake tasted like a cloud: light, fluffy, airy, and creamy. Compared to a New York cheesecake, the Hokkaido Cheesecake wasn’t as dense, but honestly, I liked this style better. The cheesecake wasn’t too sweet and had a nice, simple presentation. The cheesecake consisted of a thin layer of cake on the bottom, thick layers of cream in the middle, topped with a thin layer of cake-like crumble. Overall, I’d give the Hokkaido Cheesecake a 4.5/5 because I wish there were more flavors present or another item that could complement the lighter, subtler flavors of the cheesecake.

The Hokkaido Cheesecakes was light and creamy with a very distinct flavor. (Abby Zarahn)
The Matcha Yuzu was also a light, creamy slice  of cheesecake with a distinct matcha flavor.
Matcha Yuzu Cheesecake

Compared to the Hokkaido Cheesecake, I liked the Matcha Yuzu Cheesecake more because there were stronger accompanying flavors. I could definitely taste the yuzu — a tart citrus fruit mainly grown in East Asia — which was incorporated into its own cream layer on top of the matcha cream. The matcha flavor also had a strong presence in this cheesecake. However, I found it to be a little strong, which some might consider to have a bit of a “grassy” taste. This cheesecake wasn’t too sweet, but it was a little bit denser than the Hokkaido Cheesecake. The Matcha Yuzu Cheesecake takes the crown as my favorite dessert — I give this cake a 5/5.

The Matcha Yuzu was also a light, creamy slice of cheesecake with a distinct matcha flavor. (Abby Zarahn)

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Goodthing Coffee and would recommend anyone who loves coffee and unique pastries to give this spot a try. The drinks and desserts were a little pricey, so be ready to spend more than what you’d usually spend at a normal coffee shop. Goodthing Coffee sells out of many of their desserts very quickly — especially their cheesecakes — so I’d suggest going shortly after they open to guarantee getting your hands on one of their pastries. 

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About the Contributor
Abby Zarahn
Abby Zarahn, Staff Reporter
Abby Zarahn is a freshman at Burlingame High School and is very excited to join journalism as a first year student! Outside of school, she spends a majority of her time in the pool training with her club team. When she’s not swimming, she’s playing piano or ukulele, making string bracelets, trying new foods, and spending time with her friends and family. She has always had an interest in reading and writing, which has led her to journalism. She is eager to learn more about journalism, meet new people, and can’t wait to write stories of her own.
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