By Deanna Martinez
In a city full of coffee shops, NoRa Cafe, located at 12333 Strickland Road in Raleigh, has created something that feels like more than a place to grab a latte. Located in North Raleigh, NoRa has the cozy, neighborhood feel of a place where people can settle in for a while, catch up with friends, work on a laptop, or enjoy a cup of coffee without feeling rushed.
The Coffee
NoRa Cafe offers plenty of specialty drinks, but one customer favorite has a particularly sweet combination: the Honey Bee, made with honey, dark chocolate, and cinnamon. The cafe’s Bee drinks use locally made honey from The Pleasant Bee apiary, adding a little local flavor to an already comforting cup.
The Honey Bee brings together three flavors that were destined to hang out together. The honey adds sweetness, the dark chocolate brings a richer chocolate note, and cinnamon gives the drink that warm, familiar finish.
It’s the kind of latte that feels right whether it’s the start of a busy morning or an excuse to slow down for a few minutes.
The Vibe
NoRa has built its identity around being a neighborhood meeting spot, and that community feel is part of what makes the cafe different.
The space combines coffee, food, books, and comfortable places to linger. There are plenty of reasons to stay awhile, whether someone is meeting a friend, getting some work done, or simply looking for a quiet corner and a good drink.
The cafe also embraces local connections, from its coffee and honey partnerships to local pastries, artists, and community events. It doesn’t feel like a coffee shop that happens to be in the neighborhood. It feels like a coffee shop that is part of the neighborhood.
The Bite
A Honey Bee latte calls for something that can match its warm, sweet flavors. A cinnamon pastry would be an obvious match, but chocolate chip cookies, shortbread, or a simple coffee cake would also fit nicely alongside the drink.
For something with a little more texture, a biscotti would make a great companion. The crisp cookie gives the creamy latte something to play against, while the cinnamon and chocolate flavors complement what’s already in the cup.
Of course, NoRa also has its own selection of pastries and food, making it easy to turn a coffee stop into breakfast or a leisurely midday bite.
The Experience
Walking into NoRa Cafe feels like walking into a place where people actually know how to slow down. It has that comfortable neighborhood energy where a quick coffee run can easily turn into sitting for a while, chatting with a friend or settling into a quiet corner with a good book.
The Perfect Pairing
Crunchy, buttery English toffee is the perfect companion to NoRa Cafe’s Honey Bee latte, with its locally sourced honey, dark chocolate, and cinnamon. The rich toffee adds another layer of sweetness and a satisfying crunch that pairs beautifully with the warm, cozy flavors in the cup.
English Toffee Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups butter, salted
2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup almonds or pecans, finely chopped
• Line a cookie sheet with non-stick foil.
Combine the butter, sugar, and salt in a large heavy saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a steady boil.
When it turns a dark amber color or reaches 290 degrees with a candy thermometer, it is done. You can also drop a small bit of the mixture into ice-cold water; if the drop turns hard and brittle, it is done.
• Carefully pour the mixture onto a prepared baking sheet.
• Let it harden for a minute or two, then sprinkle on the chocolate chips.
• Let them melt on top for a minute, then spread the chocolate evenly with a knife.
• Sprinkle on the chopped nuts and press them down slightly.
• Let it cool and harden, then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
Tip: You can pop it into the fridge to cool quicker.
