Ellen Hu ’24
Staff Writer
It has been a year since Scripps students have been deprived of drinks and treats from The Motley, a student-run coffee house on the Scripps College campus. Usually a social space filled with students from the Claremont Colleges, the location temporarily closed in March of 2020 as college campuses shut down due to safety measures to combat COVID-19.
The coffeehouse has become a staple for Scripps students. Not only have the shop’s drinks become classic treats, but many events and other community gatherings have also occurred at the location.
For Motley barista Clara Grim ’22, The Motley environment is characterized by the sheer amount of people that spend time in the space.
“I feel like a big part of The Motley is that there’s always a lot of people”, Grimm said. “You know, you’re always trying to find a seat or a table.”
“I could always go and know I would see a friend and I think a lot of Scripps students felt like that,” Motley barista Elle Biesmeyer ’21 said. “The music, the vibe was always very collaborative and social.”
While COVID-19 guidelines caution against large gatherings, it is still possible for students who miss the collaborative environment to recreate some aspects of the shop. Both Biesmeyer and Grimm point to music as a go-to.
“I started making collaborative playlists with my co-baristas and that was so fun,” Biesmeyer said. “I think that making those faux shared music spaces could help [recreate The Motley environment].”
While the playlists differ depending on the barista who is working, Beismeyer said that some of the most common artists include Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, and Frank Ocean. When new popular albums come out, they are oftentimes played on repeat for months.
Grim also believes that grabbing a “quirky mug” will help students recreate The Motley experience. To go a step further, students can recreate their favorite drinks from the Scripps staple.
Wondering how to do this? Students who are missing their regular doses of Matcha Cha Chas, Bowl of Souls, and London Fogs need look no further! Below you’ll find several recipes for Motley classics that you can recreate at home courtesy of Motley baristas.
The Motley purchases teas from Art of Tea and uses Pacific Brand Barista Series milks. While syrups can be made at home (as given below), Motley baristas use Torani syrups which can be purchased online.
The Recipes
Teas
Matcha Cha Cha
There is no doubt that this Motley classic is a fan favorite! Perfect for fans of matcha.
What you’ll need for tea:
¼ teaspoon matcha powder
1 Ounce Hot Water
Milk Frother/Blender/Mason Jar
10 Ounces Preferred Milk
What you’ll need for vanilla simple syrup (courtesy of Snacks and Sips):
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
½ Cup Water
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1. Begin making your simple syrup by combining all needed ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a soft boil and continuously stir until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Remove simple syrup from heat and let sit until it has reached room-temperature.
3. Combine ¼ teaspoon matcha and hot water using a milk frother, blender, or in a shaken mason jar.
4. Transfer prepared matcha into mug
5. Pour vanilla simple syrup into the drink to your liking (we suggest 1 tablespoon of vanilla simple syrup)
6. Add preferred milk and enjoy!
NOTE: You will have a lot of vanilla simple surface left over! You can use it to make another drink (might I suggest the London Fog?) or store it in an air-tight container in your refrigerator until you need it again.
London Fog
A Motley classic! Enjoy this on a cold morning or as a treat to wake you up in the afternoon.
What you’ll need for tea:
1 Earl Grey Tea Bag (or the equivalent in loose-leaf tea)
Hot Water
⅓ Cup Preferred Milk
What you’ll need for vanilla simple syrup (courtesy of Snacks and Sips):
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
½ Cup Water
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1. Begin making your simple syrup by combining all needed ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a soft boil and continuously stir until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Remove simple syrup from heat and let sit until it has reached room-temperature.
3. Fill ⅓ of your mug with hot water
4. Seep an earl grey tea bag in the hot water for 2 minutes
5. Meanwhile, pour milk into a mason jar and shake for 30 seconds
6. Heat shaken milk in microwave for 30 to 45 seconds to steam
7. Pour steamed milk into the prepared mug with steeped tea and stir
8. Pour vanilla simple syrup into the drink to your liking (we suggest ½ tablespoon) and enjoy!
NOTE: You will have a lot of vanilla simple surface left over! You can use it to make another drink (might I suggest the Matcha Cha Cha?) or store it in an air-tight container in your refrigerator until you need it again.
Bowl of Soul
Enjoy this classic Motley drink on a cold and rainy day!
What you’ll need:
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Teabag of Choice (or the equivalent in loose-leaf tea)
Hot Water
Preferred Milk
½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
1. Fill ⅔ mug with hot water
2. Steep your tea bag in in the hot water for 2 minutes
3. Add honey to tea and stir until dissolved
4. Pour about ⅓ cup of preferred milk into a mason jar and shake for 30 seconds (The ratio should be ⅔ tea to ⅓ milk)
5. Heat shaken milk in microwave for 30 to 45 seconds to steam
6. Pour steamed milk into the prepared mug with steeped tea and stir.
7. Top with cinnamon and enjoy!
Milk Steamer
A drink for people with a sweet tooth who would prefer to leave out the caffeine.
What you’ll need:
1 Mug’s worth of Preferred Milk
1 Tablespoon Preferred Syrup
1. Pour milk into a mason jar and shake for 30 seconds
2. Heat shaken milk in microwave for 30 to 45 seconds to steam
3. Carefully remove steamed milk from microwave and pour into a mug
4. Stir syrup into milk and enjoy!
Smoothies
Berry Manilow
Looking for a cool drink to refresh with? This classic Motley smoothie has a variety of fruity flavors that are perfect for a warm day.
What you’ll need:
5 Ounces Frozen Blueberries
5 Ounces Frozen Strawberries
½ Cup Orange Juice
1 Cup Preferred Milk
Blender
1. Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until it has reached a smooth consistency
2. Pour into a mug or cup and enjoy!
Kalpana Chawla
A barista-recommended drink! Both refreshing and warming, a great choice if you have the time and energy.
What you’ll need for base:
10 Ounces Frozen Mango
1 ½ Cup Preferred Milk
¾ Tablespoon Spicy Chai Simple Syrup (homemade or bought)
What you’ll need for Spicy Chai Simple Syrup (courtesy of Random Acts of Comfort):
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Water
1-inch Piece Peeled and Roughly Cut Fresh Ginger
3 Cardamom Pods
1 Star Anise
1 Cinnamon Stick
8 Black Pepper Corn
8 Cloves
1. Begin making your simple syrup by cracking the spices using the back of a large knife
2. Heat water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Ensure that the sugar solution doesn’t simmer or boil
3. Remove the sugar solution from heat and add spices
4. Let sit until syrup reaches room temperature. Leave spices in longer for a stronger flavor.
5. Pour the syrup through a strainer to remove spices
6. Add all ingredients into blender and blend until it has reached a smooth consistency
7. Pour into a mug and enjoy!
The Specialties
One aspect about The Motley that students often utilize are the unique flavors of syrups and whipped creams that are available. While it may be more difficult to use them in your drinks now, they are not impossible!
The Motley offers a total of 11 different syrups for customers to add for an additional 35 cents. Beismeyer’s favorites are pumpkin pie, lavender, rose, and vanilla however there are many more options. The most common additions observed by Grimm were the Lavender and Rose syrups.
Additionally, The Motley’s flavored whipped creams were a daily surprise. Baristas working the morning shift were able to choose a flavor and whip it into the cream for the day.
Below you’ll find ways to make two popular syrups and the Motley recipe for their flavored whipped creams.
Lavender Simple Syrup (courtesy of Snacks and Sips)
What you’ll need:
½ Cup Water
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Tablespoons Culinary Lavender
1. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until brought to a simmer
2. Stir constantly until sugar has dissolved
3. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature
Rose Simple Syrup (courtesy of Lily and Val)
What you’ll need:
1 Cup Water
1 Teaspoon Rose Extract
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Food-Grade Rose Petals
1. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until brought to a simmer
2. Stir constantly until sugar has dissolved
3. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature
Flavored Whipped Cream
What you’ll need:
2 Teaspoons of Preferred Simple Syrup
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1. Combine simple syrup with whipping cream
2. Using an electric mixer or whisk, whip the ingredients until hard peaks are achieved.
3. Put on top of drink and enjoy!
Image Source: Amelie Lee ’23
