Gloria Jeans Coffees

You might miss this place if you did not know it was here. It’s nestled upstairs in the big Whitcoulls at the foodcourt in the Albany Shopping Mall. I am not in the habit of reviewing big coffee chains but I think this one deserves a mention. The first thing about it is that it’s quiet serene and relaxed, compared to the madness of the foodcourt on a Saturday afternoon. You can have your coffee and browse at all the comings and goings in the mall downstairs. The coffee is excellent here and we always get the Caramelattes — a latte with a generous swirl of syrup on top (see pic). The food is fine too especially the pies — I get the chicken one which is not greasy and heavy like the ones you get in the bakehouses. When you are finished your coffee break you can browse in the bookstore downstairs. Granted it was much better when it was Borders but there is still an extensive Fiction section which they have maintained. I know malls are not for everyone but if you find yourself in Albany, this is the place to go for your coffee.