Let me start off by sharing the positives of my experience at Amplify Cafe. First of all, it's in a prime location: practically right next to lake Michigan, in the heart of the streets of Port Washington. When you step inside, the vibe is peaceful and full of creative energy. The color tones are vibrant and there are tons of items for sale, such as socks, bracelets, and even lavender bug spray (which low-key doesn't smell good at all). As for the consumables, there are a variety of pastries on display. I especially enjoyed the cranberry scone. There are many flavors of the drinks that you can purchase, including coffee, tea, lemonade, and boba (popping and chewy).
Now for the negatives. Overall, I would say the drinks are either too sweet or too bland, most of the time the former. There is no middle ground. (But maybe I'm just being picky.) Sometimes, the wait can be a little long, but it really depends on who's making the drinks.
Now for my major, longest complaint. I am sensitive to caffeine. I wanted to order a milk tea with chewy boba. The woman serving me was nice enough to give me the last of the chewy boba she had left, but that was about it. When I asked how much caffeine was in the drink, I mentioned I was sensitive to the stimulant. The woman told me there wasn't much caffeine in the boba tea at all, because it contained the same amount as an apple. I thought, 'Huh? Apples contain caffeine? I didn't know that.' Well, no wonder I didn't know that. It's not true. Apples contain ZERO PERCENT caffeine. Just Google it. Anyway, I ended up buying the drink. When I tasted it, there was barely any flavor. It felt like I was drinking slightly watery milk. But I shrugged it off and drank it all. I was affected by the caffeine, but thankfully not in a bad way. To end this review on a high note, the boba tea effectively woke me up and the chewy boba inside was a pleasurable consistency. read more