Jan. 19, 2024

The Downtown Burger Battle is making national news — for a “burger” that’s not even officially competing.

The Breaks Coffee Roasting Co. is trending for its latest addition to the menu celebrating the 11th annual Sioux Falls tradition.

Enter the Burger Battle Latte – or BBL – which is a unique feature during January.

“The Burger Battle is an annual Sioux Falls spectacle with 37 restaurants competing this year,” co-owner Mary Campbell said. “We are a rogue entrant.”

Campbell and her husband, Corey Gerlach, opened the shop at 311 E. 12th St. in 2020. For the past couple of years, their team often joked about entering the Burger Battle with something plant-based.

“It turned into something this year everyone wanted to figure out how to make possible,” Gerlach said. “Some of our staff took it very seriously.”

What’s in it, you ask?

Admittedly, the owners say it’s better not to know.

“We would not describe this as delicious or bad,” they said, laughing. “It’s definitely an experience.”

It’s also making headlines far beyond Sioux Falls. News coverage of the “trending topic” this week reached audiences through the Nexstar Media Group, which also owns KELO-TV. Then, Yahoo picked it up and distributed it as far as New Zealand.

While there aren’t any real full-sized beef burgers involved in the latte, there are plenty of ingredients that will make you think of one.

Each BBL is served with a miniature veggie burger, slice of American-style cheese product and other condiments. The shop teamed up with Look’s Bakehouse for mini brioche buns.

The featured drink includes two options: one latte is iced with espresso, and one is hot without any espresso – though it’s option.

“They both taste like a burger,” Gerlach said. “It plays with your mind a little bit because it’s so unsuspecting.”

They want to make sure patrons get their money’s worth and a great experience, they said.

“Unfortunately, the weather has hindered business a little, and it’s been quieter on our block, but people are still having fun with it. It makes people laugh, people are enjoying the experience, and it’s engaging the community,” Campbell said.

The BBL will go away at the end of the month, and the regular monthly features will return, including a people’s choice award special in February that involves bringing back a favorite from last year.

“The general intrigue from everywhere has been fun,” Gerlach said. “A lot of people say we’re crazy but that they love it. They say we’re unhinged, they’re curious and that they have enjoyed the experience.”