Add the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar to a large mixing bowl.
Cream butter and sugars together with a hand mixer on medium speed.
Add egg and vanilla extract to the creamed sugar and butter and beat with hand mixer until combined, barely a minute or so.
In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, and salt.
Add half of the dry mixture to the wet mix bowl and mix with hand mixer until consistent. Then, add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until dough forms.
Fold in the chocolate chips by hand.
Using a cookie scoop, scoop out dough onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet, I was able to fit 12 per sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes or until the edges are just barely golden. Remove from oven and let cool for a perfectly chewy cookie. If you like your cookies a little crispier, leave in for up to 11 minutes. If you want a larger “café style” cookie, combine 2 scoops and roll them into a ball by hand. You can fit 6 cookies per sheet if you up the size. Bake time for larger cookies increases to 14 minutes.
Optional step: When you remove the cookies from the oven, you can sprinkle a little extra sea salt on top while they're still hot. I highly recommend it!