Nebraska’s capital metropolis is residence to plenty of cozy espresso retailers. At present, we’re showcasing a few of our favorites.
BY JON FERGUSON
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured picture by Michal Parzuchowski
For the final a number of years, Nebraska’s state tourism slogan rang a snarky but truthful tone: “Nebraska. Actually, it’s not for everybody.” However in February of 2024, Nebraska’s tourism director introduced that the state could be transferring away from the profitable marketing campaign, which really did increase some consciousness round what is commonly thought-about “fly-over nation.”
Being tasked to jot down a narrative about the perfect espresso retailers in Lincoln, Neb., compelled me to replicate on my private 30 years of expertise residing on this metropolis. A couple of issues haven’t modified since I’ve been there. For instance, it’s nonetheless most undoubtedly a school city, and folks nonetheless root for the Cornhusker soccer staff—which lastly went bowling final 12 months after a really, very lengthy drought. And, in case you don’t know what I’m speaking about, it’s OK, as a result of being a Husker fan is, effectively, “truthfully, not for everybody.”
And with that, let’s discuss (in no specific order) the advantageous espresso retailers which have helped gas a rising neighborhood through the years, and can hopefully proceed to take action for years to return.
The Mill (Telegraph District)
The Mill has been serving espresso in Lincoln since 1975, and their presence locally’s specialty-coffee scene continues to develop on a regular basis. Along with their current transforming of their downtown Haymarket location, The Mill at Telegraph has grow to be a haven for Lincoln Excessive College college students and lecturers in the course of the faculty week, together with a bustling weekend crowd.
The historic constructing is without doubt one of the most lovely and well-designed cafes in Nebraska, and most definitely has helped revitalize and convey life to the neighborhood. When you love brick partitions, darkish wooden finishes, and vintage lights, The Mill will shortly grow to be one among your favourite spots to calm down.
The Espresso Home (Downtown)
The Espresso Home (CoHo) has been a staple within the Lincoln espresso neighborhood for over 30 years. Within the early ’90s, it was some of the vibrant close by off-campus faculty hangouts. The CoHo attracted probably the most wild, artistic, and esoteric group of school college students, with a big smoking part within the again stuffed with prospects enjoying chess and card video games, together with college students learning and studying poetry whereas having common philosophical conversations—all with out a single laptop or cellular phone.
You could ask your previous Gen X members of the family or mates, “However how did one survive with out a cellular phone?” Properly … The Espresso Home had a pay telephone that family and friends of patrons would typically name to see if their mates have been hanging out within the again. Answering this pay telephone undoubtedly turned a artistic and communal exercise.
The Espresso Home was additionally recognized to be a daily hangout spot for Plato Chan, who started his photographic journey by snapping images of the entire store’s common patrons—a kind of early type of social media. On this means, The Espresso Home has been legendary in creating and taking part in a cultural interval of transition, each with specialty espresso and social interplay. In all chance, most of the scenes from the present “Portlandia“ could be simply relatable to those that frequented The Espresso Home within the ’90s.
The Espresso Home remains to be linked to their wholesale espresso roaster, Paul Thornton, who’s well-known in Portland, Ore., and throughout the USA for his early involvement with the U.S. Specialty Espresso Affiliation and the Espresso Roasters Guild. The Espresso Home continues to serve espresso and occasional picks roasted by Thornton Household Espresso Roasters based mostly out of the Portland space.
Mo Java (College Place)
Situated within the College Place neighborhood close to Wesleyan Faculty, UNL East Campus, and the historic Havelock space, Mo Java has been a frontrunner of the specialty-coffee scene in Lincoln for 30 years. Proprietor Paul Marshall continues to serve high-quality espresso and baked items, with an distinctive made-to-order lunch menu.
The avocado toast, flatbread pizzas, and open-faced bagel sandwiches at Mo Java are flavorful and served with nice presentation. There’s ample seating for school college students who want a spot to have lunch in between lessons, or to get away from campus. The music is refined, the vibe is chill, and the decor is wealthy intimately and uniqueness.
Paul loves La Marzocco, and it reveals: Mo Java prepares their espresso by way of one of many cleanest La Marzocco Linea PBs on the town.
Meadowlark (Close to South)
To place it merely, Meadowlark, situated in Lincoln’s Close to South neighborhood, is the place a broad spectrum of the Lincoln neighborhood comes collectively. Board video games and open mics are nonetheless alive and effectively in Lincoln, due to this coffeehouse.
Jeri Stastny is the captain of this flagship espresso store, which was established on Earth Day in 2005. The institution focuses on serving espresso and in-house baked items, and not too long ago, they bought a San Franciscan SF-6 espresso roaster to begin roasting espresso in-house. Since then, roasting has grow to be a focus for Jeri, who continues to be enthusiastic about delivering the very best quality that every espresso has to supply. The store is open day by day, with loads of seating for learning, enjoying video games, and listening to reside music.
Cultiva (East Campus, College of Nebraska)
Cultiva Espresso has three areas in Lincoln: one lab and two cafés. Certainly one of their vibrant cafés is situated throughout the road from the College of Nebraska’s East Campus, and has grow to be a staple for employees and college students who need to enterprise off campus however nonetheless be capable of get again to their schedules inside minutes.
Though seating is usually restricted as a result of café’s reputation throughout lunch hours, early mornings and mid-afternoons can grow to be a good time to hearken to some tunes from their vinyl assortment and revel in a latte. The meals menu, with its savory and candy crepes, made-to-order omelets, and array of filling sandwiches, may be very comfort-forward and has grow to be legendary to many native patrons.
Keep Tuned for Extra
Tomorrow we’ll launch half two of this text, the place we’ll showcase the remainder of our favourite Lincoln espresso retailers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jon Ferguson has practically twenty years of expertise throughout numerous aspects of the espresso business. He believes that with a deeper understanding of kit used all through all the espresso provide chain, we are able to acquire a deeper respect for the labor and know-how required to remodel fruit seeds into the drinks all of us dearly love.
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