The beauty of coffee shops, especially local roasters, is that they are several places: a small business, a place to meet people, somewhere to reconnect with friends or family or a study space.
Something about a sweet treat, a caffeinated drink or a warm bagel just gets me going.
Not only is it a lovely place to be in for 15 minutes, but 3 hours, too.
I am, unfortunately, someone who loves to sit and study for hours at coffee shops. This is my formal apology to people who go there for a quick bite to eat. I regret to inform you I will not change my ways anytime soon.
Coffee shops are a special place for workers, owners, regulars and avid coffee drinkers. Although going there comes at a cost, it is a price worth paying.
Tailored Coffee Roasters; Palace Coffee & Bakery; Mokes Coffee & Kitchen and Vero Espresso House are a few of my favorite local coffee shops. All of these places are within walking distance from the University of Oregon’s campus, and all have the nicest staff, cutest environments and unique food and drinks.
“I was a regular for a really long time because my roommate worked here,” Grace Shivers, a barista at Tailored Coffee Roasters, said.
“Because I had that in, I just kept showing up; and I needed a job, so I would see my now-manager all the time. One day, he just really needed someone to work, so I was like ‘Will you please hire me? I have no barista work, but I will learn quickly.’”
It was the perfect match. Since then, she has continued to spend time outside work at Tailored Coffee Roasters and other Eugene coffee shops, too.
Speaking of perfection, Palace Coffee and Bakery encompasses quality and coziness, two essentials for a great coffee shop.
I spoke with their owner, Lisa Truelove, who has worked at Palace since 1991 and chose the coffee industry less so for its ambiance but because of her love for coffee itself.
“I started here in 1991 and like you, I loved coffee. I did not necessarily hang out in coffee shops, but my interests aligned more with the country-of-origin aspect of it and roasting,” Truelove said.
“When I was in my 20s, I used to frequent this place when it was called Full City Coffee Roasters. I knew the gal who delivered the coffee there, and one day she said she was leaving, and I thought this was my opportunity to get the foot in the door. I started a month later.”
Truelove loves visiting coffee shops when she can and has admired all that owning a coffee shop has given her.
“When I’m away traveling, I enjoy visiting coffee shops, but locally I don’t have the luxury of doing that. But, I enjoy my own coffee shop and seeing the community we have here; that part is very fulfilling and very enjoyable,” Truelove said.
There is so much variety in how each coffee shop is designed and crafted to suit the owner’s tastes, the city and the people.
While Tailored has a more urban, black-and-white theme with bright green plants, Palace is a rainbow of local artists hung on the walls, pink bakery boxes and yellow and turquoise detailing.
In both, the hum of conversations meshing together has become the perfect white noise for my visits. If you’re tired of a silent library or a foot traffic-heavy EMU, might I suggest trying a local coffee shop off campus?
While it may cost on average $4 to $7 for a cup, the good energy is undeniable –– there is conversation, collaborative studying, book readers, regular coffee drinkers chatting up baristas and yummy drinks.
