Capital Coffee

by Cynthia S. Peterson

Opening in 1987, The Coffee House (www.thecoffeehouselnk.com), 1324 P Street, is a very cool, locally owned coffee shop that prides itself on quick service, delicious homemade pastries and many vegan and vegetarian options. The Coffee House is on the edge of the UNL City Campus.  

A newer addition is the New Jersey-based Rock ’n’ Joe Coffee at 5025 Lindberg Street (www.rocknjoe.com). It’s a great place for lunch; wine or beer in the evenings (and, on occasion, music).

Gratitude Café & Bakery has that small-town feel. Located at 1551 N. Cotner Boulevard (www.gratitudecafebakery.com) in a historic old bank building, owner Kat Cloran is all about community. Delicious scones and fair-trade coffee and tea. 

The Mill Coffee & Tea (www.millcoffee.com), has four wonderful shops that are extremely popular. The original is in the Haymarket at 800 P Street, and the newest in the Telegraph District at 330 S. 21st Street. Those two, plus a shop on UNL’s Innovation Campus and one near Union College, all feature traditional coffee and espresso drinks, a large assortment of teas and snacks, all in a warm and comfortable atmosphere. The Mill is a hip space that offers indoor and outdoor seating plus free wi-fi. They are usually busy day and night.  

Cultiva Coffee (www.cultivacoffee.com), 2510 Randolph Street, 727 S. 11th Street and 3535 Holdrege Street, is a café and micro-roastery. Along with world-class coffee and espresso, Cultiva whips up delicious crepes with a variety of toppings and sauces. 

If you are near Nebraska Wesleyan University, Mo Java Café and Roasting Co., 2649 N. 48th Street (www.mojava.net), is a great place to grab a cup of fair-trade organic coffee, surf the web or listen to some live music on a Friday night. The pizza and sandwiches are worth mentioning, too. They also have a second location, The Filling Station, downtown at 200 S. 18th Street.

Crescent Moon (www.crescentmooncoffee.com), 140 N. Eighth Street, has been in the Haymarket for 20 years. They also serve beer and wine and, in the mornings, great crepes. Crescent Moon prides itself on being a live music venue, too. 

Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso, 1624 South Street (www.meadowlarkcoffee.org), has served organic, fair-trade coffee since 2005, and all its food is locally sourced. The pastries are delicious, as are the daily soup specials. They also host live music, poetry and art shows for their many loyal customers.

The Harbor Coffeehouse, 1265 S. Cotner Boulevard (www.harborcoffeehouse.com), is a favorite in the Piedmont neighborhood and now there’s a Haymarket location, too. It’s a great place to meet friends or customers. 

Bagels & Joe has been locally owned and operated since 1993 (www.bagelsandjoe.com). You can find them at 4701 Old Cheney Road, 215 N. 24th Street, 1777 N. 86th Street and 7811 Pioneers Boulevard.   

The Chocolate Season (www.thechocolateseason.com) at 3855 Village Lane. While they specialize in handmade chocolates and confection, they have a full espresso bar, too.