2008 Woodie Awards
Coffee Talk: A Caffeine Junkie's Review of Local Coffee Bars
By: Eva Thea Kuhn
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Features
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189 Snelling Ave
651.646.4788
Cosmic's is my least favorite place for coffee, simply because it's not what it seems. The entire premise of Cosmic's is to act as a bar replacement for recovering alcoholics. Therefore other patrons seem skittish, and if they don't recognize you, they don't like you.
It's clear that one does not come to Cosmic's to get coffee, but rather to mingle with others who may not be in one's weekly A.A. meeting. This is not a quiet place to do your homework, nor to re-up in between classes: the coffee ($1.45 a cup) is weak and watery. If you try and sit down for long periods of time, other people stare until you leave.
Though there is free Wifi, don't bother. Walk another block to Cahoots and caffeinate with your own kind.
Cahoots
1562 Selby Ave
651.644.6778
Cahoots is my favorite coffee bar in St. Paul. The coffee is consistently fresh and strong. In the summer, iced cold presses are a godsend from midwestern humidity, as is the back patio, where you can sit in the shade and smoke cigarettes if the mood strikes you.
The staff is friendly and includes Macalester kids always willing to wait on a fellow student. The range of tea is impressive and soothing, even to a caffeine junkie; I suggest a pot of African Skies on bitterly cold nights. Food offered includes (somewhat) overpriced half sandwiches ($3.75), soup and the ubiquitous hummus platter. Cookies and cakes pleasantly accompany drinks. I recommend the cardamom cookie ($1.75) with a large skim latte to walk away sufficiently buzzed and sugar-sated.
There is a definite group of regulars at Cahoots that might allow you into their inner circle if you show up frequently enough. The calm atmosphere and cozy back room allow for extended study sessions. You can even get a little shut-eye on the couch there in between your International Studies readings. Or, sit in the front and let your mind wander as you stare at ornate Turkish tapestries on the walls. If you re-think your Liberal Arts education or win the lottery, beautifully woven rugs are available for purchase.
Cahoots has maintained its neighborly feel and excellent coffee in the three years I've been going there. Although it's always frequented by Macalester students, you won't hear any loud recaps of Friday night's kegger or lack thereof at the next table over. Free Wifi, and they play M.IA. all the time. What could be better?
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Dan Braman
posted 2/25/08 @ 12:45 AM CST
Just wondering as to why Dunn Bros. was not mentioned once in the article, unless I missed it, despite every other coffee place around being mentioned, apart from Starbucks. (Continued…)
coffeesnob
posted 2/26/08 @ 12:48 AM CST
What about Kopplin's? It's about as close as Brewberry's and it has the best coffee of all of these places. The owner is the hugest coffee snob in the world and it's blissful. (Continued…)
Really?
posted 2/26/08 @ 11:39 PM CST
"Caffeinate with your own kind?" What kind of elitist s--- is that?
And as though there are no alcoholics in college. I suppose it doesn't count if Daddy can pay for rehab?
So much for "global citizenship. (Continued…)
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