Nebraska’s capital metropolis is house to quite a lot of cozy espresso retailers. As we speak, 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 put in writing a narrative about the very best espresso retailers in Lincoln, Neb., pressured me to replicate on my private 30 years of expertise residing on this metropolis. A number of issues haven’t modified since I’ve been there. For instance, it’s nonetheless most positively a school city, and other people nonetheless root for the Cornhusker soccer group—which lastly went bowling final 12 months after a really, very lengthy drought. And, for those who 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 speak about (in no specific order) the positive espresso retailers which have helped gasoline 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 in the neighborhood’s specialty-coffee scene continues to develop on a regular basis. Along with their current reworking of their downtown Haymarket location, The Mill at Telegraph has turn into a haven for Lincoln Excessive College college students and lecturers through the college week, together with a bustling weekend crowd.

The historic constructing is without doubt one of the most stunning and well-designed cafes in Nebraska, and most actually has helped revitalize and produce life to the neighborhood. In case you love brick partitions, darkish wooden finishes, and vintage lighting, The Mill will shortly turn into 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 one of the vital vibrant close by off-campus school hangouts. The CoHo attracted probably the most wild, inventive, and esoteric group of school college students, with a big smoking part within the again full of clients enjoying chess and card video games, together with college students finding out and studying poetry whereas having common philosophical conversations—all with no single pc or cellphone. 

You could ask your previous Gen X members of the family or pals, “However how did one survive with no cellphone?” Properly … The Espresso Home had a pay telephone that family and friends of patrons would typically name to see if their pals had been hanging out within the again. Answering this pay telephone positively turned a inventive and communal exercise.

The Espresso Home was additionally identified to be an everyday hangout spot for Plato Chan, who started his photographic journey by snapping pictures of all the store’s common patrons—a type of early type of social media. On this method, 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 probability, lots 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 related to their wholesale espresso roaster, Paul Thornton, who’s well-known in Portland, Ore., and throughout america 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 alternatives roasted by Thornton Household Espresso Roasters primarily based out of the Portland space.  

Mo Java (College Place)

Positioned within the College Place neighborhood close to Wesleyan School, UNL East Campus, and the historic Havelock space, Mo Java has been a pacesetter 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 faculty college students who want a spot to have lunch in between courses, or to get away from campus. The music is delicate, 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 one of many cleanest La Marzocco Linea PBs on the town. 

Meadowlark (Close to South)

To place it merely, Meadowlark, positioned 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, because of 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 just lately, they bought a San Franciscan SF-6 espresso roaster to start out roasting espresso in-house. Since then, roasting has turn into a focus for Jeri, who continues to be keen about delivering the highest quality that every espresso has to supply. The store is open day by day, with loads of seating for finding out, enjoying video games, and listening to reside music.

Cultiva (East Campus, College of Nebraska)

Cultiva Espresso has three places in Lincoln: one lab and two cafés. One among their vibrant cafés is positioned throughout the road from the College of Nebraska’s East Campus, and has turn into a staple for employees and college students who need to enterprise off campus however nonetheless have the ability to get again to their schedules inside minutes.

Though seating is usually restricted because of the café’s reputation throughout lunch hours, early mornings and mid-afternoons can turn into a good time to take heed 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 turn into 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 almost twenty years of expertise throughout varied sides of the espresso business. He believes that with a deeper understanding of apparatus used all through all the espresso provide chain, we are able to achieve a deeper respect for the labor and know-how required to remodel fruit seeds into the drinks all of us dearly love. 

Subscribe and Extra!

As at all times, you may learn Barista Journal in paper or digital format. Learn the February + March 2025 concern without spending a dime with our digital version. 

And for greater than three years’ value of points, go to our digital version archives right here.