Coffee Talk

Downtown Lincoln, Nebraska is normally known for its tailgating scene on Saturdays in the fall. It’s home to some amazing restaurants and bars that are go-to’s when they’re in town for Husker football. Maybe not as well-known are the handful of local coffeehouses that litter the downtown landscape. Scooters and Starbucks might be the first places that come to mind, but here are a handful of shops worth trying out! The Mill Haymarket: 800 P Street | #100 | Lincoln, NE | 68508  College View: 4736 Prescott Avenue | Lincoln, NE | 68506 Innovation Campus: 2021 Transformation Drive | Lincoln, NE | 68508 The Mill has been a staple in the Lincoln coffee community since 1975. It’s just a short walk from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s campus, which makes it a hot-spot for college students looking to catch up with friends and study. The Mill offers small-batch craft coffee, a wide selection of teas, and an ever-expanding food selection that includes sandwiches, muffins, co

 Last week I talked about coffeehouses and how they invite social discussion. They are places of debate and homes to social movements. So, doesn’t it make sense that the shops sell products that make a social statement? Enter fair trade coffee. Fair trade is a practice that originated in the Netherlands that focuses on providing economic stability to developing countries and goods producers. By definition, fair trade is, “ a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers.” Fair traded coffee was introduced in 1988 in response to a coffee crisis. It was the first agricultural good to be labeled fair trade. In 1988, there was an extremely high supply of coffee and little demand for it. Because of this, coffee producers had to sell their bean

How do you take your coffee? Black? With cream? Iced? Or maybe you like one of those Grandé Caramel Frappuccinos. However you like it, consuming coffee has become a social event. With the rise of Starbucks, the coffeehouse has become ingrained in our culture. Today, coffeehouses differentiate themselves by promoting their bean source and how they roast it. But with all the difference in mind, coffeehouses still have one thing in common; they're a place where people socialize. Coffeehouses originated in the Middle East in the early 16 th century, where some of the earliest coffee beans were produced. The coffeehouses quickly became an important part of the culture, as they became a place for political gatherings and a place for men to gather and play games. Towards the middle of the century, coffeehouses evolved as they moved into Italy. Italians fine-tuned the drink, as each Italian region put its own twist on the coffee. Espresso, café americanos, and cappuccinos quickly becam