We continue our exploration of the specialty-coffee scene in Nebraska’s capital city.
BY JON FERGUSON
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo by Oleg Ivanov
On Monday, we introduced five of our favorite coffee shops in Lincoln, Neb., showcasing the ever-expanding world of specialty coffee in Nebraska’s capital city. Today, we’ll conclude our Lincoln coffee tour—join us as we highlight five more visit-worthy cafés.
Reactor Coffee (Clinton)
Within walking distance from the Malone Center, a notable Lincoln nonprofit and community space, you’ll find Reactor Coffee. The establishment was founded by Megan Castor, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) student who opened up the café before her senior year. Here, you’ll find high-quality espresso in a relaxed and warm environment near the UNL campus: a vital hub for students and the surrounding community.
Standout offerings include the S’more Latte and Midnight Mocha. The shop also features neighboring roasters like Canyon Coffee Roasters, which Lincoln local Gregg Aksamit launched in his garage more than 20 years ago—a testament to the growth of Lincoln’s specialty-coffee scene over the past few decades.
Bloom Coffee (Hawley)
Bloom Coffee recently expanded their space to incorporate in-house roasting and more seating, and the shop has quickly become a popular destination for the surrounding Hawley neighborhood. The café offers a variety of baked goods and freshly made waffles, all of which have become a huge hit amongst the Lincoln community.
The establishment is also just a few blocks away from the popular MoPac Trail: the main bike path through Lincoln, which connects the University of Nebraska’s main campus and east campus to the Southeast Community College campus on the eastern edge of town.
Southeast Community College’s main campus has witnessed rapid growth over the past decade, with the expansion of the Great Plains Culinary Institute funded by a $4.2 million investment in the spring of 2018. This investment included a focus on the creation of Course Ground Coffee, an affiliate of the full-service, student-run restaurant Course.
Monday through Friday, you can come into Course Ground Coffee to enjoy a cup of joe. The shop is located next to the campus’ main registration office and information desk, offering comfy booths and tables along with a nice view of their San Franciscan SF-6 roaster.
New Day Coffee + Smoothies (Fallbrook)
If you’re set on getting farther away from the downtown area of Lincoln, New Day Coffee might be your jam. Located in the Fallbrook community, just east of the Lincoln Airport and slightly north of the 80 freeway, you’ll find a breezy, spacious, and inviting atmosphere for focused study sessions or gathering with friends. In addition to traditional espresso-based beverages and fun twists on old favorites, New Day offers real fruit smoothies, breakfast and lunch options, and other delectable house-baked goodies.
Zen Coffee Company (Downtown)
Concluding our list of must-try Lincoln cafés is Zen Coffee Company, started by Abby and Ryan McLeay. The establishment, a vibrant community hub located at the center of downtown Lincoln, offers ample seating and creative takes on espresso-based beverages—and the shop’s “coffee flight” has become a staple for locals.
“(The coffee flight) comes with four seven-ounce cups of the customer’s choice of drinks from our menu,” Abby says. “(Customers) can do hot or iced drinks, lattes, hot chocolate, lemonades, teas. … I think this is the best opportunity to try many options at once.” The café also offers an array of bakery items made in-house, including a number of sweet and savory toast options.
In Closing
That concludes our list of our favorite Lincoln coffee shops—we can’t wait to see how the city’s specialty-coffee scene continues to bloom over the next few years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jon Ferguson has nearly two decades of experience across various facets of the coffee industry. He believes that with a deeper understanding of equipment used throughout the entire coffee supply chain, we can gain a deeper respect for the labor and technology required to transform fruit seeds into the beverages we all dearly love.
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