The Grand Views

Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Courtney Townsend Village Bean

Media Credit: Courtney Townsend Outside of Java Joe's

Over the past years, coffee shops have sprung up all over Des Moines, providing people a place to get their coffee, socialize, and have a quiet place to study. Each store has its own unique traits, giving customers exactly what they want in a good cup of coffee.

When asked what makes a good cup of coffee, Jan Davis, owner of Grounds for Celebration, said, "Specialty-grade Arabica beans, roasted to the right degree of darkness, fresh (use within one week), and then brewed with filtered water at 198 degrees Fahrenheit and enough coffee grounds (1 tablespoon for 8 oz of water)."

She first got into the coffee business 15 years ago, and after going to trade shows and reading a lot of information, she and her husband George jumped in, she said.

In addition to Grounds for Celebration, there are other coffee shops many people go to in Des Moines, such as Java Joes and Village Bean, both located downtown.

"I'm from Marshalltown and I love the Kitchen Collage and I always make it a point to stop here," Nona Eaton, Village Bean customer, said. "I like all the coffees and my husband always buys a brownie."

Ryan Adams, an employee of Village Bean says he loves working there because it's local and was right next door to his internship at Smash.

"We've been told on several occasions we have the best espresso in town," Adams said.

Besides selling coffee beverages, Village Bean offers blended drinks, which are like malts with espresso.

Village Bean also sells CDs of local music artists and paintings, as well as pastries including Dutch letters. The coffee shop is relatively new, having been open four years under the ownership of Jennifer and Kirk Trow and Larry Roan.

Java Joes, on the other hand, has been open 17 years and is owned by Amy and Tim Brehm.

"It's just open and judgment free - almost anyone can come in and not be judged," Josiah Teeble, customer, said.

Java Joes offers coffee but also an array of beer and sodas. They also serve vegetarian, Indian and grilled food.

The coffee shop is also a place for entertainment. Java Joes provides a place for local and regional musicians to play, as well as hosting poetry slams, an Irish Jam night and Jazz Big Band.

"Java Joes has a good atmosphere and brings in [interesting] people and is a relaxing place," Jake Brehm, employee, said.

Another coffee shop downtown is Ritual Café, located at 13th and Locust. They are known for being a vegetarian and vegan café.

"We pride ourselves on having an organic and locally-grown coffee beans," Cathryn Dranota, employee said. Java Joes is the local roaster for the café.

"Ritual Café sees an assortment of customers, most being quite regular. However, during "Wicked's" time in Des Moines, the café saw a lot of the actors and actresses from the musical," Dranota said.

She said it's nice working there and forming relationships with the customers and getting to know different people.

Ritual Café is also very political, sporting political posters and is very open when it comes to sexual orientation.

"I like it because the staff is really friendly and their drinks are delicious," Drew Kinser, customer, said.

Another coffee shop that just opened up is Smokey Row, located at 1910 Cottage Grove. They offer a soda fountain, full menu and merchandise all at this location.

"I really like Smokey Row. It's a nice place to go and study or just to have some good coffee with friends. It has a nice warm feel to it," Mekayla Putnam, nursing sophomore, said.

Besides local coffee shops, Des Moines also has chains such as Friedrichs and Starbucks.

"[Friedrichs] has a family environment, a majority of our business comes from regulars- we have a lot of loyalty," Anne Howard, employee, said.

Friedrichs is a chain around the Des Moines area, but customers can still find comforts and good coffee here as well.

"I enjoy making people drinks well and being able to have [regular's] drinks ready when they walk in the door," Howard said.

"Friedrichs was always my favorite but then I started going to Starbucks because there are more, but now there are more Friedrichs," Lowni Creveling, customer, said.

As far as Grand View students, it seems they go to a variety of places, yet none being local.

"I like to get coffee from Quick Trip actually. It's cheap and better than the expensive stuff," Jessica Mitchell, nursing sophomore, said.

"I don't really go to coffee shops, but if I do it's Starbucks, because it's closest," Nikki Weaver, biology sophomore, said.

"My favorite is Amici, because they're always really friendly and they make the best drinks- their drinks are just better," Rebecca Johnston, nursing sophomore, said.

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