"It seems that these days you can't spill a few drops of your caffeinated breakfast brew without the dark drops sloshing upon that iconic melusine (a two-tailed mermaid) girdled in the green Starbucks logo.
Especially here in Lexington, where just this past summer, Starbucks popped the white-domed lid off of three different locations, including a fourth on University of Kentucky's campus. With the latest opening of the coffeehouse on South Broadway, the Grande total now comes to 11 stores in town (and yet another steeping in the Fayette Mall).
However, according to a few local independent coffee shop owners, such an influx of corporate cups doesn't necessarily threaten their livelihood; it challenges them to think outside the pot and mix some creativity with their coffee and cream to concoct a drinking experience that appeals to all the senses.
Using a blend of music, art, customer appreciation, technology, charity involvement, and, of course, a wide selection of beans, the Lexington family of independent coffeehouses are roasted with dedication and eccentricity.
Coffee Times Coffee House
Being located in the same building as an actual coffee bean roasting company (Lexington Coffee & Tea) certainly gives Coffee Times an edge when it comes to freshness. If you get there at the right time, the beans could still be warm when they're brewed.
This shop has been around since 1983 and is the longest running coffee hang in town. Given that a lot of their sales come from bulk, owner Terri Wood wanted to make sure her customers were drinking in style when they got home. Attached to the sitting area is a well-stocked boutique with items ranging from French presses to elaborate journals.
Coffee Times can seat over 75 people now, and there's even seating available where you can watch the roasting process through a window. With couches and tables interspersed among the knick-knacks, a cup at this establishment is a sensory experience.
"It's stimulating, in more ways than one," Wood said.
Coffee Times Coffee House is located at 2571 Regency Rd. It is open from 7 a.m. — 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday (11 p.m. on Friday), and 8 a.m. — 11 p.m. on Saturday.
Common Grounds
A mainstay for UK students, bohemian types and business professionals, it'd be hard to imagine Lexington without Common Grounds, a fixture on the scene since 1992.
With so many nooks and crannies, owner Jim Davis has created a stop that can accommodate the whims of any customer -close tables for casual conversation, deep couches for extended reading, and even a secluded conference room for getting away from the office with co-workers.
Art is rotated every two months (except for the pictures of regulars), and there is live music every Friday and Saturday night from local and national acts. On Monday night, Common Grounds hosts one of the most popular open mike sessions in town, with slots filling up in a matter of minutes for the entire evening.
Common Grounds is located at 343 E. High St. It is open from 7 a.m. — midnight Monday through Thursday (1 a.m. on Friday), 8 a.m. — 1 a.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. — midnight on Sunday.
Dink's Cafe
This cafe, upon first walking in, has the appearance of the Italian bistro from which it was fashioned -tall tables, crisp, earth tone decorations -but the back hall looks more like something you'd see in a glorified international espionage summer blockbuster.
With 40 souped-up, networked computers painstakingly organized on custom-made tables (cup holders included, of course) and two 61-inch HDTVs, Dink's is the premiere Lexington location to get your Battlefield 2 or any other latest gaming fix while sipping on an espresso or one of their numerous high-energy drinks (perfect for their all night, LAN lock-ins).
"These aren't the kind of computers you check your e-mail on," said Don Kearny, one of the owners of this family business.
With a made-to-order attitude, the workers at Dink's prefer to have their customers tell them how they would like their drink constructed, with a rainbow of syrups available and modestly priced lunch sandwiches.
Dink's Cafe is located at 2033 Harrodsburg Rd. It is open from 7 a.m. — 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday (midnight on Friday), 9 a.m. — midnight on Saturday, and noon — 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Fauntleroy's
Nestled in the Woodward Heights neighborhood on West Maxwell, Fauntleroy's Coffee will celebrate its two-year anniversary in October and is considered by some to be one of the best kept secrets in Lexington.
With one-man art exhibits, all-original musician performances on Saturday afternoons, and streaming radio jazz music floating through the cafe, Genie Walker, a local jazz singer, has made this family endeavor a prime spot for that quintessential beatnik experience.
The Walkers use imported cold cuts for their sandwiches and beans from an Italian roaster in Pittsburgh, which is hand-brewed for their customers, as opposed to running the breakfast fuel through a machine. At $1.35 for a small cup, they have one of the cheapest cups going in town.
Fauntleroy's is located at 640 W. Maxwell St. It is open from 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Honey Bean Coffee
New to the coffee circle in Lexington after opening back in the spring in the Tates Creek Centre, co-owner Joe Sweeney jokingly says he opened Honey Bean so he could offset the large sum of money he was spending on his coffee habit on a monthly basis.
Offering over 150 whole bean coffees, Sweeney, a coffee connoisseur for over 18 years, has seen his love for the bean become something tangible with Honey Bean and makes sure his passions also help worthy causes.
Each month Honey Bean donates a portion of sales from a certain menu to a different charity. This month, the store is donating a dollar to the Catholic Action Center for every pound of coffee purchased.
Honey Bean Coffee is located at 4101 Tates Creek Centre Dr. Suite 128. It is open from 7 a.m. — midnight Monday through Thursday (1 a.m. on Friday), 10 a.m. — 1 a.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. — midnight on Sunday.
Third Street Stuff & Coffee
With the mentality of "coming at everything with buckets of paint," owner and artist Pat Gerhard has splattered her cafe with so many vibrant colors and shapes, you might not even need a cup of joe in the morning to wake up.
Along with the two galleries of artwork, one dedicated to the efforts from Latitude and the other rotated on a monthly basis from local artists, Gerhard encourages creative expression that may be inspired from a caffeine buzz. She keeps heaps of crayons, markers, magnetic poetry and chalk on hand to accommodate the whims of any customer who may wish to contribute to the decor. Customers may also add to the "Things I Like" journal, currently in its sixth volume.
All the beans at Third Street Stuff & Coffee, now in its second year of operation, are organic fair trade and locally roasted at Lexington Coffee & Tea. Many of the other products come from local businesses as well, like Bluegrass Baking and Phat Pies.
Third Street Stuff is located at 257 N. Limestone. It is open from 7 a.m. — 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. — 11 p.m. on Sunday.
This article has been printed courtesy of Business Lexington's sister publication, W Weekly. To read more of the latest arts and entertainment coverage in the Lexington area, pick up your free copy of W Weekly at any of more than 270 distribution locations throughout the city.