The Scene staff
Life can get busy – really busy. To keep up the fast pace, people stretched between multiple responsibilities turn to caffeine, and most get their “fix” from coffee.
St. Louis is a coffee city. It’s a little-known fact that until the mid-1920’s, the city was the coffee-roasting capital of the world, boasting more than 75 major plants.
I have patronized coffee shops and coffee houses throughout St. Louis. Recently, I came with my personal list of the Top 5 close to the Forest Park campus.
Shaw’s Coffee
This is my favorite coffee shop to stop by when I am on The Hill. It’s next to my favorite Italian grocery store, Viviano’s.
The building used to be a bank and still and maintains relics from the early days. The safety-deposit vault has been refurbished to house tables, where you and your friends can sit and enjoy a cup of coffee.
They offer local chocolate from KaKao, biscotti, coffees, teas and smoothies. My favorite is the Shaw’s Steamer and Italian Soda.
Shaw’s is at 5147 Shaw Ave. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
MoKaBe’s Coffeehouse
If you’re in the mood to hang out near Tower Grove Park, this is the place for you. MoKaBe’s is a friendly coffee shop full of life and character.
With an outdoor patio for lounging and chessboards waiting for a game, this is truly a great place to meet new and old friends. It offers awesome food at a great price, and the coffee is fair trade and organic.
Some coffees may be a little on the strong side, but a new blend is featured every day. It’s sourced from farmers of Costa Rica, Guam, Belize and elsewhere.
With MoKaBe’s extended hours, you can get off work and relax as the cars go by instead of getting caught up in rush-hour traffic.
My favorite MoKaBe’s sandwich is the Veggie Reuben, which has sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and tomato, drizzled with Thousand Island dressing and served on toasted-rye bread.
MoKaBe’s is at 3606 Arsenal. Hours are 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday.
Coffee Cartel
I remember passing by the Coffee Cartel all the time as a young child. It has a great advantage over other coffee shops: It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The Cartel provides customers with free WIFI and even has computers that you can pay to use. The owners are civic-minded, helping more than 300 charities annually.
The coffee shop’s giant patio borders the sidewalk with 240 seats, so there is always a place to sit and enjoy the beauty and character of the area.
The Cartel offers more choices than your average coffee shop, including an incredible array of food, liqueur drinks, ice cream, smoothies, ice-cream frappes, coffee and espresso.
The Coffee Cartel is at the corner of Maryland and Euclid, in the heart of the Central West End.
Bissinger’s at Maryland Plaza
Down the street from the Coffee Cartel is the best chocolatier in St. Louis, and yes the place serves coffee.
Bissinger’s has quite a lengthy story behind it. It began in 17th century France when the young Karl Bissinger brought his extraordinary confections to the St. Louis area.
Much more recently, the chocolate and coffee shop was in the Galleria. Then it moved to its larger, present location at Maryland Plaza in the Central West End.
Using recipes from a family cookbook dated 1899, the staff create little tastes of heaven that will send your taste buds into a frenzy. Their chocolates and tarts are completely amazing and will keep you coming back for more.
My favorite combination is White Chocolate Blueberry Bread Pudding paired with Bissinger’s Mocha Latte.
You can indulge in pastries, chocolates, coffee and tea. And for an extra treat, those over 21 can enjoy wine or “choctails.” The Bissinger’s Triple Chocolatini is to die for.
Bissinger’s is at 32 Maryland Plaza. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Comet Coffee
Comet Coffee is just a few doors down from the Forest Park campus, and one of the owners is a graduate of the college’s own culinary arts program.
Last semester, The Scene ran a story on the opening, and the coffee shop has quickly built a great reputation with the student and local business communities.
The coffee is good, and it’s offered at a reasonable price. An extra treat is watching the baristas brew it with a technique called “syphon brew.”
The owners make their own pastries, which have a wonderful taste compared to those sold by Starbucks and other big-shot coffee companies.
I would suggest trying their best-selling selling coffee, the Mad Cap Ardi with a Pumpkin-Walnut Muffin.
Comet Coffee is at 5708 Oakland Ave. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.