Kopplin's // St. Paul

     My journey this summer is to explore the coffee shops of the Twin Cities. My fascination isn't just with the taste of the coffee, but with the atmosphere of the shop. Every detail makes a difference. The chairs, the mugs, the lighting, the music, the location. I've been in places where the music is so loud I can't even put headphones in and silence it, some locations are really inconvenient for parking and some places have chairs that will make your back stiff in a matter of minutes. To me, its the places that pay attention to details like these that make it on my list of places to return to. I found a list online of the top ten coffee shops in the Twin Cities to try, so I am going to go through that list along with others I have found. 

Kopplin's Coffee
2038 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104 
Would I go back? YES 

     I didn't research this place really at all before trying it. My friend found it on the top ten list (it ranks #1) and suggested we go. I've been to so many places sometimes they run all together, but I have to admit, this place is adorable. I would definitely classify it as a neighborhood coffee house. The atmosphere felt very down to earth and comfortable, they had nothing to hide and weren't bogged down by big name higher-ups. The front of the shop has a counter with a couple bar stools, a nice couch and coffee table and some other little tables. The back of the shop has ample more seating. Perfect for an afternoon of studying (which is a key thing for my current college days) or just reading or chatting with a friend or two. Details: mason jar water station, a weakness of mine, I just love stuff like that. The coffee was superb. I always like to try the latte of any store I visit because it shows the basic but necessary skills of the barista. There was nothing to disappoint there, the foam art was beautiful and the espresso nutty. Although the prices were pretty much normal for these days, a 12 oz latte was $1 more than the 8 oz, which seemed a bit pricy for me. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a comfortable place to relax or study. The neighborhood is cute and easy to get around. However, if I were to make a top ten list, this would not be on my #1. Although they didn't do anything wrong, there wasn't anything to wow me or put it over the top. Try it out for yourself. You can always use another cup of coffee. 

May your coffee be caffeinated, 
Sarah