Nebraska’s capital city is home to a number of cozy coffee shops. Today, we’re showcasing some of our favorites.
BY JON FERGUSON
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured image by Michal Parzuchowski
For the last several years, Nebraska’s state tourism slogan rang a snarky yet truthful tone: “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” But in February of 2024, Nebraska’s tourism director announced that the state would be moving away from the successful campaign, which actually did raise some awareness around what is often considered “fly-over country.”
Being tasked to write a story about the best coffee shops in Lincoln, Neb., forced me to reflect on my personal 30 years of experience living in this city. A few things haven’t changed since I’ve been there. For example, it’s still most definitely a college town, and people still root for the Cornhusker football team—which finally went bowling last year after a very, very long drought. And, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s OK, because being a Husker fan is, well, “honestly, not for everyone.”
And with that, let’s talk about (in no particular order) the fine coffee shops that have helped fuel a growing community over the years, and will hopefully continue to do so for years to come.
The Mill (Telegraph District)
The Mill has been serving coffee in Lincoln since 1975, and their presence in the community’s specialty-coffee scene continues to grow everyday. In addition to their recent remodeling of their downtown Haymarket location, The Mill at Telegraph has become a haven for Lincoln High School students and teachers during the school week, along with a bustling weekend crowd.
The historic building is one of the most beautiful and well-designed cafes in Nebraska, and most certainly has helped revitalize and bring life to the neighborhood. If you love brick walls, dark wood finishes, and antique lighting fixtures, The Mill will quickly become one of your favorite spots to relax.
The Coffee House (Downtown)
The Coffee House (CoHo) has been a staple in the Lincoln coffee community for over 30 years. In the early ’90s, it was one of the most vibrant nearby off-campus college hangouts. The CoHo attracted the most wild, creative, and esoteric group of college students, with a large smoking section in the back filled with customers playing chess and card games, along with students studying and reading poetry while having regular philosophical conversations—all without a single computer or cell phone.
You may ask your old Gen X family members or friends, “But how did one survive without a cell phone?” Well … The Coffee House had a pay phone that friends and family of patrons would often call to see if their friends were hanging out in the back. Answering this pay phone definitely became a creative and communal activity.
The Coffee House was also known to be a regular hangout spot for Plato Chan, who began his photographic journey by snapping photos of all of the shop’s regular patrons—a sort of early form of social media. In this way, The Coffee House has been legendary in creating and participating in a cultural period of transition, both with specialty coffee and social interaction. In all likelihood, many of the scenes from the show “Portlandia“ would be easily relatable to those who frequented The Coffee House in the ’90s.
The Coffee House is still connected to their wholesale coffee roaster, Paul Thornton, who is well-known in Portland, Ore., and across the United States for his early involvement with the U.S. Specialty Coffee Association and the Coffee Roasters Guild. The Coffee House continues to serve espresso and coffee selections roasted by Thornton Family Coffee Roasters based out of the Portland area.
Mo Java (University Place)
Located in the University Place neighborhood near Wesleyan College, UNL East Campus, and the historic Havelock area, Mo Java has been a leader of the specialty-coffee scene in Lincoln for 30 years. Owner Paul Marshall continues to serve high-quality espresso and baked goods, with an exceptional made-to-order lunch menu.
The avocado toast, flatbread pizzas, and open-faced bagel sandwiches at Mo Java are flavorful and served with great presentation. There’s ample seating for college students who need a place to have lunch in between classes, or to get away from campus. The music is subtle, the vibe is chill, and the decor is rich in detail and uniqueness.
Paul loves La Marzocco, and it shows: Mo Java prepares their espresso through one of the cleanest La Marzocco Linea PBs in town.
Meadowlark (Near South)
To put it simply, Meadowlark, located in Lincoln’s Near South neighborhood, is where a broad spectrum of the Lincoln community comes together. Board games and open mics are still alive and well in Lincoln, thanks to this coffeehouse.
Jeri Stastny is the captain of this flagship coffee shop, which was established on Earth Day in 2005. The establishment focuses on serving espresso and in-house baked goods, and recently, they purchased a San Franciscan SF-6 coffee roaster to start roasting coffee in-house. Since then, roasting has become a focal point for Jeri, who continues to be passionate about delivering the best quality that each coffee has to offer. The shop is open daily, with plenty of seating for studying, playing games, and listening to live music.
Cultiva (East Campus, University of Nebraska)
Cultiva Coffee has three locations in Lincoln: one lab and two cafés. One of their vibrant cafés is located across the street from the University of Nebraska’s East Campus, and has become a staple for staff and students who want to venture off campus but still be able to get back to their schedules within minutes.
Although seating is generally limited due to the café’s popularity during lunch hours, early mornings and mid-afternoons can become a great time to listen to some tunes from their vinyl collection and enjoy a latte. The food menu, with its savory and sweet crepes, made-to-order omelets, and array of filling sandwiches, is very comfort-forward and has become legendary to many local patrons.
Stay Tuned for More
Tomorrow we’ll release part two of this article, where we’ll showcase the rest of our favorite Lincoln coffee shops.
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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