By Anna Corbett, Staff Writer
Most students run on caffeine and a budget, making the search for great yet cheap coffee almost impossible.
But the older I get the more I realize the importance of supporting local businesses. Chain coffee shops, such as Starbucks or 7 Brew, have always seemed soulless and uncaring about their quality of service. I find that local coffee shops give a warmer feel and emphasize quality.
Most people are still trying to figure out where to start when looking for new places to get their coffee fixes, so I decided to rank what I think are the best local coffee shops in Wichita.
I came up with a ranking based on several criteria, including which shops were the most affordable, had the best ambiance, had proximity to Newman, had unique menu options, and had high-quality products.
Here’s my list, starting with my favorite:
1. Paranormal Cafe, 500 S. Topeka
My top pick is in downtown Wichita, about a 6 to 8 minute drive from Newman. This makes it a great spot for a quick pick-me-up in the middle of the day.
Paranormal Cafe started as a food truck and quickly became popular for its great product theming. Most menu items are named after creatures called cryptids, which are said to exist but without proof – Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, or even skinwalkers.
The cafe provides products for all types of energy seekers. Not only does it offer great coffee at an even better price, but it also offers different energizer drinks with a multitude of flavors to choose from.
It is owned and operated by Grace Doukali, who shares the workload with her mother, Maria Babcock. Their Sicilian roots are well represented in the cafe. Many pieces of Sicilian decor are scattered around the shop, which is also filled with quirky decorations that complement the unique atmosphere. There are plenty of places to sit and even a children's area with Play-Doh and coloring pages.
The goal of the cafe was to bring a different kind of vibe to the Wichita coffee scene, Doukali said. All of its products are priced under $5, and its coffee is locally sourced.
2. The COOP, 2812 E. Douglas
The COOP offers great menu options including coffee flights, which allow customers to sample four different flavors, either hot or iced, in smaller sizes. It is located on Douglas in an old house that had been renovated and includes rooms upstairs that customers can use or reserve for game nights or meetings. Downstairs, it has a shop that highlights local small businesses, and customers can look around while waiting for their drinks or food.
3. Coffee Daze, 3236 E. Douglas
Coffee Daze’s menu has creative drink options and the shop is full of natural light, which makes it a great space for studying. The menu has great flavors to offer, especially during the winter holidays, when it includes lots of themed lattes.
4. Greater Grounds, 922 E. Douglas
This shop, the newest on this list, offers unique flavors of coffee as well as cocktails. It sometimes features live performers, has aesthetically pleasing decor and lots of seating.
5. Reverie Coffee Roasters, 2202 E. Douglas
Reverie has great coffee and a nice ambiance. It is a well-known shop that has both indoor and outdoor seating. It also roasts its own coffee and sells it in bags for fans to take home.
PHOTO: Dannicka McGrath, Photographer
