Shaw's

What kind of building would you find a coffee ship nestled in? A strip mall. A small stand-alone shop. Maybe even an old store front. With this new hipster movement in the coffee world, anything may be a possibility. However, an old bank? Appropriate for a coffee haven? You tell me. Yet, Shaw’s Coffee has made its home in a once treasury building.

As I entered, I did not immediately recognize the structure of a once local bank. Rather, it had a greenhouse feel. Large, voluminous trees swooped over the chairs, creating scenery for many patrons to side-step. What seemed like a horticulturist’s fantasy struck me with a sense of wonder. Never had I seen such an interesting display within the interior of a building.

Yet, the rest of Shaw’s coffee pronounced a very familiar atmosphere for the average coffee shop attender. Scattered around the room were college students with heavy textbooks, attached to their Apple computers via headphones. The picture was all too familiar.

Yet, the differences became readily apparent. Rarely do coffee shops have a surfeit of soft space. Comfy sofas, coaches, and pillows hugged every wall, hallway, and windowsill. In addition to the traditional table with four chairs, alternative “study spaces” surfaced throughout the area. I was able to find a small nook that overlooked Shaw Ave, affording me the opportunity to people watch while I studied.

With regards to the product [not to be so base], it was an entirely new experience for me. Entering a standalone coffee shop opened my eyes to the unique qualities of franchise-free coffee. Many times when entering a franchise coffee place, the behind-the-scenes aspect of the coffee, itself, remains a mystery. What is seen is the assembly of the drink itself, yet what is lacking is the visible preparation to arrive at this stage. This was not the case at Shaw’s.

Behind the barista counter exists a large area where coffee beans are roasted and ground. It was a thrilling experience to see actually employees fill the roaster and roast beans while patrons watched vividly. It was refreshing to see the same beans roasted and ground were used to make the coffee that I was able to purchase. Like every other coffee shop I plan to attend, I ordered a standard mocha. I was surprisingly impressed with the mocha at Shaw’s since it included a quality Ghirardelli chocolate shot. It was the perfect combination of strong espresso and sweet spurt of flavor. I was also able to have a conversation with the barista at the time. She was able to recommend her favorite menu items (green eegs and ham wrap). Also, she was able to talk to me about the subtleties between the different blends of coffee that they offer for purchase. They offer five different varieties: African, American, European, Pacific, and House. Depending on the smoothness and strength of the blend, a variety of choices exist.

Due to the exceptional coffee and the ambience of Shaw’s, I was able to productively study. I spent upwards of three hours working on different projects and assignments. It was an exceptional refuge for the student that may be tired of the hustle of a Starbucks study experience. I really wish that I had more material to work on, since I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, as it was comfortable and controlled.

However, the true hidden gem comes from the past life of the building. As formerly mentioned, Shaw’s once existed as bank. As any proper bank establishment would have, a bank vault was present. At first, I was confused as to the size of the room. However, on closer inspection, I discovered the intimate space for maybe four individuals. The reason I now call it a gem was due to the one wall consisting of purely mirrors. What resulted was a mini photo session with my dear friend Megan to capture an acceptable picture. What may come across as an odd feature for a coffee shop, I assume has resulted in fun conversation, memorable moments, and fun ideas. The modified vault is an exceptional piece to an exceptional place. What truly sets Shaw’s apart must be the overall stellar quality of every facet of its coffee shop identity.

enclosure: the elusive picture Megan and I finally captured.