Maclen and Cheyenne set out on a warm sunny day to see what Springfield’s Indie-Coffee scene really has to offer. They stopped at some of downtown’s favorites: Big Momma’s, Eurasia and The Coffee Ethic. They also stopped in on the town’s newest additions, Black Lab Coffee Co and Rise, to see if the places offered anything new to the already bustling coffee culture.

To keep things fairly consistent, Maclen chose to stick with iced drinks with dairy milk and Cheyenne ordered hot drinks with oat milk. It says something about each place that they all offered at least three alternative milk options.

Maclen

For me, the Springfield coffee scene is about friendships. When I need caffeine while studying or when I’m driving into work, I’m more likely to run to a chain location than a local spot just because of convenience (Dark Stone, a local drive-thru coffee shop, is a viable challenger). Big Momma’s on C-Street is rightfully a Drury student staple. Artists hang their paintings on the walls with the chance to sell them, and it’s always an eclectic mix. The coffee shop stretches back with a window that looks out on the train tracks. The back room hosts tables for four to eight people and a couple couches for comfier seating. My Old 66 iced latte was a delicious blend of the standard vanilla and caramel flavors. Their coffee is strong, but it leaves plenty of room for the syrups and your milk of choice to affect its taste.

(Photo by Maclen Johnson/ Maclen’s Old 66 iced and Cheyenne’s chai tea latte with oat milk)

Eurasia is where I go for frozen drinks; they blend them perfectly every time. However, it was my least favorite on our downtown trek. Just a few doors down from Big Momma’s, Eurasia has mastered the green-plants-wood-accents aesthetic that is popular today. Its bay window seating pops up on Instagram pages frequently; it is admittedly a photogenic place. However, I was a little let down by the iced brown sugar latte. My sweet tooth clouds my perception here, but in the future, I’ll stick to the frozen drinks.

(Photo by Maclen Johnson / Eurasia)

Rarely will you have the option between two types of chai lattes, a choice which Rise delivers. My masala chai was delightful, and it was a perfect break between espressos. Overall, the restaurant is made for the brunch crowd. They advertise that their food is locally sourced and their bread is made in-house, emphasizing the small business and community-focused campaigns of recent years. It’s not set up as solely a coffee shop, so be prepared to order a breakfast sandwich, too.

(Photo by Cheyenne Heavener / Maclen’s Masala Chai and Cheyenne’s Turmeric Chai)

Coffee Ethic is a personal favorite – I miss their orange mocha with all my heart. It’s one of the few spots I find easy to stop in to get a cold brew and bounce right out again. Since most of the seating is still closed after their location caught fire in late 2020, it maintains that purpose for me. My spiced vanilla latte was an instant hit – it was smooth and sweet, and there was no concern about melting ice watering it down because it comes bottled. They have the most limited menu of them all, but the baristas at Coffee Ethic know their stuff.

Black Lab Coffee Co. is the first Springfield coffee shop that felt like it fit me. The airy, light-filled, open-concept coffee shop standard is great for studying and visiting with one or two friends, but it always left me feeling like I was playing along with expectations. In contrast, Black Lab has dark wood, black paint and tucked-away seating. Some tables were enclosed by windows and wood paneling, creating almost private rooms where you could sit with a (still small) group. My Black Lab latte – toffee and chocolate – won the number one spot. It was rich and sweet, and the two syrups mixed beautifully with their espresso.

(photo by Maclen Johnson / Black Lab Coffee Co.)

Cheyenne

I will be the first to admit that I am a bit of a coffee snob. Working in an indie-coffee shop taught me a lot about what goes into making the perfect drink, so I really do expect that, and sometimes more, from the places I visit. But it’s more than that. An indie-coffee shop should be relaxing and welcoming, comfortable and relatable. I need to feel at home there so I can really let down my barriers to study and sip on an amazing coffee.

Big Momma’s is probably the best-known coffee shop downtown, and for a good reason. In my personal opinion, these guys have the best espresso in town. I decided to try their chai tea latte this time, instead of my usual cappuccino, and it was all I could have asked for—and more. Not too sweet with just the right amount of cinnamon on top mixed perfectly with frothy oat milk. They also have a killer menu with tons of options that include not only their collection of drinks, but sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads. It’s a great place to meet a friend, study or just spend some time. Their atmosphere is so eclectic that everyone is welcome, because no one is left out. I’ve met so many different types of people here, and I’ve never felt ill at ease.

(Photo by Maclen Johnson / Big Momma’s)

Eurasia is definitely the most photogenic of the places we visited, but I’m not sure their coffee lived up to my ,admittedly high, expectations. I wanted the espresso to be stronger since Eurasia is known for roasting and selling their own coffee beans, but I was left a little wanting with their rose water latte. I’ve had some bad luck here in the past with alternative milk options, but it seems that they’ve remedied that issue. I will say that Eurasia doesn’t quite fit the vibe that I’m looking for in a place to meet up and hang out, but that may be my own love of darker aesthetics.

(Photo by Cheyenne Heavener / Maclen’s brown sugar latte and Cheyenne’s rose water latte)

Rise was a fun little foray into the world of brunch for me—I don’t live in Springfield, so it was nice to see that side of town. I will say that their turmeric chai latte with oat milk was phenomenal and a welcomed break from the caffeine IV. Sweet and warm with a touch of the savory melded perfectly in my cup. I’d definitely go back for another cup. My only let down with Rise was their lack of gluten-free and vegan options. But I understand that they market their house-made bread heavily and I wasn’t too terribly disappointed overall.

(Photo by Cheyenne Heavener / Maclen’s masala chai and Cheyenne’s turmeric chai)

Coffee Ethic may be my least favorite of the day. I hate to say that of a true Springfield staple, but I really didn’t enjoy my mocha. I’ve always felt that the espresso shots here are a little on the burnt side. Again, it physically pains me to say bad things about Coffee Ethic—I really admire their dedication to the craft of coffee. I mean, look at all the blends they make and sell! So, while I like their mission and dedication, it’s just not my favorite cup of coffee.

Black Lab Coffee Co. is wow. When I first walked in, I didn’t know what to expect, but the dog décor everywhere and the fun, dark aesthetic really spoke to me. With tables tucked behind old glass windows, some even in the front window partitions, I really was struck by how much I wanted to just stay there. All their specialty drinks are named after dogs, so I had to go with the German Shepherd—a dark chocolate and coconut mixture. It tasted like drinking a German chocolate cake. I’m not usually a sweet coffee person, but I may just be a convert. I’d say that Black Lab found something that we were lacking downtown and stepped up to provide it.

(Photo by Cheyenne Heavener / Maclen’s Black Lab (chocolate and toffee) and Cheyenne’s German Shepherd (chocolate and coconut))

Final Thoughts?

Maclen

Coffee shops are, ultimately, about the vibes. It’s potentially one of the reasons so many of them survive in Springfield. There’s a certain joy to finding one that speaks to you through its atmosphere, marketing or just their ability to make a damn good cup of coffee.

Cheyenne

Every place we visited had such a different atmosphere and I think spoke to different parts of each of us. Some we stayed at for longer because it was so comfortable, while others we just grabbed a cup and went on our way. The wonderful thing about Springfield’s coffee scene, though, is that there truly is a space and a place for every kind of person and for every kind of taste.

Article by Cheyenne Heavener and Maclen Johnson