I’ve wanted to write about Great Harvest for awhile now, but have recently given up eating grains and haven’t wanted to torture myself by stopping in to smell all the incredible fresh-baked goodies. Honestly, my mouth waters just thinking about a warm slice of Dakota bread. So good.  But this is not a post about Great Harvest – although I could (and do!) rave about their excellent attention to detail, customer service and commitment to quality, community involvement, etc to anyone who will listen…no, this is a post about a coffeeshop inside of a breadshop…you still with me?

Anyone who has known me for a bit of time knows that I am in love with the smell of fresh-brewed coffee. Ever since I was a kid, however, I was convinced that I did not like the taste – only the smell. Well. Either my tastebuds are a-changin’, or I just hadn’t been exposed to really good coffee until the last six months or so. Whatever the reason, I can no longer deny my new-found affinity for and appreciation of a good cup o’ Joe, much to the delight of friends and loved ones. That being said, I’m really excited to have had the opportunity to sample some amazingly yummy coffee this week at Lafayette’s newest coffeebar – Café Cohen.

Located inside Great Harvest, Café Cohen may not be what you’re used to here in Lafayette.  There’s no internationally-recognized logo, no multiple locations within a 5-block radius, no pretentious baristas.  Nope – here, the focus is placed on attention to detail and quality. Here, you might wait a minute or two longer than you’re used to – but trust me…it’s worth it. Here, the person behind the counter genuinely wants your feedback about your coffee experience. Here, there is human interaction instead of a mere business transaction. How refreshing.

Owner and local photographer Jason Cohen opened Café Cohen earlier this week, and I couldn’t be any happier about it. Granted, I’m pretty pumped about the location, as this now makes my Saturday morning ride to Fresh Pickins even that more enjoyable. Jason and I briefly discussed our mutual affection for biking – and I’m always excited to find another reason to hop on m’bike and enjoy some sunshine…But this isn’t about a bike. It’s about a cup of coffee. FOCUS, Anne. FOCUS!

Sorry – tangent! Anyway, my friend K and I checked out Café Cohen on their opening day and were thrilled. We both had chocolate cappuccinos with the most scrumptious snickerdoodle nibbly-bite on the side. Honestly, so good. Chocolate AND coffee AND a cookie? Yes ³. And an iced coffee to-go, to boot. The iced coffee was the perfect to-go drink and not at all bitter. Honestly, if you would have told me I would enjoy iced coffee, sans cream or sugar, I might have rolled my eyes at you. But I tried it. And loved it. And then drank it again the next day.

I had to ask how one gets into the coffee business and was slightly surprised by the answer. The story goes a lil’ like this…As a photographer, Jason (naturally) travels around quite a bit, and (naturally) samples delicious coffee along the way. In the quest for recreating a perfect cup of coffee back at home in Lafayette, an espresso machine was purchased. Followed by another, bigger, machine. Cohen’s shared office space became a test kitchen of sorts where he tinkered around, making one yummy drink after another. Friends and family donned it “Café Cohen” and it seems the rest is history…

So. Sounds good, right? (It is. I wouldn’t lie to you.) Well, you know the only thing better than good coffee? How about free good coffee? Well if you go check them out on Saturday, September 24, you can celebrate the Grand Opening with a complimentary drink. How sweet is that?!

While you’re there, be sure to sample some amazing fresh-baked breads. Or if you swing by around lunchtime, try a fresh-made Great Harvest sandwich. You deserve it!

Cheers!
Anne

Café Cohen is located inside Great Harvest Bread Co. at 854 Kaliste Saloom Rd. in Lafayette. Their hours are m-th (7a-6p) | fri (7a-5p) | sat (7a-4p) and you can check them out on Facebook for more info. Enjoy!