The last two weeks I have had more coffee than anyone needs to ingest. I visited coffee shops around Central High School—most of them being places I’ve been before -and decided on eight places everyone must try.
Blue Line Coffee
Address: 4924 Underwood Ave, Omaha, NE 68132
Price Point: $3-$6
I’ve gone to Blue Line Coffee for most of my life, especially the last six years. For me it has been a place of study, catching up with friends, and overall, an environment that almost feels like home. They are the cheapest coffee shop on this list while still maintaining an amazing taste.
When I visited, I got a classic of mine: an iced vanilla latte with oat milk.
Overall Rating: 9/10
- Environment: 3/3
- Customer Service: 2.5/ 3
- Coffee/ Drink Taste: 2.5/3
- Likelihood of going back: 1/1
*Also rated higher because of the significance in price point difference.
Double Shot Coffee
Address: 118 N 50th St, Omaha, NE 68132
Price Point: $5-$9
Double Shot is another coffee shop classic in my life. They have the friendliest staff, and the espresso, chai and matcha are top tier. Double Shot has no indoor seating, but their outdoor seating is nice on good weather days. Typically, I use their drive-through because of its convenience during the rush to school.
On my past visit I tried their maple vanilla latte with oat milk. This latte tasted like fall because of the deep, warm flavor of the maple.
Overall Rating: 9/10
- Environment: 2/3
- Customer Service: 3/3 (if I could give them more customer service points I would!!!)
- Coffee/Drink Taste: 3/3
- Likelihood I’ll be back: 1/1
Bad Seed Coffee & Supply
Address: 2452 1/2 Harney St, Omaha, NE 68131
Price Point: $4-$8
Bad Seed is not just a coffee shop, they are also a plant store. You can bring your own plants in and pay to have them re-potted to ensure they can grow to the best of their ability. Coffee-wise, this was the best coffee I had during my two weeks of coffee testing. The environment is very nice: natural light and positive energy. Maybe it is just the plants, but Bad Seed has something special about it. They do not have typical store-bought syrups like vanilla, but have instead use house-made syrup, such as their brown sugar syrup.
When I visited, I got an iced brown sugar latte—very good. If I were to describe it in three words: happy, smooth, flavorful.
Overall Rating: 9/10
- Environment: 3/3
- Customer Service: 2/3
- Coffee/ Drink Taste: 3/3
- Likelihood I’ll be back: 1/1
Hardy Coffee:
Addresses:
Downtown:1031 Jones Street
Benson: 6051 Maple Street
Chalco: 11450 Meadows Blvd
Highlander: 2112 N 30th Street
Price Point: $4- $7
Hardy has four locations around the metro; my favorite two must be downtown and Benson. Their Benson location gives the feeling of a coffee shop that builds up the community it is in. There are always many people working in this shop and talking and catching up with others. I would describe their downtown location as industrial and modern. Their coffee shops show the dedication of local coffee.
They roast their own coffee beans out of their roasting lab by their Highlander location and make their own pastries. I always love their warmed vegan cinnamon roll.
I really tuned into the fall spirit this past visit and got a pumpkin spice latte.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
- Environment: 2/3
- Customer Service: 2.5/3
- Coffee/ Drink Taste: 3/3
- Likelihood I’ll be back: 1/1
Zen Coffee Company:
Address: 2504 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68131 ·
Price Point: $4-$7
Zen Coffee is a solid choice when it comes to coffee shops around Central. I’ve never experienced a bad drink from them, and they are always kind to their customers. The building itself is also open and bright. If you like specialty drinks, they have a lot of recommendations and new drinks to try. Additionally, if you like trying many different drinks from one place, they have “coffee flights,” which are small portions of four drinks.
I was recommended the Harvest Moon latte; this was a blend of fall flavors.
Rating: 9/10
- Environment: 2.5/3
- Customer Service: 3/3
- Coffee/ Drink Taste: 2.5/3
- Likelihood I’ll be back: 1/1
Sozo Coffeehouse:
Address: 1314 Jones St, Omaha, NE 68102
Price Point: $4-$7
Sozo is a great coffee shop for studying and hanging out with friends late at night. They are open until 10 p.m. most days and have a pool table and space for card games. They also have study rooms which can be rented out for $2 an hour if you need to work with others on a project or just want a room for yourself. Their coffee and drinks are pretty good overall, and the atmosphere makes it possible to work and have fun.
When I visited, I got a blueberry pancake latte. This was interesting, and the flavors of espresso and blueberry ended up blending well with each other.
Overall Rating: 7.5/ 10
- Environment: 2.5/3
- Customer Service: 2/3
- Coffee/ Drink Taste: 2/3
- Likelihood I’ll be back: 1/1
The Mill Coffee and Tea:
Address: 3105 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE 68105
Price Point: $5-$9
The Mill is a beautiful place to work. Someone once told me a coffee shop is built off its aesthetic, and you are more likely to come back if it is a good environment. The Mill is a place I do end up going back to because of how pretty it is inside, and because they are open until 10 p.m. But controversially, I do not enjoy the drinks that The Mill produces. Most times when I go to the Mill, their espresso is weak and their drinks watered down.
When I last visited, I got my typical vanilla latte with oat milk. While it was satisfactory, the taste was not as strong as I would have liked it.
Overall Rating: 5.25/10
- Environment: 3/3
- Customer Service: 2/3
- Coffee Taste: 0/3
- Likelihood I’ll be back: .25/1
