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A Coffee Lovers' Guide to Springfield

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417 Magazine editor Katie Pollock begins her day at The Coffee Ethic.

Coffee shops. They are where we go to spend an evening tucked into some worn leather loveseat, flipping through a magazine. They are where we go with friends to warm up between stops on a day of chilly-weather excursions. They are where we know we can work on our laptops all day without interruption. Oh, and they serve coffee too. That super-affordable black sludge gift of the wake-you-up gods. There are tons of coffee shops in Springfield, and the GO Magazine coffee-lover’s guide visited 11 of them in one day, consuming heart-abusing caffeine the whole way through. So bring them your bored, your broke, your haggard masses, longing for caffeine.

One more reason to love Springfield: Independent (or at least regional) coffee shops are all over town. Sure, we have our fair share of Starbucks (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but our coffee shop variety trumps even that of New York City, a place where I could see three Starbuck’s from one street corner but could rarely find an independent coffee shop that I liked. Here, coffee comes with fresh-baked pastries, clever sandwiches, baristas with personality and, in some cases, a theme. But with all the coffee shops that have sprung up anew in the past year, how do you know which one is the one for you? Read on, because I want to help you out. Just for you, dear reader, I put my body and mind to the test and downed coffee after coffee at 11 Springfield coffee shops in one day, all to find out what makes each spot stand out.

Disclaimer: Do not try this at home. GO Magazine does not recommend drinking caffeinated beverages at 11 coffee shops in one day. This writer risked her body and mind to bring you this story. It was a fun tour, but she has to admit… Feeling her pulse pound in her ankles was a little scary.

7:10 a.m.: The Coffee Ethic

124 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-866-6645, thecoffeeethic.com, free wifi
How I Feel: Fantastic! Ready to start the day.
What I Tasted: A cup of house drip coffee and an asiago bagel with cream cheese, $4.12.
I arrived at the Coffee Ethic just after 7 a.m., laptop in hand and ready to work. There was quiet folk music playing while I ordered from a friendly bearded guy. At this point in the day, my energy level was right at perfect, and I loved working on my computer while I watched Park Central Square wake up. Chatty customers who ranged in age from college-looking to could-be-my-grandpa came in and talked the barista’s ear off, then left with their to-go cups and baked treats. The menu had a limited but yummy-looking food selection (biscotti, muffins, bagels, cookies) and typical coffeehouse drinks, including a wide range of teas. Next time I go, I’m pretty sure I’ll order the French press coffee. But the drip was great and completely satisfying. Just the right amount of boldness without too much bitterness.