LYH Series: Coffee

October 13, 2022

Nowadays people have their opinions on how or where you should be drinking your coffee and although I am all for people drinking it however they want, I have started to get the most out of my coffee experience by drinking it black. Many coffee companies are attempting to change people’s perspectives on how coffee should be drunk. For example, cxffeeblack, “​​Cxffeeblack is primarily an entrepreneurial venture with specific social implications, started by Bartholomew Jones and Renata Henderson to reclaim the black history of coffee and reimagine its black future.

My brother, Henry Lough, has been a barista for about four years now so if anyone knows coffee it’s him. He has said in quotes “drink coffee the way you like it, but be open to trying it black…” He goes on further to explain that he used to think people who added syrup/milk/creamer were heathens, but that’s the way they like to drink it. So go for your pumpkin spice latte with oat milk. However, we cannot completely neglect drinking it black, and not all black coffee is bitter and gross. He also dives a bit into the history of drinking coffee black. “Drinking coffee black is more than a statement of some toxic masculinity. Rather it’s an embracement and celebration of culture. Coffee was founded by the Oromo people of Ethiopia. White people took Black people and used them for slavery and profit, stripping away their culture. They also did the same thing to their coffee, whitewashing it with flavors and syrups, stripping it of its original taste.” Also being that coffee is a cherry it has natural flavors of fruit, acidity, floral notes, and so much more. Drinking it black is to embrace the black culture that it came from and to experience it for what it is. It is appreciating the culture on which it was founded.

Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, you can usually find something that you might like at your nearest Starbucks to suit your needs. But what if you want more than your typical cup of coffee and frozen pastry? There are your local coffee shops in Lynchburg. I highly recommend supporting your local coffee shops because they are owned by a person, that does not take any money from the shop. From every shop Henry has worked at, the owner didn’t make a profit for at least 3 years, they needed another job. So go local, and tip your baristas, because you’re supporting a person. The big-name corporations will be fine. Starbucks and Dunkin, and other big-name shops make so much money, but hide how much money they give to the coffee farmers. Coffee farmers work very hard to create and grow the coffee we drink. They should be paid fairly, and as direct as possible. Most of the money Starbucks make goes towards new shops and succulents to fill their interior space.

Supporting local shops help families within the shop, but also hopefully farmers. Buying from local roasters will hopefully help the farmers growing your beans. Not every shop does this, so I would recommend asking the staff what they do to support farmers before you see if you’ll do business with them. Also, most big-name corporations use machinery to make their product (think of fast food vs a nice restaurant). In a local cafe experience, your barista is much more hands-on with the coffee. Even if an espresso machine does the work, the barista is participating in a hands-on role with your grind size, water intake, milk steaming, and so much more.

Some of my favorite local shops in Lynchburg that you should totally visit are Third Wave Coffee and Mission House Coffee. These coffee shops are in my opinion some of the best coffee shops in Lynchburg but, not just because of their coffee but because of their effort to create an ambiance, cultivate a hard-working staff, and their enthusiasm towards their mission.

Third Wave coffee, located in Forest, VA, has always had a special place in my heart, even before coming to Liberty. My brother worked there for three years starting in 2018 and ending in 2021. This really sparked my interest in coffee in the year 2020, I had never really drunk coffee before and I knew going into college it was definitely something I would be drinking lots of for those late nights working on assignments. Third Wave was such a great starting point for being introduced to coffee. Their mission “is to find the best coffees we can and roast them to their full potential, highlighting the sweetness and flavor of each coffee. We believe that coffee should be exciting, flavorful, accessible, and unique. The end goal of all we do is to bring our customers coffees that will introduce them to the possibilities of specialty coffee that we source and roast with care and a passion for the art of roasting.” Their workers are some of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to coffee. When you walk into their shop the staff is always so welcoming and the vibe there is light and airy. Definitely a great space to get some work done.

There are two locations for Mission House Coffee, they have a location in downtown Lynchburg and the other is located at River Ridge mall, so if you don’t have a car or friends with a car, ODRs are an option. Mission House is such a great business to support not only are they partnered with Father’s Cafe and Bakery to provide you with delicious baked goods and roast their own coffee at their downtown location, but they help serve the local community.  In their story on their website, it says “Mission House Coffee is dedicated to being a place that is known not just for its delicious coffee and baked goods, but for the way we care about the people we serve.” And to back up that statement, every month they have a new round-up partner. This is where when you go to order something you have the option to round up your total and that extra money will go towards the local non-profit they are partnered with for that month.

So next time you are craving something sweet or need a little pick me up for those long days at work or school consider spending a little extra time to get to know your local shops and learn how to support them better.

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