BY LAURA GRUHLKE | The Statesman Right outside of Duluth in the city of Hermantown is a new coffee shop called Pelican Coffee. This shop opened at the beginning of August and doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
Pelican Coffee isn’t your typical Duluth coffee shop. They have a much more tropical and modern feel. This includes bright blue painted walls and a fish tank by the counter.
The environment creates the perfect place to hang out with friends in a fun laid-back atmosphere.
“The people we get to work with create an overall great environment,” said employee Cody Herrera.
The drinks served at Pelican Coffee are pretty tasty. I ordered a mocha and was very impressed with the size, price and quality of the coffee. It was honestly way better than expected. My friend, who doesn’t like coffee, even thought it was delicious.
Aside from the coffee, one thing that really makes Pelican coffee stand out is the food.
“We are a place that cares deeply about coffee and food at the same time,” said manager Brian Moriarty.
The menu features more food items than drinks, including a selection of sandwiches, flatbreads and tacos. Moriarty explained that they try to make as much as they can from scratch. This includes sauces, syrups and of course the food.
“We are as close to a restaurant as we can get,” Moriarty said.
On Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. they have happy hour, which offers a dollar off any item. That means you can get a coffee and a bagel for under $5.
One thing that Pelican Coffee does to set itself apart from other shops is give back to the community. Moriarty says that they give half of the profits they generate to charities, both locally and across the globe.
Although the location of Pelican Coffee isn’t the most convenient for students, Moriarty thinks it is worth the trip.
“We hope the quality of the products will drive students to come here,” Moriarty said.
Employee Anna Lacore says that she has learned a lot about coffee since she started working here and can see why it’s something that people care about.
If you’re looking for a cool new place to hang out and grab a quality coffee for a reasonable price, check out Pelican Coffee in Hermantown.