BY APRILL EMIG | The Statesman Beaner’s Central is perhaps one of the most well-known coffee shops in the Duluth area. With its distance from campus (8.6 miles away), it’s not a place one just stumbles upon, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
I ordered a small caramel soy latte when I visited on Thursday. Though I’ve lived in Duluth for three years (and love coffee), it was my first time visiting Beaner’s. The exterior was promising with its large sign and the small tables outside. Entering Beaner’s was even better; there was plenty of local art on the wall and a stage set up for weekly open mic nights.
Back to the coffee. The barista who made my drink took the time to make sure the foam was on point.
“The foam was so perfect, I had to use all of it,” she said. It was true—the foam almost flowed over the top of the cup and it was delicious. The latte art maintained it’s shape for the duration of the drink. Maybe that’s not relevant, but I enjoyed it.
Beaner’s also serves wine and beer that’s geared towards the late night crowds that come for open mic. The event happens every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is open to all.
The music is something that sets Beaner’s apart from all other coffee shops. One of their mottos is “A Decade of Original Music” and they make CD compilations of the artists they feature. This is often done in the studio space below the stage.
There’s also food— breakfast and lunch primarily, though one could certainly order a sandwich any time of the day. I got a half sandwich of the “crazy cucumber” which had hummus, sprouts and other vegetables with a side of chips. I will say the food was a bit expensive (about $7 for a tiny sandwich), but it was worth it.
Breakfast food includes three kinds of burritos (one veggie option) and english muffins. Aside from sandwiches and grilled paninis, dinner can be a 16” pizza with super fresh ingredients. Pastries are available at all times.
Overall, I strongly recommend students check out Beaner’s if they haven’t yet. It’s a staple in the Duluth coffee scene and has one of the best atmospheres.