I love this shop, a business worth patronizing!
First and foremost, 5th Element serves great coffee, not the blends served at most shops. They also serve delectable baked goods from the local Batch House Bakery. The contemporary design incorporates the wooden bowling alley lanes from Wildcat Bowling Center's conversion to a church in nearby Verona, utilized for paneling on the walls, the table tops and service counter. The high-speed internet service also makes for a productive study environment.
Beyond the tangible factors that one evaluates in choosing a coffee shop, this one is based on respect for the people who grow the coffee beans, going beyond "fair trade" requirements to establishing a partnership with the El Salvadoran grower that ensures the well-being of those cultivating the crop.
The owners have a zeal for taking care of people, not just their customers but also their suppliers. These people are the so-called 5th element that makes all the difference in enhancing the first four elements that produce the product they so passionately deliver. As a customer, I feel honored to be part of this lofty process based on integrity and respect.