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| - I came here for the first time today, and it's officially my new daily work spot.
Since moving to Champaign a few months back I've been a little underwhelmed at the coffee house offerings, especially for a college campus. There's Cafe Paradiso, which isn't bad, but I'm not a huge fan of their actual coffees. Kopi and Aroma are alright, but the wifi is usually painfully short on bandwidth or non-existent, and again, they seem to use sub par beans or something because their actual coffee drinks are always very 'meh'.
Coming from the up North, I look for places like Intelligentsia Cafe, La Colombe, or even Peet's Coffee up in Evanston. They have outstanding coffee quality, very good locally or homemade food without being a bistro (thus taking the focus away from the coffee), and just as important, they each have a unique and comfortable atmosphere.
Well, I'm pleased to say that Cafe Zojo fits the bill. The layout of the place, the furniture choices, the vibe in general is outstanding. It's not terribly loud, pretty calm, and in an area that doesn't attract loads of undergrads (for better or worse).
The food is excellent, most of it homemade I think. I had the banana walnut muffin I had was apparently vegan - I wasn't looking for a vegan offering, just a coincidence - and it was delicious and filling.
Likewise, and most importantly, the latte was perfect. The espresso was rich and full flavored and not at all bitter, meaning the barista used it fresh from the spout and the grind was spot on. The milk was hot enough and not scorched, and he even gave me a pretty little leaf design on the head of the drink. Prices are comparable to Starbucks, I think, and even if they were higher I wouldn't mind a bit. It's all in the name of supporting local small business, and simultaneously having my admittedly high expectations met and exceeded.
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