The Starbucks on KY 54 is closed temporarily for renovations. Fear not. The Owensboro Times has compiled a list of quality local coffee options to try.
Kahawa Java
Ticy and Ayanna Cox opened Kahawa Java in 2022 to bring freshly roasted specialty coffee to Owensboro’s west side. The mother-and-daughter duo has always been coffee enthusiasts, especially enjoying the atmospheres coffee shops create.
This passion inspired them to open Kahawa Java under the motto: “The pattern of coffee and conversation.”
“Business has been going well,” Ticy Cox said. “We have many customers come in and say they are so glad coffee is available on the west side of town. We are also having great success with our specialty drinks and baked goods from Southern Secrets Pastries.”
The name Kahawa Java comes from their Swahili background, translating to “Coffee Coffee.” However, their menu isn’t just coffee. It includes teas, matcha, and other specialty drinks.
Their space at 2601 West Parrish Avenue has room for spoken word, live music performances, and plenty of tables for face-to-face conversation.
Red Swing Coffee
Red Swing Coffee opened in downtown Owensboro near English Park in 2022. In addition to featuring gourmet coffee and specialty drinks, the spot also offers innovative takes on breakfast, lunch, and desserts.
The husband-and-wife duo of Brandon at Brittney Dukes opened the shop at 112 Allen Street — across from the downtown parking garage — featuring a view of the Blue Bridge.
“We’ve never built anything from scratch, from the ground up,” Brandon Dukes said. “This journey has been exciting, completely ours, and close to our hearts. It speaks to what we believe in: serving others.”
Dukes said some of their fondest memories transpired on a swing, and it’s those vibes they try to bring to Red Swing. In fact, he and his wife spent many of their early dates on a swing and thought the name was the perfect fit.
“I hope people will come to experience the difference as they support local coffee shops like Red Swing Coffee,” Dukes said. “We have high-quality coffee and personalized service. Our unique drinks, cozy atmosphere, and commitment to our community make every visit special.”
Red Swing offers several quick items to go and has order-ahead options for added convenience.
Gramps Coffee and Donuts
Gramps Coffee and Donuts opened in 2021, and owner and operator Amy Gilmore said the response from the community has far exceeded expectations. The first week they opened, customers lined the intersection of Frederica and 4th streets to try Gramps’ take on donuts and coffee. Fast-forward 2 years, and the line hasn’t dwindled much.
They rotate seasonal flavors paired with a flaky texture and more mass for a fresh take on the classic donut concept. They also offer several specialty drinks and coffee options.
Staple flavors include the “Back In My Day,” a take on the traditional glazed donut, and the “Happy Camper,” a donut with a marshmallow glaze. They also offer a “Strawberry Fields” donut with a fresh strawberry glaze topped with whipped cream and cookie crumbles, along with the “Sap Tapper,” a maple-glazed donut.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” Gilmore said of their new shop and unique approach to donuts. “But people seem to love donuts and coffee, and we’re delighted with how things have gone.”
Gilmore said their downtown location is pivotal in their success and that other downtown businesses have supported their efforts. She said their proximity to the downtown hotels, Convention Center, and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame gives them customers from across the globe.
“It’s great getting to meet people from all over the world,” she said.
Joyfull Java and Juice
Ashley Webb launched Joyfull Java and Juice earlier this year, offering an assortment of gourmet coffee, fresh juices, smoothies, and acai bowls. The menu also features several sandwich and wrap options for breakfast and lunch, along with various salads and soups.
Webb was adamant about offering online ordering through the restaurant’s website and app for greater convenience and to rival some of the area’s major chains.
“I ended up acquiring the former 12 Cities espresso machine,” she said. “If you’re a local person, you’ll remember Beyond the Brim in Wesleyan Park Plaza. That was my first job, and I developed a passion and love for local businesses.”
Webb said she would watch the owner operate the business and always admired his love for it and the “heart and soul he put behind it.”
“I loved that place. I would often go on my days off. I would work for free because I loved being there so much. And, the community loved that place,” Webb said. “So, I’ve always dreamed of opening a coffee shop. This has all been God-given, and the doors have just opened at the right time.”
The cafe offers 24-ounce cups and an assortment of specialty drinks crafted with locally sourced coffee from Mylke. Webb is no stranger to the industry, having worked previously at Starbucks and The Creme.
With everything from cinnamon rolls to gluten-free muffins, Webb said there’s something on the menu for everyone.
“I love the cafe atmosphere and just serving people, hopefully giving them their cup of joy for the day,” she said.
Joyfull Java is located at 3811 KY 54 Suite 103.
Libertalia Coffee and Bagels
Libertalia Coffee and Bagels has transformed several times since moving to Owensboro from the East Coast 8 years ago. Initially a pop-up and then a food trailer, it now has a brick-and-mortar location at 2862 Frederica Street in Wesleyan Park Plaza.
Owner Chris Hamilton launched the business to introduce the Owensboro community to New York-style coffee. Since Libertalia’s inception, well before the mobile truck, Hamilton has always wanted to add New York-style bagels to the menu.
“I remember that we would just love one day to own a bagel shop, and we would call it Smash and Grab bagels, and it would be this really cool thing, but it was really an impossible dream for us at the time,” Hamilton said. Now fast-forward a couple of years later, and it really kind of fell into our laps to have this opportunity laid out.”
He describes the quintessential New York bagel as different from the start because of how it’s baked, involving a technique called kettle boiling the bagel. Hamilton said the process creates a different texture than the bagels typically purchased at the store.
To bring the magic to Owensboro, they have partnered with a wholesaler in Long Island City, Queens, New York. The wholesaler makes the bagels and ships them to Libertalia within 12 hours for guaranteed freshness.
The location also offers custom juices, smoothies, and acai bowl options.
Customers in a rush can order ahead using the app or website.
The Creme Coffee House
The Creme has been a downtown staple for more than 17 years, and Brooklyn Patterson is its fourth local owner. She wants to continue the legacy of creating a home away from home for the foreseeable future.
Brooklyn’s father, Aaron, opened the shop when she was young and always intended to sell it to her.
The coffee house is in a century-old building and offers a unique layout and vintage vibe. It also maintains hours well into the evening to cater to various crowds.
“Persistency and consistency are two of our focuses,” Patterson said, adding that the establishment is set up to purposefully feel like a lot of mini living rooms, where everyone is forced to face each other and converse at each table — something Patterson thinks people don’t realize they miss until they have the opportunity to do it at the Creme.
In addition to specialty coffee drinks, the menu includes sandwiches, cupcakes, pastries, and more.
The Creme is located at 109 East 2nd Street.
Overflow Cafe
The Overflow Cafe is tucked away in the corner of the Don Moore Chevrolet dealership on the county’s east side. With help from Susan Anderson, Don and Marla Moore launched the cafe in 2011. The benefits were twofold.
The cafe donates a large percentage of every cup sold back to local nonprofits while also offering customers, employees, and the community a spot to stop for a quick pick-me-up or morning or afternoon snack.
Overflow offers several daily drip options, ranging from dark to light, and many handcrafted specialty coffee options. They also have a variety of pastry and sandwich options.
Everyone who comes to the dealership’s service department receives a wooden nickel that can be redeemed for a small coffee, a soda, a medium tea, or $1.50 off any drink order. Customer service is a top priority for the Overflow and the dealership.
Overflow Cafe is located at 3232 Villa Point.
Niko’s Bakery and Cafe
Locally renowned chef Matt Weafer and his wife Jessica purchased Niko’s Bakery and Cafe in 2020. The cafe is located at 601 Emory Drive in Wesleyan Park Plaza and serves an assortment of European-style pastries, desserts, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Niko’s also offers online ordering through its website or app.
Its drink options include several teas, coffees, and specialty items. Weafer said they use locally roasted Mylke coffee for all their coffee options and even craft some syrups from scratch.
Beyond coffee, the cafe offers freshly baked, artisan bread using old-world methods. The sourdoughs contain only wild yeast, naturally and slowly fermented in the bakery. They take pride in using unbleached and unbromated flour with house-milled organic whole wheat, imported extra virgin olive oil, and high-quality butter.
They use that bread to craft sandwiches with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses and as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.
The sweet treats range from scones and muffins to danishes and cinnamon rolls.
The Spot Coffee and Finery
The Spot Coffee and Finery now operates from a new location at 2815 Veach Road. Proprietor Jacob Pendley introduced the business with a coffee truck before becoming a mainstay in Williamsburg Square and eventually moved just down the road.
For the past 8 years, The Spot has offered over 72 local vendors a place to showcase and sell their products. It has also served as a gathering spot for folks from all walks of life. Their mantra has always been, “Weirdos welcome.”
“We have something for everyone and a place where young people can hang out and spend time with friends,” he said.
Pendley has aspirations to grow even more down the road, partnering with the same roaster that’s propelled his coffee adventures to new heights.
“Her product is just amazing — she’s as passionate about her beans as I am,” he said. “She has 32 years of experience and sources only from independent and local farmers in each country. She also only conducts business with those farmers who practice sustainable agriculture, and she pays them well.”
Pendley also attributes their success to the community, adding that this is only possible with their support.
“The amount of support we’ve gotten from the community has just been overwhelming,” Pendley said. “We wouldn’t be where we’re at now if it wasn’t for everything that everybody has said about us and all the returning customers who are passionate about what we’re doing here.”
If we’ve left out a local coffee shop, please email us at [email protected].
