I wasn’t sure how to start this article, so here is a joke from Anderson Buck: “What do you call two content mugs sitting together? A happy cup-le!” And with that, in this edition of Things Better Than Your Kitchen Table, I went to Bean Cycle.
Once again, here’s the deal: I try out different coffee shops in FoCo so that you can have somewhere more fun to be productive. I will rate the shops on a scale of 1-10. They’ll be rated on service, menu variety, music, social and study potential, and overall ambiance. I have also noted (but not rated) factors like price, gluten-free/allergen-free options, location and parking lot, where they source their coffee, and their mission (if they have one). To keep everything fair, at every place, some friends and I will order an iced caramel latte, a featured drink, and a sample of their black coffee.
Bean Cycle shares its front room with two local creative businesses called Makerfolk and Half Crown Creative, and is located at 326 Walnut St in Old Town. There is street parking on Walnut and Mountain as well as a parking garage on Firehouse Alley. Their business hours are 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Their website doesn’t have their menu listed, so you can’t see prices or options before you go, which isn’t convenient if you want to look before arriving. Prices range between $4-7, depending on what you order.
My first thought after drinking their black coffee was that it was good. It was strong but not in an overbearing way. You might have to brace yourself for this next thought, but the coffee tasted like soy sauce on chopsticks in a good way. The taste was so apparent that I felt like I was transported into Tokyo Joe’s. I know that sounds weird, but those flavors are listed on a coffee notes chart, so it checks. In all, the coffee wasn’t bad. Their chai wasn’t the best. It tasted better after it cooled down, but while hot, it was weak. My mom described it as a “watered-down version of Lima’s chai.” Similar to the chai, the caramel latte got better after a while. I didn’t stir it when I got it so my first sip tasted like the coffee syrup that they add for flavoring. After I stirred it more, the latte was all right but not something I would crave.
Because they are roasters, they have their own coffee but source it from multiple countries that are listed on their website. They strive to provide a space for the community to hang out and enjoy good coffee. They say that they “get excited about the complexities of our craft and creating coffee experiences for our community.”
Final Scores:
Ambiance 8/10–There are so many pieces of art on the walls of Bean Cycle, which give it a super local and cozy feel. The windows make it feel very open, and the worn floors make it feel lived in.
Service 9/10–The employees were very kind and super chill. I also met a former Rocky Peer, which was cool!
Variety 7/10–There are several options. They have the basic coffee options and other unique specials. But their unique house specials are so unique that it feels very risky to get them.
Music 9/10–The music is really solid. It wasn’t too loud or distracting. There was a lot of rap the day that I went.
Study 9/10 and Social 9/10–You could do either. It’s not super crowded and nicely spaced out. There’s a big table in the back
I wasn’t able to see if they had allergy options, so I’m not a hundred percent sure. I would assume that there would be, though I did not see any. Call ahead if this is an issue for you!
In all honesty, I would give Bean Cycle 4.7/10. I didn’t like their coffee, and the vibes can’t really make that better. I have to be so real if the decision is between Bean Cycle and your kitchen table, just flip a coin. If you just go to study, then it’s fine, but if you want coffee, then save your money at home.
