It’s that time of year again when all the bosses insist their employees be awake at work. There’s no way to get enough sleep with so many premium shows available for streaming and several Pokémon that remain to be caught, so it’s up to our longtime friend caffeine to help us shoulder the load. Sleepwalk into any of these local coffee houses for a bevy of beverages that can keep even the most ardent nappers awake.
By Greg Elwell Photos Garett Fisbeck
The Blue Bean Coffee Company
13316 S. Western Ave. bluebeancoffee.com 405-735-5115
Feeling blue? Nothing lifts the spirits and the eyelids like a visit to The Blue Bean Coffee Company. Southsiders know it as a place to get expertly made espresso drinks, brewed coffee, whole beans, smoothies, hot chocolate and a pretty satisfying selection of breakfast and lunch eats. Owned and operated by Danae Leverett, this one-of-a-kind shop honors customers who like the business on Facebook as the “fan of the day,” gets a free drink and pastry.
Cool Beans Coffee
1230 Alameda St., Norman wearecoolbeans.com 405-795-1866
Yes, Norman’s Cool Beans Coffee serves cold brew, but as the summer heat fades into the moderately less sweaty fall, know that there are plenty of hot options on the menu, as well. If you’re in the mood for something frosty, check out the shop’s eponymous drink, The Cool Bean. Made with cold brew, milk and sugar, the staff puts the whole mess in something approximating a margarita machine to create a powerfully tasty chilled drink to take on the day.
Quirk & Beans Coffee Bar
109 NW 142nd St., Edmond quirkandbeans.com 405-775-0298
Juke around the first corner at Quirk & Beans to find the expansive coffee bar, plenty of seating and a friendly staff of joe jockeys just waiting to pour customers their first cup of the day. Like most locally owned shops, Quirk is extremely focused on service and making sure latte lovers, drip devotees and espresso enthusiasts alike get the coffee they’re looking for. And those in the market for entertainment will find live music on the calendar. Check out its Facebook page for updates.
The Buzz Coffee & Cafe
101 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 1120 405-232-1109
What’s the news, the scoop, the buzz on The Buzz Coffee & Cafe? It’s that, in addition to making a mean cup of coffee, this downtown mainstay has a tremendous menu of sandwiches, salads and pastries from which customers can choose. So if that caffeine kick gets to be too much, level off with a country chicken salad sandwich on locally made Big Sky bread. Now located in The Underground, The Buzz is a great spot for an eye-opening drink or a sweet treat to cap off the day.
Aravalli
333 W. Sheridan Ave. cafearavalli.com 405-278-7000
It might not be part of the daily commute, except for those working in Devon Energy Center, but Aravalli is worth a stop whenever one is in the neighborhood. In addition to offering Lavazza coffee, Aravalli stocks a freezer full of housemade gelatos and sorbets for every palate and bakes up pastries aplenty. There are even grab-and-go lunches for anyone who doesn’t have time to dine at nearby Nebu.
syrup.
123 E. Main St., Norman syrupbreakfast.com 405-701-1143
Just how bottomless is the bottomless drip coffee at syrup.? Brewed with tasty Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Oregon, this hot mug of deliciousness keeps coming from open to close. Those looking for a fancier cup might lean toward a few barista-created concoctions, like the ever-popular cappuccino or the delightfully decadent mocha. Best of all, syrup. has spent the last four years in business honing a razor-sharp menu of breakfast, brunch and lunch items to accompany all that coffee.
Perk Place Café
1649 W. 33rd St., Edmond perkplacecafeok.com 405-285-2124
The best part of waking up is a stop at Perk Place Café for a jolt of caffeine that makes the world a better place. Owner Natalie Meyer believes that “generosity rules,” which is why the shop offers free coffee 7-8 a.m. Monday-Saturday and asks customers to donate to a spotlighted charity. And 25 cents of every transaction goes to Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids program. Getting a burst of energy never tasted so good.
