OKG7 Eat: Coffee culture 

The Red Cup

3122 N. Classen Blvd. 

525-3430

The Red Cup set up shop at NW 31st Street and Classen Boulevard in 1995, and it has changed very little since. Nestled in a converted house surrounded by gardens, The Red Cup has welcomed coffee drinkers (and vegetarians) with its homey feel and eclectic interior that includes local artwork and thrift shop furniture. The exterior is brightly painted with a sculpture of a large cup of coffee sitting high over the front porch.

The Buzz Coffee & Cafe

101 N. Broadway Ave. 

thebuzzcoffee.com

232-1109

Few outside of downtown know about the Buzz, but those who do flock to this stop in the Underground below the BancFirst building. (Former first lady Laura Bush even stopped in for coffee once when she was in town. Just sayin’.)

The Buzz was Oklahoma City’s first “Seattle-style” coffee shop with an espresso machine perched on the counter and fresh coffee beans ground for each drink.

This is a great place to stop for a few minutes or a few hours.

Gray Owl Coffee

223 E. Gray St., Norman 

701-2929

It can be hard to find a seat at Gray Owl due to its popularity with Normanites, OU students, OU professors and people who love great coffee, but be patient and you will be rewarded. Sitting on E. Gray Street in downtown Norman, the shop is another example of a great local business far removed from the chains along Interstate 35. It’s also open late for those who need help staying awake while studying or for those who need some coffee before or after seeing a band at Opolis a block away.

Kitchen No. 324

324 N. Robinson Ave. 

kitchen324.com 

763-5911

While
it’s also a restaurant, Kitchen No. 324 has a top-tier coffee bar that
serves custom espressos. Come in and grab a comfortable seat, or sit
outside, weather permitting. The coffee counter also has fresh pastries
to go with that jolt of caffeine.

Everything
here is made from scratch and prepared by artisans. Watch your coffee
drink as it’s expertly made and poured. You’ll feel like you’re drinking
a work of art.

Café Evoke

103 S. Broadway Ave., Edmond 

cafeevoke.com 

285-1522

Café
Evoke drips with coolness. Its drink list includes favorites like
espresso, cappuccinos, lattes and mochas, or go for a hand-brewed cuppa
joe.

Check out the
menu online to learn where the coffee comes from. Current offerings
include beans from Handsome Coffee Roasters in Los Angeles and Ritual
Coffee Roasters in San Francisco. For dairy items, Evoke keeps it close
to home with delicious milk from Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy stores.

Cuppies & Joe

727 NW 23rd St. 

cuppiesandjoe.com 

528-2122

Set
in a renovated house, Cuppies and Joe may just be the coziest coffee
shop in town. While the main business is cupcakes, the shop serves up
custom coffee and espresso drinks to warm you up on cold winter days.
It’s almost always crowded, but with several rooms to choose from, most
can find a seat pretty easily.

Sip your cup of joe while you watch the world go by, or pair it with a cupcake for the ultimate experience.

Elemental Coffee Roasters

815 N. Hudson Ave. 

elementalcoffeeroasters.com 

633-1703

Elemental
welcomes coffee lovers in its space that once was an auto repair shop.
Large windows offer views to the east, and long tables invite communal
seating. When smoke billows from the top of the building, rest assured
that the staff is roasting coffee beans.

Order
a handcrafted cup of coffee, a rich and delicious shot of espresso or
opt for a mocha or latte, which will come out with a design like a heart
on top of the milk.

Photos by Mark Hancock and Shannon Cornman