Features
Great coffee, not so great atmosphere
By Bridget Lavin ’18
October 29, 2015
Utica Coffee might be gone from Commons, but you won’t have to look far to find their coffee once again! The Utica Coffee Roasting Company has recently opened up shop in downtown Clinton, replacing the recently closed Cafe J. And they’re good.
Well, pretty good.
There was definitely a cool vibe in the shop, but it felt a bit out of place in Clinton. The modern architecture and limited seating gave the impression that the shop was located in a bustling Brooklyn neighborhood, rather than a historic, rural village. The workers were fast and efficient, spitting out orders in a mechanical way that matched the design of the building, which was intensely focused around an industrial chrome counter. While I appreciated this, as I was eager to get on with my day, it felt a little like I was being rushed out of the shop. If one had entered intending to enjoy a coffee and get some work done, they would be sadly mistaken. There were only a few tables, each with awkwardly arranged seating, which would be fine for a quick conversation while enjoying a bagel, but little else. Furthermore, much of the already limited space in the cafe was taken up by the excessive Utica Coffee merchandise, leaving the visit feeling incredibly cramped and slightly unwelcome.
The coffee though? Excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed my drink as I made my way back up the Hill, and the blueberry muffin was fresh and fluffy. The coffee was also at the perfect temperature. I could drink it right away without burning my tongue, but it remained warm while I worked on my homework. Definitely worth taking the time to stop by.
The new cafe replaces the previously beloved Cafe J, which closed its doors in early August. The owners are hoping the (relatively) well-known name will attract more customers to the area and transform Clinton into a bustling metropolis. Just kidding, but they are hoping it will encourage more patrons who previously might not have visited to check Clinton out. While they have fostered an overall good experience with quality coffee and snacks, I doubt the addition of a new cafe (in replacement of another coffee shop) will make much of a difference.
My suggestion? If you’re looking for a chill environment to drink some coffee, enjoy a cookie and get some work done with a good ambiance, stick with Opus. But if you happen to be down in Clinton and get a craving for some great coffee, Utica Coffee is the place for you.