A new coffee spot has come to Champaign: Hammerhead Coffee opened Saturday, Sept. 17 on the first floor of the new Latitude apartments at 608 E University Ave.

Hammerhead Coffee is named after Hammerhead Records, a local record company that signed artists in the Champaign-Urbana area from 1993-2000. In a corner of the coffee shop sits a table made to look like a cassette tape, with “Hammerhead Records” written on the label.

Visitors walking into the indoor sitting area will first see a slick bar table which is dominated by the brand new La Marzocco espresso machine and a lineup of the shop’s beautiful loose-leaf tea selection.

Having spent some time café-crawling in America’s major cities, it surprises me to see such a well-equipped café opening here in Champaign. Every step of Hammerhead’s coffee making process involves the choicest of tools, from its water purification system to its drip brewing machine — this place means business, and by business I mean an incredibly dedicated cup of coffee.

The menu features lattes and cappuccinos like the ones found at most coffee shops in the area, but other options like pour over and Chemex coffees are also available. Coffee can be taken to go or served in-house. With wi-fi access, plentiful seating, and an option for a $3.50 bottomless cup of coffee, Hammerhead is a wonderful place to study or chat with a friend.

Sofia Yotis is the manager at Hammerhead. A recent graduate from the University of Illinois, she has been a part of the story from its conception all the way up to the soft opening this summer. According to Yotis, coffee-drinking has been a part of her life since she was young, but it has grown into a passion since then.

Hammerhead Coffee aims to bring an excellent coffee experience to the community while also promoting local businesses; their pastries and confections come from Pekara Bakery, The Scotchman’s Kitchen and Hopscotch: Cakes & Confections.

In addition to serving food from nearby businesses, the coffee shop also aims to showcase local musicians from the Champaign-Urbana area.

On its website, Hammerhead Coffee promises to “have great coffee, great service, and a great welcoming space,” and it definitely lives up to that promise. Come and grab something to eat, work on that midterm project, and enjoy a $0.80 refill for brewed coffee while in house.

Cara is a junior in ACES.
[email protected]