My Coffee Odyssey - Starbucks 104th and May, SOKC

Starbucks - 104th & May, SOKC

Friday afternoon, 8 Dec 2017

I have been somewhat dismissive of Starbucks in several earlier posts. Now, here I am. This is a brand-new Starbucks in South OKC on the corner of 104^th Street and May Avenue. It is (almost) within walking distance of my house so, I felt the need to at least stop in and take a look. Well, it is a Starbucks. It looks pretty much like every other Starbucks you have ever wandered into. To get right to the point, is this Starbucks a coffee shop? Sadly, I think not. It is not a bad place to drop in for a coffee or other drink. It doesn’t have an extensive menu so there are not a lot people dining. There are a surprising number of people (like me) trying to work. The playlist is good as always – music you probably do not listen to all the time. Unfortunately, the acoustics are such that one can hear pretty much every conversation taking place. Add to that the nice people dragging little people with them who are crying for another cake pop. It does not seem a place to get serious reading or studying accomplished. So, no, this Starbucks does not meet MY coffee shop criteria.

The Coffee Bar

I have fallen into the perhaps bad habit of drinking what is brewed. So, you know in Starbucks that will almost always be Pike Place. It is $2.00 for a tall and comes with refills. On my amateur rating scale my cup of Pike is solidly GOOD.

Seating is Good

 I do have good things to say about my local Starbucks. It is close and convenient. It has a fair amount of seating and plenty of tables for one or two. There is one round table for a group of four or five. A positive for any Starbucks is that you can be confident of what they have when you walk in the door and you can be pretty sure it will be satisfactory. Now, a word for the hardcore haters who make snide remarks about how expensive their Starbucks experience has been. If you would drink coffee instead of those fufu drinks full of milk, sugar, God knows what else you would find Starbucks coffee to be as nicely priced as any of their competitors.  

Would I meet you here for coffee and conversation? Shucks, I’d probably meet you anywhere for coffee and convo but here definitely. Hey, it’s right down the street! 

Disclaimer: I am not a coffee connoisseur. I am just a guy who lies to drink coffee in coffee shops. I tend to think of my coffee in terms of Meh – Okay - Good – Great. Most coffee I drink is okay to good. It has to make an effort to get to Great or Meh. These are just my opinions. Take or ignore them as you wish. Read more about #MyCoffeeOdyssey at "How this all began."

My Coffee Odyssey - Ellis Island Coffee & Wine Lounge

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Ellis Island Coffee & Wine Lounge is a great find in downtown Edmond, Oklahoma. I had to come to Edmond this afternoon and coffee at Ellis Island is the bonus prize! The shop is fairly new. It looks new. It feels new, upscale, and sophisticated. However, it is inviting and feels like an easy place to hang for a bit. There are not a lot of people here right now but the mix is exactly what I might have expected: a few business people working, a couple of students studying, some friends having coffee and a chat. There are enough couches and chairs to get comfortable and plenty of tables where you can sit, snack, and do some work on the laptop. There is a nice selection of muffins, etc. to go with your coffee. There is also gelato and a small selection of sandwiches. By my narrow definition, the food selection is getting close to the edge but it seems appropriate for this venue. So, yes, this is a coffee shop and downtown Edmond is lucky to have them here!

Inside Ellis Island

My coffee was a medium roast with the big flavor of a dark roast. I liked it a lot and would put it on the Great end of my amateur scale. The price is about right for brewed coffee. It is $3.25 per cup but…unlimited refills delivered to your table. My barista today was Gabby who did a great job. I also had the opportunity to visit with the owner, Murod. He has a wonderful story to tell about the name. Ask him to share it with you when you come in.

Murod & Gabby 

Now the kicker. Ellis Island is not just a coffee shop. It is also a wine lounge. While it is never too early for a glass of wine, the visit today is strictly coffee. The posted wine list is not extensive but has labels you will recognize at prices that are good by either the glass or the bottle. It would be a super place to stop in with friends after work. So, we have established that Ellis Island is definitely a wine shop. It is also an attractive wine lounge in a good location. Would I meet you here for coffee? Yes, I would. Just give me a call. What about wine? Would I meet you for a glass of wine? Do you know me? Then you know the answer to that question is a solid yes!  

Disclaimer: I am not a coffee connoisseur. I am just a guy who lies to drink coffee in coffee shops. I tend to think of my coffee in terms of Meh – Okay - Good – Great. Most coffee I drink is okay to good. It has to make an effort to get to Great or Meh. These are just my opinions. Take or ignore them as you wish. Read more about #MyCoffeeOdyssey at "How this all began."