The Forum

Issue date: 1/27/09 Section: Campus

Media Credit: Mat Wennergren Inside Bevalo

If you're looking for a coffee shop a step above and a little outside the norm in Salt Lake City, Bevalo may be just the place for you. Located at 123 East 200 South, in the heart of downtown and very near the Gallivan Center, the unique venue makes for the ideal stop after ice-skating or a concert.

Bevalo has several standout features. First, they are the only coffee shop in town brewing all-organic Barefoot Coffee Roasters brand coffee. Barefoot Coffee, based in Santa Clara, CA (barefootcoffeeroasters.com), is a micro roaster that focuses on fair trade and organic coffee.

Micro roasters are small companies that are intently focused on quality beans and flavor. Many larger companies will take beans from all over and mix them together when they are sold. Micro roasters don't do this, as they recognize that coffee beans produce different flavors depending on some very small variables like elevation and humidity. So, they only take the best of the best, and Barefoot Coffee is a prime example of this practice.

Barefoot is also a member of the slow food nation, a group that focuses on sustainable foods and helps consumers understand where their food is coming from and why it's important. They deal directly with coffee farmers all over the world, so your espresso comes from the farm, to Barefoot, to Bevalo. For example, one coffee the shop serves is Finca San Jose which, an exclusive from Barefoot. The select coffee was grown and harvested on a third generation farm that is all female owned. You aren't going to get that at Starbucks. I think the quality is is summed up by owner Andrea Maize's statement: "The ultimate goal is does it taste good? That is what we are focused on."

In addition to organic coffee, Bevalo features organic, loose-leaf teas from Rishi. Aren't a fan of espresso, but love your drip coffee? Bevalo brews drip coffee by the cup, which means when you order a cup they grind it and brew it right then and there so you don't get a cup that has been sitting in a pot for a few hours which makes coffee go stale. If that weren't enough, they also bake all their own pastries, which are also organic, in-house.

Bevalo is also, as mentioned, focused on sustainability. The company recycles all the materials in the shop that they can, and features some unique sustainable building features. The main counter in Bevalo is made from pressed recycled paper, and the plastic wrap around the main counter is made from recycled plastic. Along with using sustainable materials, Bevalo is also in the process of becoming a member of Salt Lake's E2 organization. E2 is Salt Lake's sustainability program for businesses that focuses on sustainability, pollution reduction and reducing the effects of global warming. They promote alternative transportation, water conservation, high-performance green building and green house gas reduction.

If you like your coffee shops to be green, Bevalo is your place.

The atmosphere in Bevalo is relaxed and inviting, yet maintains a very modern feel. Seating is small tables and chairs and an area with some couches and chairs. For ultimate relaxation, they even provide a few board games-in case you like Monopoly with your espresso. For homework and studying, Bevalo features free Wi-Fi and a quiet atmosphere.

Overall, Bevalo is a new, hip, high-quality coffee shop that brews and bakes some of the most unique coffees, teas and pastries in town and it does it all with an eye on being green. It's proximity to most of Salt Lake's main attractions and inviting atmosphere makes it a standout choice for anyone looking for quality coffee and a nice place to drink it.

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