Patronize your local businesses. Shop small. It's easy to get caught in the craze of chains such as Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and the Union's Peet's Coffee when you are socialized to recognize their logos without a taking a second thought. I challenge you to step away from Starbucks' green mermaid lady for a moment, and embrace the exciting uncertainty of trying out a new cafe. Each city has a few of their own fine gems, and Madison is in no way lacking in this department. I will introduce you to two of the oldest locally owned coffee shops in Madison who pride themselves on their individuality, something quite evident as soon as you walk in the door. While they may differ in drinks, aesthetic, background music, wall art, bakery items, and story on how they came to be, the owners share the same love for their businesses that they have nurtured as if it was their child. I had the opportunity to interview the owner of Michelangelo's Coffee House, Sam Chehade, and Indie Coffee's JJ Kilmer.

You can find Michelangelo's Coffee House on State Street next to the equally notorious 'Ian's by the Capitol', built 23 years ago by its owner, Sam Chehade. Knowing he wanted to be a part of the food business, he fell in love with coffee culture and the gift the University is to the city of Madison. "The environment of this city attracts different types of people", he says. Among these people are not just University students; Sam has met numerous passerby celebrities who have stopped in before their events. I personally adore Michelangelo's for a multitude of reasons. As the first local coffee shop in Madison that I had entered while I was a senior in high school, it serves as a physical form of nostalgia. Back then, I had just confirmed my acceptance to attend the UW, and the interior reflected and encouraged my stirring excitement. Walking into Michelangelo's gave me a glimpse into Madison life for locals. Upon entering, my eyes were drawn to the bright, yellow walls adorned in art work. Sam informed me that he owns some of the paintings, but others are hung by the artists who are working to sell them. What a fantastic way to highlight other local entrepreneurs in the area who are building themselves from the ground up, just like he had. Because of the uniqueness of the interior, I asked Sam if it turned out to be how he had originally envisioned. He said, "coffee shops are like independent movies. To be cookie cutter is to be a failure." It is evident that he is not trying to be anyone else, the individualistic feel of Michelangelo's is one that would be nearly impossible to recreate. The cafe is split into two areas, one being the sitting area and couches by the coffee bar and the other is a nice sized study space with a more spacious feel. Sitting in back as I prepared for the interview, the soft murmur of chatting voices around me accompanying Tame Impala's track, The Less I Know The Better, created my ideal lullaby. I didn't even need to plug in headphones, the alternative-pop playlist playing overhead suffices as though I chose it myself. When I sat down with Sam, I drank a cup of plain black coffee, and I told him how much I enjoyed it. He explained to me that they get their coffee through fair trade from equal exchange, meaning that they support those who grow the coffee beans so that they can improve the grower's livelihood. His cafe was the first or second in Madison to implement fair trade sourced coffee, which is a great segue into the fact that he also built and owned Fair Trade Coffee down the street from Michelangelo's. Here, he says "I'm not looking for more, but looking to make a difference". When I asked him if anyone helped make his dream to own a coffee shop come true, he said it was his good friend; his beautiful wife. She managed and owned Fair Trade Coffee for 17 years while working for the University of Wisconsin-Madison up until two years ago when they sold it. He said, however, that he will never sell Michelangelo's. In Sam's words, it is a "coffee house built to last".

Indie Coffee's JJ Kilmer is a smiling sweetheart who started her business 15 years ago with her husband. They had both attended UW and moved to Chicago, just to move back to Madison after JJ proposed her idea. Located on Regent Street, this addictive coffee shop juxtaposes the many bars that the street is popularized for. It took them two months to get the shop ready to go with the help of their family. She credits her successful business to her loyal and hardworking employees. "People who work for us are our most important part", she says. The word indie was an uncommon term used to describe independent movies and music when she first started 15 years ago. As the word gained popularity, so did the coffee shop. On one wall they have records from The Beatles, Sex Pistols, and U2; on another, they have black and white photos of Madison. The fogged windows just beg you to draw a smiley face in them while lights overhead beam a dim orange color. After my interview ended with JJ, I took a second to soak up the ambiance of my surroundings and recognized the song Shuggie, by Foxygen playing over the speakers. Yet another coffee shop that I can forget to bring my headphones to. Oh! And must I not forget to mention the hall of mirrors that doubles as the restroom. Needless to say plainly, Indie Coffee is super cool. When they were first starting up, JJ says, they held events like independent movie screenings to help with public relations. Describing her shop, JJ says that it has "a clean feel, is cheerful, and stays a light, bright, place for people to hang out". On the menu, they have a delicious array of waffles, sandwiches, specialty drinks, and smoothies, just to name a few. Although they have rather elaborate concoctions, she says a simple cortado with milk remains her preferred drink. I asked JJ what her greatest lessons were from starting her business, and she says that managing others along with working with people of different backgrounds has helped her better understand human nature. She speaks upon the importance of getting to know others on a personal level and taking things slow. These are important pieces of advice applicable to many different life situations.

Independently owned coffee houses have their own focus; a focus on themselves. Chain businesses miss out on the chance to have their own personal aura and they are not unique to the city in the way that Michelangelo's and Indie Coffee are. I am so thankful to have talked with these two coffee owners as they relayed pieces of wisdom to me, a freshman college student with so very much yet to learn. Tapping into Madison's coffee scene was enjoyable and provided me with information about entrepreneurship, great successes, and arguably most importantly, great coffee. Closing with the attractive mantra of Indie Coffee's JJ Kilmer, "Make Coffee, Not War".

Sources

JJ Kilmer, Indie Coffee: (608) 259-9621

Sam Chehade, Michelangelo's Coffee House: (608) 251-5299