Steep and Brew Coffee Shop

I’m not a fan of chains, and particularly not a fan of chain coffee shops. If I wanted a latte that tasted like office coffee with powdered creamer, I’d cook one up m’self with the handy-​dandy free shit I get for working in a cube forest. I spent almost a year frustrated that there weren’t any independently-​owned coffee shops around my workplace in downtown St. Paul.
BUT THEN my supercute sister introduced me to this place. Tucked in to a nook of the skyway, Steep and Brew is owned and run by an incredibly kind and charming woman named Juliana, who won Best Barista from CityPages in 2007 (
). She remembers your favorite drink and is unflappably cheerful, and dresses like a freaking rock star.
The shop itself has the advantage of being situated on a wall of windows facing the street, so it gets tons of natural light and has a few tables and comfy chairs to camp out in for out-​of-​office meetings or just a therapeutic kvetch session with co-​workers.
PLUS, Juliana introduced me to banana lattes. They are my new favorite addiction. They call my name while I’m sitting at my desk when the 2pm slows come around.
So happily, my coffee habit can continue with a clear conscience, knowing I’m supporting a local, woman-​owned business in downtown St. Paul.