At the beginning of this article, I thought it would be easy to write. Like any caffeine addict, I need to have my daily energizer in the morning to get through the day (more like two or three cups of coffee).  I set out to find the best coffeehouse in Columbia. It seemed like it would be an easy walk, but this turned out to be a marathon.

When most people describe coffee I used to think of the generalization of a cup filled with dark liquid, that distinctive smell and somewhat bitter taste. After living in Columbia for over four years, I’ve become a self-proclaimed “coffee snob.” I know how I like my various types of coffee – cappuccinos, espressos, iced or double shots. It was going to be difficult for a place to impress me.

After surveying 15 different restaurants and cafes, I finally narrowed it down to my top five.

1. Kaldi’s Coffeehouse – 29 S. Ninth Street

Kaldi’s started out as a St. Louis based chain that slowly made it’s way out to Columbia. It’s named after the ninth century Ethiopian goat herder who discovered coffee. This is my favorite place in Columbia because that atmosphere is very open and the staff is very friendly. Unlike Starbucks, they took their time getting the drink orders and making them. I ordered an iced coffee and bought a bag of Highlander Grogg, which has a taste of hazelnut and a hint of rum. Some of the perks at  Kaldi’s is that there is free wifi for the customers and a lot of room. The downside is that Kaldi’s becomes packed very quickly with students and can get expensive if one is ordering drinks and food. Even if Kaldi’s is a bit more expensive, I’d gladly pay the extra money because of the extra attention received by the baristas and the cozy environment.

2. It’s a Grind – 4603 John Gary Drive

It’s a Grind began in Long Beach, California. I wasn’t sure where to put this coffee shop at first, but after going there twice, it became my second favorite place in Columbia. Their iced coffee is amazing! It’s cold and smooth tasting with a nutty aftertaste. There’s not too much ice or too much milk. The mixture is just right. On the second visit, I ordered a double cappuccino (12 ounces) that tastes sweet. There was a bit too milk for my taste, but still was very delicious. It’s a Grind has a blues and jazzy feel to the décor. The shop features free wifi, a patio and a fireplace for those cold nights. They’re moderately priced with great coffee.

3. Rendezvous – 3304 W. Broadway

Rendezvous has quaint feeling once one goes inside. I was very impressed with their wide variety of coffee types and teas. It was very difficult to decide to what to get. In the end, I ordered an Americano. The drink was very strong with little milk.  The barista asked at what temperature I wanted the drink to be. It was searing hot – perfect. Rendezvous serves sandwiches, soups and pastries. I strongly suggest getting a bowl of soup. I sampled the potato bacon soup and it was fantastic! Rendezvous has free wifi for customers, but there are very few outlets for laptops.

4. Lakota – 24 S. 9^th Street

Lakota first opened in Columbia in 1992. At first stepping into the place, one feels like walking through a rustic, woodsy building. The furniture is mostly made of wood that resembles logs. I had the feeling of being in Canada and not the Midwest. Lakota offers the widest variety of coffee types and drinks I found in Columbia. They also feature four different types of drips. I had a cup of their house blend coffee that was very strong. No milk or sugar this time. Lakota has very good coffee, but I didn’t care for their customer service. The first time I was there was a few weeks ago. I sat down waiting for a few friends to order their drinks so a place could be saved for them to sit. An employee came to me and gave me a negative attitude stating I needed to leave if I wasn’t going to order anything. After saying I was going to buy something after my friends were purchasing their orders, he still said I needed to leave.  I became quite flustered, but stayed. I went back last week and again I was treated rather rudely.  They know what they’re doing with their coffee, but their customer service needs improvement.

5. Starbucks – 304 S. 9^th Street

Many people scorn the very name of Starbucks because it is there. All of the Starbucks are genuinely the same and have the same products.  Every time I go there I know they will have what drink I want and they are very quick. I chose Starbucks as my fifth choice because of the convenience. Not only is there the location downtown, but there is a drive through off Broadway and Barnes & Noble sells it. When I go to Starbucks I know exactly what I’m getting, including the free wifi.

I set out on a mission, and when I began, I had no idea how difficult it would be. Trying to decide which restaurant sells the best hummus in Columbia should be an easy task. Just decide which one tastes the best, right? Wrong. Who would have thought that a food that is made out of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), tahini (ground up sesame seeds), and olive oil could have such a wide variety of tastes? All of the ingredients are incredibly bland. Turns out, finding the perfect hummus recipe is an art, and one that many restaurants throughout Columbia take a lot of pride.

Most hummus recipes include various amounts of garlic and lemon juice. Sometimes it is garnished with parsley, paprika, olive oil or other spices. Usually it is served with warm pita bread, but it is also commonly served as a dip for vegetables or chips or as a spread on sandwiches. It is considered a complete source of protein, making it a popular choice for vegetarians and vegans. The dish originated in the Middle East where both chickpeas and sesame seeds are commonly harvested. Hummus has been served for over 10,000 years.

I sampled the hummus from Arris’ Pizza, the Broadway Brewery, Felini, Coffee Zone, and the International Café. I wanted to sample from Café Berlin and Casablanca as well, but both restaurants were closed because they were moving locations when I set forth on my journey. I was surprised by how very different each hummus was from the others.

The first hummus that I tried was from Arris’ Pizza. Arris’ Pizza is a pizza joint with Greek heritage. They originated in Jefferson City, and have expanded with locations throughout Mid-Missouri. They offer a variety of pizzas, pasta dinners, sandwiches, Greek food, salads and appetizers. Their hummus costs $6.25 for an appetizer and is served with Greek olives. It’s pinkish in color, which I attribute to roasted tomato, and is quite tangy. The lemon in it is quite prominent. It is also very creamy.

Broadway Brewery’s hummus is quite different than any of the others that I tried. It is not sweet at all, and is blended with basil pesto and feta. It is quite a bit dryer and thicker than the others. It costs $6.25 for an appetizer size and is served with pita bread.

Felini is the most formal of the restaurants that I went to. Their food tends to be a bit pricier and the atmosphere is much less casual. Their hummus costs $6.99 for an appetizer size. It is very creamy and the garlic tastes are prominent but not overwhelming. There is also a hint of parmesan cheese.

Coffee Zone takes a lot of pride in their hummus, especially considering they are a coffee shop and not specifically a Mediterranean restaurant. They even have an article displayed proudly behind the barista bar claiming that they have the best hummus in Columbia. When I entered the coffee shop and expressed interest in ordering some hummus, a customer even commented to me about how fantastic the hummus is. Their hummus is $4.95 for an appetizer, and is served with pita bread and garnished with olive oil, parsley and paprika. The presentation is quite attractive. The taste is more complex that the others. It has more of an herby taste, and isn’t very sweet. It is very creamy, but perhaps not thick enough.

The International Café is a small Mediterranean foods restaurant that sells affordable hummus, falafel, gyros and other Middle Eastern favorites. Their hummus is $4.25 for an appetizer and is served with pita bread and topped with tomatoes and onions. It is very creamy and doesn’t have any prominent flavors. It’s not bland, but not particularly lemony, garlicky, or herby.

So, which of these hummus is better than all the rest? That is a very difficult decision. I would say for taste, my favorite was probably Felini, but I would also be less likely to go there for hummus because of their more formal atmosphere and higher prices. I would be more likely to go to the Coffee Zone or the International Café and grab some of theirs because they were the two cheapest, and had the highest price to tastiness ratios. All of the hummus that I tried were delicious and unique in their own ways.