The Coffee Ethic Experience: It's More Than Good Coffee

Monday, December 17 2007 (08:19AM) | Posted by Kathryn Vicat-Dlabach (DSA) | Downtown

It’s not just a place to get a cup of coffee, it’s a destination. Owners of The Coffee Ethic, Jim Hamilton and Tom Billionis, had just this concept in mind as they considered every aspect of downtown’s newest coffee venue. They sought out the best possible coffee beans and a state of the art brewing system to offer a one of kind coffee experience to downtown Springfield. But that is not what this story is about. Walking into The Coffee Ethic you appreciate, not only the smell of the hot cup of Joe brewing behind the counter but you appreciate the counter itself. Known as “theflo”, the woodwork that was created for the counter is a smooth, sinuous, coffee colored creation. Actually inspired by a shot of espresso coming from the machine’s naked portafilter, “theflo” was created with much “tweakitation” as walnut strips, harvested from downed tress by the Springfield ice storm of 2007, were bent and mounted. The wood, milled and dried in a solar kiln by Ozarko in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, has been painstaking placed along the length of the counter in a free flowing form. Its smooth surface and graceful line make it a piece of art in and of itself. But that’s not all. Look around The Coffee Ethic and you will see how passionate these business owners are about making a minimal environmental impact on their surroundings. The “bent plywood” or “potato chip” dining chairs, were originally designed in 1946 by Charles Eames. The plywood seat of the chair took inspiration from tractor seats familiar to Charles who was from the mid-west. In the final version of the chair especially, the plywood seat and back sections appeared to float in space (similar to some fine art sculptures of the time). The design of the dining chair was significant for several reasons. First, it combined natural and industrial materials. Second, it utilized materials innovations resulting from the Second World War, applying these to peacetime commercial use. The Coffee Ethic owners were fortunate to have found these salvaged designer chairs in a barn in Bourbon, Missouri. The floor behind the counter and in the restrooms is composed of 100% post-consumer and 30% post-industrial material. Useful, attractive and so comfy to walk on. As you sit back at your table in the corner to enjoy your favorite coffee brew, really look at your table. These walnut table tops were also salvaged from the 2007 ice storm and dried at Ozarko. You may also notice the enormous bench seats at the front tables on the west wall. Once upon a time these 1,200 pound structural heart pine beams were used in an 1870’s South Carolina cotton mill and reclaimed by Architectural Artifacts, located right here in Springfield. Finally, on the west wall, facing the new library, you see the two "Big Boy” doors. Crafted by Jamerson Millworks in Springfield, Missouri, these huge walnut doors were salvaged from Jonesboro, Arkansas after a tornado hit the community in 2007.
So next time you are downtown, take the time to visit downtown’s newest coffee destination. Don’t go just for the coffee, go the experience. Appreciate your surroundings, enjoy your favorite blend, and marvel at two business owners’ ongoing commitment to actively preserving all that surrounds them. The Coffee Ethic, located at 124 Park Central Square, downtown Springfield.