Battle of The Coffee Shops: Lincoln, NE
One Caffeine-Addict's Take On The Mill Vs. Crescent Moon Coffee
Early in my first pregnancy, my coworkers figured out my big news by observing my abrupt transition from 4 cups of break-room coffee a day to decaf. They knew that there was almost nothing that would keep me from my daily fix. Blame it on genetics, or rather my wonderful father, who still roasts his own coffee beans and will always offer a freshly made Americano as an after-dinner drink at 10 pm. So as you might guess, I find stumbling upon a local coffee shop in a new city akin to striking gold.
Now imagine my conundrum in Lincoln, Nebraska: a city with so many independent coffee shops that they have a dedicated Coffee Week every year in February. In town for a business trip, I was staying in the downtown district of Haymarket, aptly named for its 19th century roots of being a market square that sold hay amongst other items. I had less than 24 hours and too many enticing coffee shops to choose from. With the help of Yelp, Google, and a friendly concierge, I was directed to two great options: The Mill Coffee & Tea and Crescent Moon Coffee, both approximately 3 blocks away from my hotel. So what was an indecisive caffeine-addict to do but visit both and share the 4-1-1 with you, dear reader?
On the opposing corners of 8th and P Street, two coffee shops sit in silence, judging you for which shop you ultimately choose. Who will be victorious in the imaginary battle of the coffee shops: the above-ground powerhouse or the underground getaway?
The Mill Coffee & Tea
The Mill has been caffeinating Nebraska since 1975. Their flagship location is spacious, full of natural light and inviting even for a first time visitor. And better yet, they roast their own coffee in-house. What started out as a bike shop, that wanted to turn their crappy “shop” coffee into something worth drinking, has become a local favorite with six locations in the Cornhusker State. The windows let in the glorious sunlight of an uncharacteristically warm February day, lighting the wooden floors, booths, and tables. The walls are covered in vintage signs and a model plane hangs above the heads of happy Nebraskans in the main café seating area. Across from the register are gift shop shelves filled with everything I love: coffee beans, teas, treats, mugs, clothes and knickknacks galore.
It was midday and I had just stuffed myself silly at The Oven, so alas I ordered a cappuccino and regretfully passed on the jumbo cookies tempting me from within their glass domes. My drink came out hot and foamy in a little mug and saucer. And it tasted... totally fine! I ordered a simple straightforward drink—equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam, and that’s exactly what I got. The flavor of the espresso didn’t blow my mind, but it hit the spot. I relaxed in the lounge and worked for multiple hours, pausing on occasion to people-watch as the locals filtered in and out and students with laptops studied away. It was a peaceful respite for a day of working remotely in a random city.
There was something innately nostalgic for me about The Mill. It reminded me of my favorite getaway in the mountains of Northern California (big shoutout to Stellar Brew in Mammoth Lakes). The rusticity made me feel welcomed and calm.
I wish my appetite had allowed for sampling of a specialty drink and some baked goods. While I savored the experience, I feel as if I only scratched the surface on what the Mill can offer. That, however, didn’t stop me from buying a shirt on my way out the door.
Crescent Moon Coffee
I started my next morning at Crescent Moon Coffee. While I was tempted to return to The Mill, I crossed P Street to the opposing corner where I was greeted with stairs that took me underground—a regular occurrence in this downtown area but something, as a native Southern Californian, I am always enchanted by.
Crescent Moon Coffee is a vibe: I walked in and immediately knew I was in a cool kid coffee shop with the staple brick walls, delightfully mismatched rugs, and a stage for open mic nights. They were featuring drinks themed after Howl’s Moving Castle, which as a Miyazaki fan myself, told me everything I needed to know about their clientele.
This underground retreat is locally owned and operated and has been supporting Downtown Lincoln for almost 25 years. They have live music every Friday night and hang art on the walls from local artists throughout the shop.
I ordered myself another cappuccino, but unlike the day before, I was ravenous so breakfast was a must. My drink, served in a to-go cup, was piping hot and absolutely delicious. Again, a straightforward order, but the ratios of milk to espresso and boldness of the roast were just to my liking. And then came the food:
The Green Eggs and Ham crepe was yummy. I’m a sucker for pesto and a lover of crepes so it’s no surprise that this savory little delight with thin layers of pesto, egg, cheese, and ham would be a crowd pleaser.
Raspberry. Muffin. Need I say more? This crunchy muffin-top sprinkled with streusel crowned the softest interior bursting with juicy whole raspberries. It was delightful and delicious.
I enjoyed my time at Crescent Moon Coffee, eating my morning bites, sipping on my cappuccino, and watching the young professionals and grad student-esque customers come and go. There were times where the baristas were louder than the early morning crowd, but that can be entertaining as well. I wanted to stay longer but alas I was in Lincoln for a reason and that reason required me to leave.
And The Winner Is...
So who wins the duel of the neighboring Coffee shops!? A rivalry so fierce that it only exists in my brain? Well, the lucky residents of Lincoln, of course! I genuinely loved both. I’d choose to work at The Mill and write at Crescent Moon Coffee. If I was laptop-less, I’d opt for the former on a sunny day to soak in that warm light and the latter in the early evening with friends for that cool underground aesthetic. It’s a difference of vibe. Would you rather sip a cup of Joe in Denver or Brooklyn?
Because there are so many factors that go into every cup of coffee (like who made the drink and the current batch of beans), I would need more time with various drinks to truly declare a superior brew. Judging on cappuccinos alone, round one for me goes to Crescent Moon Coffee. However, I’d love to partake in round two next time I’m in Lincoln, maybe during Coffee Week 2025.
Cappuccinos and ambience.
Ergo Yum.
I love the look of The Mill, would love to sit in there!
So many interesting places. I live in Pennsylvania and we have so many little places like that. Lots of character. Lots of smoothie places here too lol. It's seems like the thing here