Just a hop, skip and a jump from central spots in Downtown SLC. Don't worry, signs will guide you.
It's been awhile since I tried a new coffee shop, but don't worry, I've still been hitting up my regular spots at an alarmingly frequent rate. But I knew it was time to venture to a new one - well, new to me.
Cupla Coffee in downtown Salt Lake City has been open for about a year and a half, but you might not know about it unless you're looking for it. The shop is a bit off the beaten path, yet still in a central location. Situated in the basement of the Axis Building on 200 South, it's within walking distance from City Creek, Gateway, and the Salt Palace Convention Center.
Fortunately, aesthetically pleasing signs start guiding the way to the shop from down the street, so it's fairly easy to navigate to. But I'm here to give you News You Can Use, so here's the UT Caffeine Queen guide to finding Cupla Coffee:
1. Continue down 200 South. If you stop seeing signs with cute fonts and mountain graphics, you've gone too far.
2. Go into the Axis Building, a large brick building that says "Axis Building."
3. Enter the door at left.
4. Go down the stairs. If you see a cute black chalkboard-looking wall that says "COFFEE" and "Welcome to your home away from home," you're heading in the right direction. Fantasize about the Instagram potential of this wall. Hope for a willing stranger with photography skills to walk by. Continue down the stairs.
5. The smell of coffee will start wafting toward your nostrils, and through a set of open doors you'll catch sight of a counter and whiteboard donning the monthly specials.
6. You've made it!
The aesthetic of Cupla Coffee is one of the cutest I've seen. The space is vast and bright, which is crucial for a below-ground shop. The brick walls and hardwood floors give it a comfortable, city apartment feel. The minimalist, cozy decor coupled with outdoorsy, Utah-esque touches (like green plants and the mountain vector logo that makes you want to go hiking) reminded me of another downtown shop, Three Pines.
There are plenty of spread-out seating options at Cupla Coffee, from a large table in the center to chairs lining the wall to several couches. But it's not the kind of seating where I'd want to camp out at a table for hours to work. I would say this is more a place to relax and lounge.
I knew I wanted to try one of the October specials, so at the recommendation of the super kind and friendly barista, I went for the Pumpkin Spice Latte. (I also just realized this was my first true PSL of the season. I haven't even had the classic Starbucks version yet, probably because the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew owns me.) I got it iced and 16 oz. (12 oz. is the other size option for an iced beverage). (Another monthly special that looked good was one with hazelnut syrup, maple syrup and nutmeg. Yum! I think maple is the new star of this fall season. Sorry, pumpkin spice!)
I was VERY happy with my choice. The PSL was deliciously sweet and seasonal without being too syrup-y, truly like fall in a cup. The drink clocked in at $6 even, which was pricey for 16 oz., but the coffee tasted high-quality and I truly loved every sip of the drink, so I found the cost was worth it.
The only downside was that it came in a paper cup, which is really just an aesthetic complaint as it ruins the iced coffee ~look.~ I know plastic cups might not be the greatest friend to the environment (hey, I always re-use and/or recycle them and I adore my reusable straws), but paper cups leave a bad dent in Mother Earth too, possibly worse. Either way, sipping from the paper cup almost made me regret not just ordering a hot drink (well, that and the blustery winds outside on the sunny but cool autumn day on which I visited). The Cupla Coffee Instagram also has tons of pictures of beautiful latte art in mugs, giving me more evidence that this would be a good place to order hot and stay awhile.
I didn't order any food, but there was an appetizing array of baked goods at the counter. Cupla Coffee also serves heartier, savory options, such as sandwiches and toast.
Overall, Cupla Coffee was an adorable shop with high-quality coffee (I'm worried no other PSL I get this season will measure up), incredibly sweet baristas, and fun monthly specials. The shop is also women-owned, and specializes in gluten-free, vegan, paleo and keto food options. Love it!
I may not go there all the time, but if I found myself in the neighborhood, I would definitely stop by again.
Address
175 West 200 South Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Hours
7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday)
(source)
Perks
-Fun monthly specials
-Friendly baristas
-Healthy food options
-Cozy, pretty aesthetic
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