Coffee, beer together at last at Star City Coffee & Ale House
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They’re two of the most loved, craved and revered beverages on the planet, but they rarely frequent the same kind of bars. Coffee tends to roll with the morning crowd, adding a much-needed jolt to start the day, and ale takes the late shift to take the edge off.
But a new spot in town is bringing them together for one happy craft marriage, right on Main Street.
Star City Coffee & Ale House, 210 Main St., opened Dec. 15, and Greater Lafayette's Kelli and Walter Cornelius are looking to bring a different kind of sipping atmosphere to the city, powered by passion.
“Coffee and ale — those are both things people love,” Walter Cornelius said.
The Corneliuses feel that love, too, but unlike most, they don’t see coffee and ale as an odd couple. When they would visit family in Seattle, they would always revel at the coffeehouses on every street — places you could go at 1 a.m. for espresso and a cupcake.
They wanted to bring that atmosphere to Greater Lafayette, where they’ve lived their whole lives, and the combination of two craft beverages seemed like the perfect way to do it.
Kelli Cornelius said the care and attention to detail involved in craft products is what makes their coffee stand out.
Both Kelli and Walter have studied coffee, and behind the counter, they weigh out beans to precise specifications. They use a French press process offer special preparations, such as pour-overs, to maximize flavor.
“If we could have a bachelor’s in coffee, we probably would by now,” she said.
They also take care socially and environmentally. They try to buy locally, and their roaster has a direct relationship with all of the growers. At the end of the day, they take their grounds and bag them up for people to use in their gardens.
That care has an effect, Kelli Cornelius said.
“It’s not just coffee,” she said. “It’s good coffee.”
And Walter Cornelius said the craft beer will take the quality up a notch, too. Like mainstream roasts, mainstream beers are fine, he said, until you taste some of the craft beers and realize there’s something better out there. Though they won’t have ale until their grand opening on Jan. 18, they also plan to have four taps, including some People’s brews.
Star City also has a menu to complement the beverages. They offer sandwiches such as grilled cheese, the Grilled Granny Smith (apple, white cheddar and cream cheese) and the Gooey Goodness (peanut butter, banana, Nutella, honey and cinnamon). They also have cupcakes baked for them exclusively by a baker in Battle Ground, and they serve various teas.
All of it adds up to the special atmosphere they imagined, they said. The shop has a repurposed feel, with a cement ceiling and wooden accents. It’s a place, they said, where people can come sit, talk and relax, no matter their beverage preference.
And Kelly Petrick, a barista at Star City, said people are already starting to notice the shop.
“The people who have come in once have come in again,” she said.
Courtney Duncan stopped in on a recent chilly day. She does some work for Walter at his roofing business, and she has come in as they’ve been preparing. She said she loves the different approach Star City takes.
Kelli Cornelius said she hopes that’s something people in town can pick up on and grasp — whether they’re team caffeine or hops.
“There are a few coffeehouses downtown, and the community has grown to love them,” she said. “I hope they grow to love us as well.”
Hybrid Mode
