What makes a great coffee shop?

Beyond all other factors, by far the most important quality of a coffee shop is the main event: the coffee. At Fountain City Coffee, that Uptown staple on the corner of 10th Street and Broadway, you’ll find the only shop in town that serves their own house-roasted brew. You can buy their local roast, whole bean or ground, to brew at home, too.

With a cup of great coffee—or any of Fountain City’s drinks, which include an Emerald Islander (banana, caramel and Irish cream) and Thanksgiving & Hugs (chai made with half and half, pumpkin spice, vanilla and cinnamon)—the next thing to consider is a bite to eat. For a snack, enjoy an array of fresh baked goods—cookies, scones, muffins; and if you’re hankering for something more substantial, Fountain City’s sandwiches, from breakfast through dinner, are thoroughly satisfying.

Now that we have something to eat, the coffee’s warm aroma compels us to find a spot to flop. Fountain City has several options. A new set of comfortable chairs, the kind you easily sink with a book; a new sofa, perfect for a close conversation; and ample tables for meetings, working on your laptop, games with friends, and more—Fountain City offers options aplenty.

Considering all of the qualities that make Fountain City Coffee the perfect place for your next caffeine fix, the decor would seem an afterthought. It isn’t. Fountain City keeps the walls well-appointed with works from local artists, often including the legendary Ralph Frank. Currently adorning the walls is a very special exhibit, Fountain City Faces. 90-some sketches of Fountain City regulars and baristas, by Columbus artist Garry Pound, fill the shop, a perfect reflection of the shop itself: a place, beyond the great coffee, food and amenities, that feels as much like home as your own living room.