Best Coffee
Sweet Eugene's House of Java
CAFFEINE
DREAM
A melting pot of eclectic people, decor and a variety of drink and food selections, Sweet Eugene’s House of Java is College Station’s original coffeehouse.
Celebrating its 25th birthday in February, Sweet Eugene’s was established in 1993 and has expanded from a single room to a multi-room shop and lounge throughout the years. Offering an array of drinks, food items and art for purchase, Sweet Eugene’s brings in a daily crowd, accumulating regulars and piquing the interest of new customers, according to 10 year store manager Michael Green.
“A lot of the people that come here, they grew up here,” Green said. “They’ve been here since ‘93 whenever we opened and they’re like, ‘Yep that couch was probably here whenever I was here. That’s one of the beautiful things about this place is we’ve definitely kept with how we started and kept a similar feel.”
Phillip Dupree, Sweet Eugene’s employee and chemical engineering junior said the building itself has gone through changes, but the shop still has that same memorable feel.
“This place is alive,” Dupree said. “It has so much history. You can tell with every little detail. [One] room used to be Gumby’s and then we bought out that ... the Daylight Donuts fused with us as well. There used to be a stage with live music back in the day, which we are trying to get back. It’s grown a lot.”
Dupree said his love for Sweet Eugene’s started before he began working as a part-time employee and has only grown as he’s found a family in the coffee house community.
“I knew from the moment I walked in from the first time before I even worked here that it had this atmosphere and I couldn’t put it into words but I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Dupree said. “What it’s like working here is it’s like a family. I spend so much time here, whether I’m working or studying. I’m always here.”
Communication sophomore Ashley Colborn said she visits Sweet Eugene’s for the casual atmosphere, great coffee and welcoming environment, adding that the late closing hours are what set the coffeehouse apart from other shops in the area.
“Its laidback environment is perfect,” Colborn said. “Not to mention they play a great selection of music to study to. Sweet Eugene’s is a staple of Aggieland.”
Bud Giles, Sweet Eugene’s employee, said what makes the shop unique compared to other coffeehouses is its personality.
“Whenever you walk in there are like 80 different things going on and it is so eclectic,” Giles said. “When I walk into other coffee shops, I get this almost isolated feeling and it’s almost like the library quiet … but Sweet Eugene’s is very free and I don’t think people feel intimidated when they come in.”
Dupree said the timeless and homey feel of Sweet Eugene’s is what keeps customers returning and interested.
“You feel at home and people really sympathize with that,” Dupree said. “I think people come here because they feel like they can stay for hours or just chat up and reminisce. We get a lot of people who say they haven’t been here in years and then we get new people coming in who have never been here, but they have the same kind of spark when they come in.”
By Mariah Colón
@Mariahcolon18