Brewing up a cool UT hangout

On a rainy or snowy day, everybody wants nothing more than to stay at home and relax with a nice cup of joe. But when school is hectic and there is nothing you can do about the weather, it’s hard to have that relaxing moment. But for students at the University of Toledo, a hangout just across the street from campus has made that all the easier.

BREW Coffee Bar, located on Dorr Street, offers a variety of beverages and pastries, from their signature drink, the Café Con Meil, a honey latte made with Hartzler’s Dairy Milk and topped with cinnamon, to vegan brownies and various flavors of macaroons.

Since their opening last year, BREW Coffee Bar has made a name for themselves offering an array of options with fresh and healthy ingredients and made-from-scratch recipes.

In addition to their selection of coffee and baked goods, this locally owned and operated coffee shop has open mic every Wednesday allowing students, local Toledoans and anyone else who visits to showcase their talents.

Jennifer Erd, co-owner of BREW Coffee Bar, says people come in and do anything from comedy to spoken word, but their most popular acts are musicians.

“I love open mics; I think it just kind of brings a different vibe to a coffee shop, kind of a more relaxed more open fun atmosphere,” Erd said. “It’s open to anything as long as it is age-appropriate, because we do promote families in as well, even though it’s right by the university; people are open to do whatever they like to get their talents heard.”

Amy Silverstri, a student majoring in early childhood education at the University of Toledo, performed last week during the open mic on Wednesday.

“It was great. I was kind of nervous because it was my first gig, but everyone came out and supported me. It was awesome; it was really fun,” Silverstri said.

From students, to local artists, to even traveling musicians, people of all types have stopped in to perform their tunes at the shop. Students such as Maddie Jarrett, a first-year law student, enjoy the vibes a place like BREW brings to Toledo.

“I like its location. It’s super close to campus, and also how it’s kind of like a downtown feel even though it’s not in that location; they do a really nice job with the atmosphere,” Jarrett said.

For the food side of the business, Erd says they work closely with Zingerman’s Coffee, a small roaster out of Ann Arbor, MI, in which the owner goes to the farms and handpicks each bean and then overnights them twice a week to the shop. This results in your beverage never having a bean over two weeks old.

Another company BREW works closely with is Hartzler’s Dairy, located out of Wooster, OH.

“They don’t use any pesticides or anything; it’s more than organic,” said Erd. “The soil is free of chemicals and their cows are all free-range grass fed, which is huge for me personally; we don’t mind spending a little extra money to support them, and the taste is next to none.”

Their pastries and treats come from Alcumbs Bakery and Bri’s Bakehouse, two local bakeshops.

“All of the foods we carry are made from scratch here in Toledo; it’s fun to keep everybody local and just support the community,” Erd said.

From their gluten-free options, to Holey Toledough donuts, to perfect pour-overs, BREW has something to interest even the non-coffee fan.

BREW Coffee Bar is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. They accept RocketCards as a form of payment.