The Anti-Starbucks

Bean Haus
640 Main Street, Covington
(859) 431-2326
beanhaus.com

In a time in which corporate coffee is feeling the sting of its global reach and every-corner locations, a place like Bean Haus is a breath of sweet, aroma-filled air. Located in Covington’s Mainstrasse neighborhood, the coffee shop is an eclectic mix of local art, wide selection and comfortable rooms situated on two floors of a 19th century house. Scrabble Night, Poetry Night and Comedy Night are weekly staples, but the appeal of Bean Haus is that it is a place that needs no gimmicks – no faux Italian names, no corporate-designed displays or branded mug selection. It is, in short, the antithesis of Starbucks, a place where you want to go after dinner at Chez Nora or spend a Sunday afternoon reading every word of the newspaper. The friendly staff takes time help you through your selection, even going so far as to sample the aromas of fifty varieties of teas from their selection. The ambiance is authentic, flawed in the perfect ways that your favorite places are, that only the best places can be. The coffee is fantastic, the baked goods are made locally and atmosphere begs you to sit and stay a while – no drive-thru window, no need to hurry about your day. Like coffee, the Bean Haus is best served simply and warm.