STARBUCKS VS. SOMA

Starbucks wins again. But, we've decided to localize our results and detail the best local coffee house, as voted by you, the readers.\nSoma, Bloomington's best locally owned coffeehouse and best place to have a conversation, provides an eclectic atmosphere suitable for both scholars and socialites. From the music and the hodgepodge decor to the comfortable vintage chairs and study tables, Soma provides a variety of organically brewed coffee, fresh squeezed juices and baked goods. Caffeine cravers, willing to neglect their cell phones for some good old face-to-face conversation, should slip inside for a sip of joe with "no corporate aftertaste," as Soma's slogan suggests.\nLocated at the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Grant Street, Soma resides in the basement of a historic building that houses fellow local establishments such as Laughing Planet, Cactus Flower and the recently closed TD's CDs and LPs. Upon arrival, you feel like you're in your grandparents' basement with the lime green walls and all of the vintage posters, tapestries, board games, lamps and furniture. But you're quick to notice that your mom and grandma aren't there to nag you about your homework.\nAhhh … what a relief. Kick back, relax, grab a friend and get inspired while enjoying some of Soma's fall-featured hot apple cider while chatting over a game of chess. Or you can fill up on a classic espresso, sure to keep you going late into the night while studying for the big exam.\nSoma has a "freer environment" in comparison to corporate competitors, and "the music is more upbeat," says assistant manager, Rebecca Ellenberger. She says the eclectic decor is a "collaboration of whatever's clever." Soma's coffee comes from a small roaster in Wisconsin, and almost all of it is organic. \nBaristas are trained with special attention to making good coffee. The coffee is brewed stronger than the average cup of joe, incorporating Italian methods from the steaming of the milk to the grounding of the beans. As for the baked goods and fruit for the fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, "We try to get as many things as we can from local farms," Ellenberger says. \nBrian Richwine, an IU continuing studies teacher for Web development, comes to Soma to read, relax and strike up a conversation with fellow patrons. \n"Soma is a good place to bump into people … there's an interesting crowd here," he says. \n"You can sit next to someone you don't know, and it's easy to start a conversation … there's more of a chance for something unexpected to happen here."\nFrom time to time Soma welcomes bands passing through town to play in the back room. According to Ellenberger, Soma is "a good cultural epicenter where bands can play, and lots of artists and musicians come to hang out." \nLocal Bloomington musician, Andy Storms, a member of the band Bourbonic Plague and a bartender at the Video Saloon, makes a reference to Soma in his song, "There's an Urban Outfitters in My Country Town." He refers to Soma as his "counterculture coffee shop." Soma not only welcomes patrons to coffee and conversation, but it inspires them in the process. Storms concludes through his song that, "In a world of Starbucks, Applebee's and Walmart, they still can't manufacture the type of ambience or clientele you find at Soma"