Silo Coffee + Goods Profile [Update: Closed]

7:11 PM

Roaster: Blueprint
Opened: 2016
Drinks Menu: Classic options (americano, cappuccino, etc) with a few specials, such as a lavendar latte.
Food Menu: A few pastries from Whisk, a local bakery.
Espresso Machine: Simonelli manuel machine
Brew Options: Pour overs, Toddy cold brew, espresso. They also serve Big Heart Tea.
Location: Central West End
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (lower score because the café space is small and the store hours are limited)
Review:
Silo Coffee + Goods will soon close its cafe in the lobby of Techartista and focus only on whole sale, catering and coffee subscription business. While this CWE shop offers a buzzy and artistic atmosphere for enjoying a cup of joe, the truth is, this company will probably be better off without the physical location. The seating is limited and uncomfortable, and the limited hours (closed by 4:30 pm and only open Monday through Friday!) makes it almost impossible to visit. What's intriguing about this young company is the mission.
            Silo was created to support Solea Water, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing clean water to communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. The founders of Solea decided they needed a sustainable source of funding for the nonprofit to supplement grants and donations. Since a lot of specialty coffee beans are grown in the same regions in which Solea implements clean water initiatives, a coffee shop is a natural fit. Silo works to ethically source its beans to ensure fair business practices. It also invests 10% of its profits in clean water projects in those same coffee farming communities. 
            This mission is a great way for this coffee shop to differentiate itself from the other shops in St Louis. Linking Silo with this non-profit that gives back to coffee growing communities helps coffee drinkers be more mindful about where their coffee comes from. It's also great to give back to and support the farmers who grow the coffee we are lucky to enjoy.
             The cause isn’t the only enjoyable quality about Silo. The space, while it won't be open much longer, is worth mentioning. There’s a creative energy in the air. A large sculpture hangs from the ceiling and fills the open space above the espresso bar. The second floor is open and visible from the lobby, showing the little offices that ring the upper floor. The sounds of soft music and animated conversation filter down, hinting at the hard work these startups are putting in. Young people wander in and out, some walking their dogs, others bringing their animated conversations out of the office and onto the street. It’s a peek at the flexible, fast-paced lifestyle that people idealize about startup life.
            It’s not clear at this point whether closing the cafe is the first step toward full closure, but I hope not. It’s an interesting company with a good product – not my favorite, but certainly good quality. Silo sources great beans, partners with Blueprint for skilled roasting, and prepares great drinks (based off the nice foam on my macchiato when I visited). Hopefully the catering business will do well enough to keep Silo afloat.

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