Tucked away on Brackett Avenue is Beyond Brewed Coffee Shop (1907 Brackett Ave.), a quaint space headed in a new direction. Alicia Weber was a bartender and front of house manager at the Red Coal BBQ before the joint moved across town. When she left, she finally had her chance to start a business of her own. Alicia recently moved to the Midwest from Washington State, where big coffee chains are not as popular as one may think.

Small coffee huts in parking lots are extremely prevalent on the West Coast, with speedy drive-through service and delicious roasts. Beyond Brewed boasts a huge menu of espresso drinks in a convenient location along with delectable sweet treats from Little Wissota Bakehouse, including espresso brownies and multiple flavors of muffins. You can also order a flavored Red Bull, a drink that will be more popular with non-coffee drinkers, Weber said.

This contributor’s favorite food item is maple bacon cream cheese spread on a toasted bagel. Weber’s drinks all have their own fun names ever since one regular asked Weber to name a specialty drink after her. Weber’s goal is to “bring some West Coast flavor to town,” and she’s starting to achieve that. Stop on by, come up with your own favorite flavor combination, and maybe there will be a drink named after you!

Beyond Brewed is open seven days a week from 5:30am to 2pm.