Third Time’s A Charm

Third place doesn’t always mean some sort of consolation prize. In community building, sociologist Ray Oldenburg’s idea of a third place is a communal space where people gather and socialize outside of their homes and work—the first and second place, respectively.

Easily accessible and, more importantly, welcoming, Third Cup Café hopes to be your third place. After you’ve had your morning coffee at home and another during your break at the office, Third Cup Café hopes to serve you your third cup in a place where you can relax with friends and even make new ones.

Meant to look as homey as possible, the café’s owners shared little bits of themselves in the interior design. Six glass doors, one for each of the partners and stenciled with each of their favorite drinks from the café, make up the façade. Books from their personal collections line the shelves, and personal finds like prints and a vintage clock hang on the walls. These six enterprising friends who ended up as business partners personally taste-tested and voted on what goes into the menu.

One of their first successful experiments was the Espresso Julep, iced coffee with refreshing undertones of mint. Joining it is the Banoffee Frappe, the popular dessert in liquid form and, logically, one of the café’s bestsellers. Their take on the Monte Cristo—a fried sandwich with layers of ham and Swiss cheese—is served with apricot jam and a side of potato chips. For a slightly healthier option, a good choice would be the Apple Brie Chicken sandwich, with grilled chicken, apple slices, and melted brie cheese. Mayonnaise is kept to a minimum and a balsamic vinegar reduction is used in its place to give it a hint of tang without being too greasy.

Third Cup Café is a place built by friends to share good coffee and create friends.