quarrelsome coffee

Quarrelsome Coffee is equal parts science and punk rock.  Conceived of by Omega Yeast, developers of proprietary yeast strains used in the craft brewing industry, Quarrelsome Coffee utilizes reverse-engineered, regionally-specific-replications of yeast strains from around the world in their truly one of a kind, fermented coffees.  It’s bonkers. And delicious.

This, their first brick-and-mortar location, required the significant renovation of a 100+ year old historic building, having long sat vacant in the Central West End neighborhood of St Louis, MO.  The restored structure now houses a café, cupping room, micro-roastery, and the corporate offices for the STL Omega Yeast team. While much of the building’s original architectural character was preserved, strategic interjections were made to inject the space with more of the Quarrelsome vibe.

Intended to encourage interaction between customers and baristas, the space is designed to facilitate the education of Quarrelsome’s unique process.  Anchoring the café space, the centrally located coffee bar offers a 360° view of the baristas in action, picture-framed beneath a white oak canopy. Custom booths and standing height café tables line the storefront, offering varied seating environments and activating the streetscape.  The adjacent cupping room invites customers into the roasters’ world of experimentation where meticulously-prepared samples undergo a sensory experience of flavor, texture, temperature, and smell.  Just beyond, the roastery and laboratory are visible through a large aperture cut into the existing masonry.  The outdoor patio doubles seating capacity while expanding brand identity to the public, and serves as a meeting hub within the neighborhood.

Project team:

mademan design - architecture and custom furniture

C&M - Interiors

DTLS - Landscape Architects

Lisa Beck, Omega Yeast - Photography