Feb. 2, 2024

A new coffee shop is open on downtown’s east end, with a focus on working with farmers.

Daylily Coffee is owned by Andrew Fritz and his wife, Ariana Vandersnick, who opened their doors today after helping give new life to a century-old building at 1010 E. Eighth St.

“This is massive and surreal,” Fritz said. “It has been so much work, and it’s very exciting.”

Daylily Coffee shares the building with In Flower, a new floral shop that plans to open the week of Valentine’s Day, according to owner Stephanie Thi.

The couple’s focus is on highlighting the farmers growing the beans.

“We want to share their stories,” Vandersnick said. “It can get so lost on the consumer end as we chug our cup of coffee for the boost of caffeine, but it is so much more than that.”

Josue Morales of Guatemala and Jose Heider of Columbia are two of their many farmers.

“The stories leading up to that moment of us enjoying the cup are what makes our coffee so important,” Vandersnick said.

Fritz has proudly formed a lot of relationships and connections through his years in the coffee bean industry, he said.

“I can text a farmer right now and ask what coffee they have or when it will be ready,” he said.

They’re bringing in coffee from Africa, South America and Central America. Right now, Daylily’s first blend is from Ethiopia and Brazil.

The shop’s name is symbolic of the idea that, just as a daylily only blooms for 24 hours, no cup of coffee will be the same because it’s something natural and organic.

“You get the short time to enjoy the beauty of a daylily or cup of coffee from this harvest because it’s from the earth, it’s natural and it is always changing,” Fritz explained. “It’s a moment, and we want to appreciate it.”

The couple will offer tastings, roast their own beans in-house and sell varied, seasonal pastries, which will include something savory, something sweet and a vegan and/or gluten-free option as well.

“We want this space to be a fun space to build connection and community, and learn more about where their coffee comes from,” Fritz said.

They will soon launch a subscription service and hope to get their beans into retail stores around town.

“If we can help coffee farmers improve their livelihood, make it more equitable while building community here by enjoying a good cup of coffee, that’s where my heart is,” Fritz said.

Hours “for the foreseeable future” are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.