The Mill Coffee & Tea — Restaurant in Lincoln

Traveling through Lincoln recently, I was looking for a great independent coffee shop. After a false start where I found a coffee roaster - no espresso drinks, the guy behind the counter explained to me - I was directed to The Mill.

On the corner of Prescott and 48th, it was directly across from a college where I attended for a year many, many years ago.

First impressions were good! The ambiance is great! Students talking seriously together at a grouping of tables, smell of coffee as thick as the humidity in the air outside.

My first sign that The Mill hadn't yet reached that next level of really fantastic coffee house was when the barista looked at me quizzically when I ordered a cortado. After explaining what it was, he still didn't seem to understand and after a few more attempts, I just told him to make it and it would be fantastic.

Then the second death knell for what had held such promise: the barista pulled out one of the cups (to try and understand how much half & half I wanted)...

Styrofoam.

Those of you who've read my reviews in the past know that I detest styrofoam. On so many levels! But those who might be reading from this particular establishment I have a message for you.

You cannot take a beautiful, deep, multi-layered nectar-of-the-gods drink like coffee and put it into that kind of a receptacle without leaching all manner of nasty chemicals into it completely ruining the flavor and nuance of that coffee!

You might as well throw Folgers in some steamed milk and call it good!

In that moment, I realized that what should have been a quick stop for coffee was going to take a few minutes longer anyway. I asked for my drink in a ceramic mug so as to not destroy the flavor, but then had to drink it quickly since my kids and two dogs were in the van waiting for me.

All in all, a disappointment. Now to be fair, the drink was really, really good! Despite having more steamed milk in it than it should have had, it was delicious!

Oh and the coup de grace. For my two-shot drink with a splash of half and half, they charged me over $4. I don't know where you're from, but for me that's pricey! That they think so highly of their espresso that they charge an arm and a leg, but then put it into Styrofoam? Just makes me shake my head.

All alone, the espresso would have gotten this coffee place a five-star rating. Untrained baristas bring it down a little (although with everything else considered I still would have given them five stars).

Styrofoam takes it to a two. I can't overstate the fact that no respectable coffee shop will put their drinks in...

I’m live out of town, but come to Lincoln several times a month to visit my daughter. The mill on Prescott is always a stop every morning when visiting. Always great service. This morning, not so much. The young lady with black curly hair and glasses was very unwelcoming. I ordered my usual chai latte along with a couple black coffees. After making my chai she told me there was no black coffees. I was confused. She told me it would be a while before it was done brewing. They were not busy and I don’t understand how that happens. I went ahead and got the flavored coffee. She didn’t say hello, thank you, or have a nice day. Nor did she apologize for the inconvenience. It’s not a great way to keep customers coming back. Maybe she was having a bad morning. She diid slam the whip container in front of me on the counter, as if I was inconveniencing her by asking for whip on my chai. I will continue to return, because usually the staff are pretty welcoming. However, being a barista for almost 10 years myself, maybe a refresher in customer...

The Mill is a locally owned coffee shop with several locations around Lincoln. The College View location is my personal favorite. I don't enjoy coffee (I know it's weird), but you can also get a selection of teas, steamers, scones and muffins (from local bakeries), as well as wraps and other grab-and-go fare. The Mill is the perfect anchor for the other small businesses on Prescott, and a great place for a rest after visiting the Sunday farmer's market. If it's crowded and the weather cooperates, I like to take my tea and muffin to go and enjoy them on the park-like campus of Union College just across 48th Street. About two blocks the other direction is a city park with picnic tables and a shelter which is also a great option for a...