SUMP Coffee

3700 S Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118

On the bluffs of the Mississippi, just south of the Anheuser-Bush Brewery, sits a compelling specialty coffeehouse that is sure to delight. Sump resides in a charming, two story, brick building in the historical, commercial district of Marine Villa. Large, store front windows double as a canvas for a highly stylized font and logo and, reminiscent of a circus billboard, beckon you step inside with hopes of finding something beautiful, amazing, wonderful, extraordinary, beautiful (lyric from, Circus of Heaven, by Yes - which this shop brought mind and is worth a listen). Any such hopes will not be disappointed.

Coffee:

My cortado was served in a thick, ceramic cup without a handle. I’ve grown fond of the traditional Gibraltar glass but found the ceramic cup to be pleasantly efficient at keeping my cortado warm. The espresso was from Sump’s Columbian bean, a chocolaty dark roast. For my pour-over, I opted for a lighter roast from Columbia that was described with notes of key-lime pie, melon, and spaghetti squash. The spaghetti squash description pulled me in. I picked up on the squash, a faint essence of key-lime, and a bit of melon rind, all of which I found revelatory compared to my traditional dark roast options and had me anxious for further light-roast explorations. Sump specializes in espresso drinks and pour overs of single origin, light roasts. I was thankful that they were able to brew my pour over directly into my insulated thermos as it allowed for a sufficiently hot coffee (my very strong preference).

Barista:

My barista was welcoming, knowledgeable, and informative, having the presence of a coffee sommelier keenly focused on matching their specialty offerings to my individual preference. Sump describes their craft coffee culture as akin to the slow food movement where the goal is for customers to have a treasured experience. Having a menu full of evocative flavor profiles, augmented by an engaged barista/coffee consultant, I say… mission accomplished.

Vibe:

Indicative of a culture of intention, the wallpaper at Sump is an elegant, custom designed pattern featuring coffee implements, coffee foliage, and

their striking, bearded skull logo, which appears to be a nod to the owner’s facial hair along with a penchant for motorcycle and tattoo culture. Recycled wood and a walnut slab table top with a natural edge bring texture and warmth to the décor. Merchandise is superb, from apparel to coffee kit. They have a small outdoor space in front of their store front facing Jefferson Ave, and have two rooms with bar, counter, and table seating. This would be a great spot to have a small meeting, or even better, to chill out and add a few chapters to your library of coffee knowledge. I enjoyed a delicious apple scone. I appreciate a shop that pays attention to detail, something Sump does in spades (see their free stickers).