The first coffee shop stop is all about the Dark Side.
Dark Side Coffee House is nestled in a corner shop at 110 W. Jackson St. in Cicero. I sat down with the owner, Vanessa, and discussed her love of coffee and how Dark Side Coffee House went from “just an idea” to a flourishing business for almost five years now. The story begins with two lovers who had two things in common: the love of coffee (black coffee, mind you) and the love of Star Wars.
Vanessa and Matt had their first date at a coffee shop – a safe place to meet someone for the first time in hopes that the person doesn’t turn out to be a serial killer – and found they both really enjoyed their coffee … black. No cream, no sugar, just … black. She knew he would be the one from his first order of just plain black coffee and she told her mom “He’s the one.” And the rest is history.
Photo provided by Sydney Schmitt
They found they both loved coffee (and Star Wars) and would make trips to Costco to buy coffee in bulk, but the taste was not satisfactory. They decided to buy a roaster and roast their own since they loved the drink that much. Family and friends would get roasted coffee as gifts and said, “You should sell this!” and that’s just what they did. Knowledge about coffee roasting came from researching books and educational videos, and sooner than later their passion for coffee became a business.
“The need for a coffee shop was clear, and I grew up in the area and we love the Hamilton Heights school district, so Cicero was a good place for the shop,” Vanessa remarked.
Dark Side Coffee House did not start out as an actual coffee shop where customers come in and order a coffee or baked good to go or to stay. In fact, it started out in 2018 as a roastery that sold to farmer’s markets, online, and to cafés around the area. In 2020, Dark Side Coffee House took root in the location where it currently sits on Jackson Street to serve the customers of Cicero and the surrounding areas.
Why the name Dark Side Coffee House, you might ask? Both Vanessa and Matt are immense Star Wars fans, and in 2018 their son just finished watching a Star Wars movie and that decided it right then and there. Plus, the name goes with just one of the many roast options they have available. In my opinion, the “dark side” has better-tasting coffee anyway than the “bright side,” so I’m sure that may have been a factor in the name as well, but don’t quote me.
Photo provided by Sydney Schmitt
When you hear the name of this coffee shop, you might expect to walk in and be greeted by Darth Vader himself or have Princess Leia serve you your cup of joe. That’s not the case, though, as Vanessa wanted to make sure the coffee shop was a place for all customers – Star Wars fans or not.
The atmosphere and ambiance have a warm, industrial feel with an open ceiling, exposed brick, thriving plants, and notes of leather weaved in and out of the shop with different seating arrangements. The symbol for the structure of the caffeine molecule is smack dab on the wall right as you walk in, so nerds (such as me) feel right at home. There are subtle Star War references littered throughout that fans can look for, especially from some of the coffee blend names to some merchandise a customer can buy.
Photo provided by Sydney Schmitt
The space itself is not the biggest, but there are plans in the making to have seating and rental space available upstairs as well to accommodate guests.
The current Valentine’s Day seasonal menu has an array of Valentine’s Day-themed drinks with the three most popular being The Turtle Latte, The Raspberry Mocha Latte, and The Strawberries and Cream Blonde Latte. Vanessa recommended The Strawberries and Cream Blonde Latte. The hints of strawberry and chocolate were just perfect for any sweet tooth out there, and I’d recommend it.
Also, take note that May the Fourth is a special day for the store and is usually when their summer drink menu hits the board. The store sells merchandise and also 15 to 20 of their own roasted coffee blends ranging in a variety of natural processed flavors to take home with the most popular being “Not a Morning Person.”
I asked Vanessa what were some unique things that the coffee shop had that other coffee shops don’t offer, and she said, “Almost all of our baked goods are made in house and we roast our own coffee, and I think that makes us unique.”
To wrap up, I asked Vanessa what her favorite drink item was on the menu, and – you guessed it – her answer was as simple as they come: “Black coffee. Just black.”
Find Dark Side Coffee House on the web at DarkSideRoasters.com and on social media for more information about their hours and current menu.
Sydney Schmitt is a self-pronounced coffee addict who is a new resident of Noblesville. She can be reached at sydneyschmitt@gmail.com. She’d love to hear from you and what coffee shops she should try!
Photo provided by Sydney Schmitt