A few things stood out when my sons and I visited the new Lift Coffee and Treats on Stinson, near the Quarry shopping center in Northeast Minneapolis. The first is the most obvious: They have great-looking donuts, which they get from Mojo Monkey in St. Paul. This was the thing my kids appreciated most. We got a cake donut with sprinkles and frosting, and a chocolate donut topped with chocolate ganache dusted lightly with curry powder. Curry powder? Yes! Even more amazing (and disappointing to me) was that my kids liked it, and I had to share. If donuts aren’t your thing, Lift carries other local treats. There are cookies by North Minneapolis’ Cookie Cart, and chocolates from local treasure B.T. McElrath, whose headquarters are just a few blocks away.
Beyond the treats, I noticed how bicycle friendly Lift is. Located right on the Diagonal Trail, and with ample bike parking, it’s perfect for the beginning or end (both, perhaps?) of a trip. It’s a short jaunt for my boys and me, especially when I can promise donuts—really good donuts!—at our destination.
Then, when we were getting ready to leave, I noticed their No Waste program. All take-away cups and flatware are compostable, as are paper and food trash. Lift joins a growing list of Northeast food purveyers who work with Eureka Recycling. So it’s got good food, plus good environmental awareness with its approach to bikes and waste.
I was so dazzled by all this goodness that I had to remind myself to also focus on the coffee, which is lovely. It’s organic and fair-trade sourced and comes from nearby neighbors B & W Roasters.
So if you’re looking for a kid-friendly coffee shop with benefits, bike on over to Lift Coffee and Treats. There’s a whole lot to like.
Lift Coffee and Treats
451 Stinson Blvd., Mpls.
612-916-2034
facebook.com/Lift-Coffee-And-Treats