TOLEDO, Ohio — Hot or iced? Decaf or caffeinated? Cream and sugar or black?
Everyone likes their coffee differently, and Destination Toledo is encouraging java drinkers to travel around northwest Ohio from Aug. 1 through Oct. 31 to find their favorite cup of joe as part of Coffee Quest 419.
"We just really wanted to highlight the community and make everyone feel welcome here. My team and I just love people, we love coffee, we love making unique items. So, I think we can only just keep growing here," said Corey Clawson, manager of Earth Coffeehouse & Cafe, which sits inside Tolhouse in north Toledo.
Clawson said highlighting local businesses while creating community is what makes Coffee Quest 419 important.
"Local shops really have that intention behind coffee and want to give it purpose to enjoy the product and where it came from," Clawson said. "Everything has an origin and a story to me. It's just so important to highlight that for people and to give the gift of creation to people, too."
Erin Warren, co-owner of Brew House Coffee & Bake Shop in downtown Maumee, said her store found out about the challenge through other local coffee shop owners.
"So we were kind of in the loop with the other coffee shops. I feel like a lot of the owners know each other which is nice. We're all on the same page, and on the same side," Warren said.
Clawson said Earth Coffee is still a relatively new business, so this year was its first participating.
"We were definitely interested just wanting to be a part of the local coffee scene, especially because a lot of people don't know we're here. We're a little hidden," Clawson said. "People are really blown away because we don't have any signage outside so they just come in and are amazed and see all the plants and a whole coffee shop."
With more than two dozen participating stores, Warren said the quest creates a sense of adventure.
"I think a lot of our locals are used to staying around the area they're in. This way, it gets them out to explore all of the other shops that may not be close to home and they might find a spot they really like," Warren said. "It's good for us, it's good for everyone just to be able to be part of the community and it's fun. Everyone gets excited for it every year."
Everyone gets to have a different experience, too.
"Every spot has kind of their own style, which is nice. We all aren't the same, so it gives everybody a different experience every time," Warren said.
Clawson also expressed his excitement to watch people in the community blend.
"I think it (Coffee Quest) could only get expanded from here. I think there's always going to be great, new, local shops popping up and I'm all about supporting them all, and there's enough room for everybody," he said. "I think a lot of people really enjoy that this is somewhere in their community and it's something that you don't see everywhere."
To see the full list of participating locations and sign up for the quest, click here.
Those who visit the stores have the chance to win prizes depending on the number of locations they visit.