Saving the World, One Cup at a Time

The owners of Clear Conscience Cafe in Central Square are on a mission. It’s pretty hard to miss… in fact, it’s conveniently spelled out on a poster behind the counter. They sell fair trade, shade grown, organic coffee and organic food “with an underlying agenda of social responsibility and environmental stewardship.” The counters are made of bamboo or crushed beer bottles; the ceiling tiles are made of 100% recycled material; the shop is illuminated by efficiency lighting; whenever possible, the owners used materials from less than 250 miles away. “Wherever we could make tiny little inroads to what I believe in, we did it,” says Daniel Goldstein, one of the owners. It meant that it took longer than expected to build the cafe, located at the front of Harvest Co-Op... well over a year. But it’s more than worth it, according to Goldstein—he hopes the café will be Massachusetts’ first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified commercial retailer.

Goldstein is as passionate about his coffee as is about the building. He won’t disclose the name of their roaster—they sell the coffee under the cafe’s label—but one of their baristas suggested it's local. Wherever it’s from, it’s good. Dark and strong, with a nice flavor even when it cools down (important if you want to linger over a cup while reading or surfing the web in one of their comfy chairs). The shop also offers a small selection of organic salads and sandwiches, as well as bagels and pastry. We enjoyed the roast-turkey sandwich with apple, sautéed onion, cheddar, and cranberry mustard ($7.29), and the veggie, slathered with hummus and feta ($6.99). The prices are a little steep, especially on the food, but that’s par for the course when it comes to organic. Boston-area vegans have been disappointed that the menu caters mainly to omnivores… But if it's mostly the environment that's weighing on your conscience, get your caffeine-fix here. Photo by Lisa Scanlon.