Small Business Spotlight

Lately,I’ve been on the hunt to discover new places to study. Switching scenery tends to help me focus and be more productive. However, there is nothing more motivating than going to a coffee shop to sit down and catch up on work. I heard about this local coffee shop in downtown Hammond called Luma Coffee. So I decided to go check it out myself. The scenery on my walk to the coffee shop felt like something of a lifetime movie-just a small southern charm city. Tons of small businesses lined the street. I mean come on Ruby Boutique on my left Red, White & Brew on my right. There were plenty options for activities ranging from entertainment to food and shopping.

Downtown Hammond

Upon walking into Luma, I was greeted with an overpowering yet delightful smell of coffee. The shop itself has a rustic yet modern glow to it. Soft jazz music played over the speakers coupled with small talk from customers. The overall ambiance was refreshing. Natural lighting just lit up the store. The building itself is very historic and had some flaws but the boohoo decorations gave it a nice charm. You will find there is an array of seating options. From a tabletop bar area to couches, normal tables and chairs, and my favorite area a little upstairs nook. For me the upstairs portion made me feel cozy. You get to overlook the whole shop.

Upstairs Seating

I heard from others that Luma was known for their in-house coffee roasting. So, I decided to check out the menu. Luma offers your typical lates, capuchins, drip, etc. However, for noncoffee lovers like myself, Luma also sell water, tea, and a small selection of finger foods such as toast and sandwiches.

For my foodies and non-coffee lovers

The baristas here are very genuine and very informative in aiding with your drink selection. Any questions I had about the menu the barista was happy to help. If you like a coffee that tastes more like a dessert rather than plain coffee, I have found the perfect drink for you. The drink is called "Gold Rush" and was a part of their seasonal drink menu. The drink was a latte with butterscotch and salted caramel syrup, with marshmallow whipped cream, sprinkled with gold flakes and sea salt, rimmed with rice krispies. I couldn't recommend this drink enough it was truly nothing short of amazing.

Gold Rush Coffee

Overall, my experience at Luma Coffee was very relaxing. The baristas here will get you right and serve up some amazing coffee. Although I was able to work on some school assignments the shop did receive a lot of traffic coming in and out. Therefore if you are looking for a place to sit back and relax and partake in some people-watching, I would definitely recommend coming try out Luma Coffee. Truly Luma felt like more than a coffee shop but more like a community for people to socialize, work, or just hang out. Luma definitely earned by business.