It’s Wednesday night and the seconds are ticking until your paper on the growth of media conglomerates (or any other usual suspect of essay topic) is due tomorrow at 2. You’re fully aware that coffee will be entering your bloodstream in unholy quantities until the first birds of morning are chirping as you type the last words.
Now picture the same situation except do not envision yourself holed up in your room or the library with a brain full of stress and regret. Rather, you’re relaxing at Redamtè Coffee House, casually sipping some frothy caramel concoction and enjoying the soulful guitar music of a musician you had never even heard of until a few minutes prior.
Redamtè Coffee House is, as its name implies, a new coffee shop which opened a year ago at 449 State Street, perched above eye level on the second story of establishments. Redamtè has a mission to create a community-focused coffee shop that works to bring awareness to local and international social issues through individual efforts and in partnership with organizations around the world. As their website states, Redamtè routinely asks itself, “how can we, as a business, make the world better?”
“Our main purpose is to show the local consumers that their simple daily purchases have power, however small the impact,” said Director Mitchell George in an interview with The Daily Cardinal.
For example, the cafe hosts Meal for Meal Monday during which every meal purchased equates with another being donated. On Thirsty Thursdays, far from its commonly known campus connotations, every drink purchased means the organization donates one gallon of clean drinking water. Without even realizing it, patrons are contributing to different organizations all over the world.
In order to be environmentally sustainable, Redamtè is also dedicated to buying local, organically-grown produce, as well as offering vegan and gluten-free products.
“When you hear ‘locally grown’ and ‘organic,’ you think ‘expensive.’ We want to change that,” said George about their menu and ingredients.
Redamtè’s main focus is to create change through its partnerships with other nearby and worldwide causes, such as Beautiful Child and Faith Orphanage, a Haitian organization that cares for nearly 30 children and also works to give underprivileged children a chance at education.
As for Redamtè’s entertainment scene, the cafe also collaborates with Majestic Live to host musical acts of various genres across a broad spectrum, creating an evening of music and fellowship within its intimate and laid-back environment, like when Ron Pope played a nearly sold-out show at the cafe last weekend. The ambience of Redamtè offers “a welcoming atmosphere, one where people can be relaxed and friendly without all the polish of a structured event,” according to George.
Many of you may be fans of New York-based indie band Freelance Whales, who will take the stage at Redamtè on October 6 in what is expected to be a very successful show, especially for college students in need of a night out free from their daunting piles of homework and other obligations. Redamtè brings its musical acts directly to the UW—Madison campus with its centralized location on State and, in the case of Open Mic Wednesdays, appreciates the talent that the citizens of our city have to offer. Redamtè’s open mic nights are alcohol-free, encouraging students to simply enjoy the music of local artists, and it gives local performers the opportunity to creatively contribute their talent to the community through Redamtè’s hub of organizations and affiliations.
So basically, if you have a hankering to let out your inner John Mayer or hone your flourishing barista skills, stop by Redamtè to sign up for open-mic night or to volunteer your time behind the counter. For non-performers, there are plenty of nationally-renowned artists lined up to take the stage this fall and beyond. In addition, visit the website to make a donation to the many organizations Redamtè works with, volunteer your time to events or learn more about Redamtè’s core mission. Essentially, Redamtè is an exemplary coffee shop with the added bonus of local food, good company and a unique music venue option. We know better than anyone, as college students, that coffee and music make the whole world go ‘round.
