Owned by Tiffany Colby and business partner Harjinder Signh. United Coffee House was inspired by Colby’s passion for culture, coffee and independent ownership.

“I worked with coffee for 12 years,” Colby says. “So [this] puts together my knowledge of coffee.”

The cafe was named “United” because of Colby’s interests in different cultures.

“I like the idea of the unification of all different cultures, it’s kind of like civil rebels,” Colby explains, referencing to her international travels and the civil rights movements she observed in places like India.

The cafe also serves as a gallery for a variety of original art pieces by local and Bay Area artists ranging from graffiti to pop culture to abstracts.

Colby says she actively seeks artwork that fits the atmosphere of the café and is grateful for the pieces she is able to display.

“We are so lucky to have these [art pieces],” Colby said. “Mostly I hunt [artists] out. I try to find something that really strikes me.”

United Coffee House’s patrons say they enjoy the café’s welcoming, open atmosphere.

“I love this place,” said local tattoo artist and full-time employee Matthew Marsango. “The energy of this place is really chill, calm and relaxing, just really welcoming.”

According to United Coffee House patron Cori Heimer, a City College psychology major, the coffee is not at all lacking either.

“I always get the Americano. They do an amazing Americano,” Heimer said. “Everyone there is so friendly and easygoing. There is something for everyone.”

In addition to its goal to serve great coffee and display unique art, the United Coffee House seeks to provide students with a comfortable atmosphere to study and socialize.

“We want people to know that we’re here,” Colby expresses. “[We’re] very accessible.” United Coffee House is located on Sutterville Road, right across the street from City College.

“I enjoy going to [United Coffee House],” says a City College international relations major Amanda Higgins. “They have the best coffee within walking distance of Sac City.”

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Walking into United Coffee House, my nostrils are immediately filled with alluring scent of fresh, strong, dark coffee, perhaps a little too strong.

United Coffee House has a strange scent and their coffee is unlike anything I have ever smelled before. The coffee does not smell like the seductive scent of Peet’s Coffee & Tea, nor does it smell like a candy factory, the way Starbucks smells.

They say they sell organic fair trade coffee, and boy, they were not kidding, it smells like the fertilizer in my backyard.

Although the walls are filled with awesome paintings by local artists, the coffee is profoundly below par. United Coffee House may be filled with comfy chairs and have tons of room, but their coffee tastes like the earth, literally.

I’m all about organic coffee growers and the need to support local farmers; however, I’m also all about delicious tasting coffee.

Their coffee is not for students who enjoy a sweet, fattening frappuccino from Starbucks from time to time or a simple soy chai latte from Peet’s Coffee and Tea.

Organic coffee is supposed to be delicious and pure like the ground it grows in. United Coffee House’s coffee reminded me of a really bad batch of fruit that spoiled over a week’s time.

Although the owners, Tiffany Colby and Harginer Sighn, were extremely kind and upbeat, it took Colby at least five minutes to make me my drink. Now for students in a rush, this is anything but good.

Before making me my drink, Colby asked me how I like my coffee. I told her strong, very strong. I was indeed expecting a strong, bold cup of coffee but instead I got a mucky, sea-tasting, batter-of-mildew-like substance that eroded the taste buds in my mouth. It took every ounce of my willpower and all of my acting chops not to spit the coffee right out of my mouth.

Not only does their coffee taste bad, but their prices are anything but fair.

Sandwiches are $5.95. One word: expensive.

Students can expect a small cup of plain coffee to cost them $1.75 and a blended Frappee costs $4.15. The catch with these prices is a small cup of coffee is smaller than a small or tall size at Peet’s or Starbucks.

The coffee is French pressed with a pressing tool for bringing out the most flavor. The process is a great idea if you have the time, energy and patience in the morning.

For a coffee shop to French press all of its coffee is a horrible business maneuver because it takes unnecessary time and energy, and causes a line of people to stand impatiently at the coffee bar, awaiting their order.

Although I didn’t enjoy the coffee at United Coffee House, I must give them kudos for a welcoming atmosphere.

United Coffee House is located across from City College.

But a warning: enter at your own risk.

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