Bubo Coffee brewing up success in West Chicago

WEST CHICAGO – For some, inspiration can come from anywhere.

When it came to naming his coffee shop, Enrique Martinez got his inspiration from Red Oak Nature Center in Batavia.

Bubo Coffee, which Martinez opened in August in West Chicago, is named after a display he saw in the facility.

"Bubo is the scientific name given to a Great Horned Owl," he said.

The Aurora resident had been struggling to come up with a name for his shop. One day he was in the nature center, noticed the name, and instantly knew he had found something.

"I've always liked owls to begin with," Martinez said. "It was short and kind of catchy."

Martinez decided he wanted to start his own coffee shop because he had trouble finding coffee he liked in the suburbs.

"I would always have bad experiences when I go to coffee shops," Martinez said. "It wasn't up to my standards."

He wanted a good-tasting coffee that was consistent, and went to several shops to see what worked well and what didn't.

Martinez found his drive-through location at 2013 Franciscan Way.

The shop has an outdoor seating area that oversees some trees, but it's currently not very functional.

Martinez uses Intelligentsia Coffee, which is purchased directly from the farmers who grow the beans, and is an organic coffee that doesn't use any additives.

"You can taste the difference. They try to get the best quality of coffee," he said.

Martinez's business also sells teas, pastries and even organic gelato.

Mayor Ruben Pineda said Bubo Coffee has provided beverages for Coffee with the Mayor events, and that it's good to have them in the community.

"They're a great addition to the coffee selection in West Chicago," Pineda said. "It's a quick drive through and it's great coffee."

Martinez said the response has been good so far and people are getting excited about his business.

"It takes time to grow your business," he said. "It's slowly growing."

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For more information about Bubo Coffee, visit www.bubocoffee.com.