COVID-19 has forced the Michigan-based company that briefly owned Espresso Royale, LLC, to exit the coffee business. However, the master roaster Ken (a UI alumnus who got his start as a barista at the Espresso Royale at 1117 W. Oregon Street!) and a small group of people that have been slinging coffee in CU for Espresso Royale since it was called ERC (Espresso Royale Caffe, with two F’s!!!) have opened a new roasting company and re-opened the Champaign-Urbana cafés that we all have known and loved for years.
The new companies are called M-36 Coffee Roasters and Espresso Royale CU — you can call it ERC-U for short. We will still be roasting, bagging, blending, and baking the Espresso Royale coffees, drinks, and pastries and providing the wonderful customer service that you have grown to love.
Currently, the Neil Street location is open with the drive-thru, in addition to walk-up ordering and a newly expanded patio seating, and our Village at the Crossing location is open with online ordering ahead and patio seating — both open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. The Urbana flagship store on Oregon Street should be opening within the next few weeks.
We are so happy to be able to continue the Espresso Royale tradition in CU, and we hope to see you soon.