Mugged: Overwinter Coffee

Subject: Overwinter Coffee
Coffee Mugged: The Lemon Drop

Rating [see key]: 6+

For a couple of years in the early 21st century, I called Upstate New York home. While it took me some time to warm up to it, I genuinely do miss being close to the raw beauty of the Adirondacks, the exorbitant snowfall and visiting the old towns that remind me of Bedford Falls. 

The Nook Coffee House

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Nook Coffee House
Location: East Greenwich, RI
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

When traveling through Rhode Island, I have usually stuck to the same tired roads around Newport and Providence. But thank the Lord above, I found myself on a long overdue detour meandering a less-traveled route along the Greenwich Bay to see some of the beautiful New England coastline and enjoy some local sites. One such establishment fixed in my map was a local cafe called the Nook Coffee House.

Alabaster Coffee Roaster and Tea Co.

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Alabaster Coffee Roaster and Tea Co.
Location: Williamsport, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

A lot of folks forget about the many beautiful towns dotting Pennsylvania. From Punxsutawney to Bethlehem, there exists plenty of hidden gems clustered all across the state, little pockets of sunshine I try to visit when I travel the Keystone State. Until recently, one city that had long eluded me was Williamsport, home of the Little League World Series and Lycoming College. But some months ago I set out on a trip to the region, booking a room at the historic Genetti Hotel (which was a superbly pleasant stay at a great rate) and staying within easy walking distance of another draw to Williamsport: Alabaster Coffee Roaster and Tea Co.

Lackawanna Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Lackawanna Coffee
Location: Jersey City, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

*UPDATE 03/31/19*
Unfortunately they dropped Parlor Coffee and went with a less exciting line-up (just being honest). Coffee quality decreased a tad.


When making my way through Jersey City, I am often encouraged by the growing number of decent coffee establishments popping up in the area. One of my favorites is a fairly spacious joint with an excellent courtyard, a shop called Lackawanna Coffee.

Breville Oracle Touch

Over the past couple of years, decent home espresso machines have become far more accessible. I remember ten years ago, walking into a department store and finding the average espresso machine to be a glorified water heater, never mind a precision tool that produces excellent espresso. But now, the consumer market is finally catching up to the geeks, and household brands once overlooked in the quest for good espresso are emerging as contenders.

Source Coffeehouse

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Source Coffeehouse
Location: Bridgeport, CT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

After a gorgeous weekend relaxing in a New England cabin, the only thing left to round out the experience was a stop by a great coffee house. Fortunately, my path led me through Bridgeport directly past a coffeehouse I had been looking to try since their 2013 inception: Source Coffeehouse.

Grace Street Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Grace Street Coffee
Location: Washington DC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Georgetown displays some of the best scenery in DC, with lots of historic architecture, cobblestone streets and occasionally-filled canals. Striking a great balance of conservation and new construction, many of the local businesses operate out of beautifully rendered venues, making a sunny walk down M Street a window shopper's paradise.

Double Knot

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Double Knot
Location: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Until recently, I never realized how much an izakaya was missing in my life. The equivalent of a tavern or pub, izakayas became popular watering holes in Japan along main routes during the late eighteenth century. Today, these Japanese establishments serve far more than sake, with some offering light fare along with various beverages, while others serve "an all you can consume" option with a set time limit.

Ahh, Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Ahh, Coffee
Location: Houston, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

As far as convention centers go, George R Brown takes the cake as a top favorite. Whether it's the peaceful park outside its front doors or the Texas-shaped pool in the adjoining Marriott Marquis, I list it among convention centers at which I don't mind being stuck.

Lorca

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Lorca
Location: Stamford, CT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

If there's a state in which I started off on the wrong foot, it was Connecticut. As one of the first states to grace my youthful eyes, the land debuted as merely a glorified series of congested interstates. No sooner had I entered into Connecticut did I wish to be rid of it on the other side, destined for tourism in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and other points north. Now older and wiser, I have realized how many gems I have missed in the many towns of CT. To make up for lost time, I recently began retracing old road trips but using time-tested logic of seeking local dining establishments instead of truck stops and coffeehouses of repute versus caffeinated drive throughs.

Qathra Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Qathra Cafe
Location: Brooklyn, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Many people think that most of New York City is a blurring labyrinth unfit for the visiting motorist. Sure many people who live and work in the area drive around, but most tourists to Manhattan tend to think that driving in the other four boroughs are just as bad as gridlock in Times Square. The truth is that once one gets out of Manhattan, the majority of NYC neighborhoods are fairly drivable and less chaotic.