Crossroads Cafe

Subject: Crossroads Cafe
Location: Quarryville, PA
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I love driving around the area surrounding Lancaster. The city itself has its charm, but the countryside that is home to corn mazes, Bible story theater and chicken-filled smorgasbords holds a fabled loveliness that few regions can rival.

Jiva Java Cafe

Subject: Jiva Java Cafe

Location: Bartonsville, PA
Rating: 5+ [see key]

The Poconos region has mixed memories for me. On the one hand, its natural beauty often suffers due to poor infrastructure design and inexplicable hoards of tourists. On the other hand, the area has lots of local gems that, if sought out, can be found on roadsides and random back roads aplenty. 

Ace Outpost

Subject: Ace Outpost

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Rating: 6+ [see key]

The city of Philadelphia boasts magnificent architecture, history and lovely parks. But when you're walking through the streets of the city, there's a particular look for the storefronts below that screams Philadelphia which is increasingly had to find as landlords trade out that 80s grit for fancy facades. One trip south of South Street brought me to a rare, gorgeous example of this fading Philly look at a coffee shop/vintage clothing store called Ace Outpost.

Union Coffee

Subject: Union Coffee

Location: Lambertville, NJ
Rating: 6+ [see key]

The two towns of Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA are inexorably tied and yet have two very different dynamics. New Hope is far more the tourist-centered borough, with its cute main street and attractions, but a few visits expose its congested footprint and surprising lack of public (or private) bathrooms. Whereas Lambertville first appears far more of a sleepy village, but repeat exposure shows this is the town with far more quality, hidden gems.

De Fer Coffee & Tea

Subject: De Fer Coffee & Tea
Location visited: Strip District, Pittsburgh, PA
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Pittsburgh in summer remains a favorite destination, especially if I have business/destinations to visit in the city that give the necessary motivation to seek out good coffee.