CC: Moore Perks Cafe

What's a Coffee Commentary?

*CLOSED*
Subject: Moore Perks Cafe
Location visited: Wenonah, NJ
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]



Updated 6/20/09: Moore Perks Cafe is CLOSED for good :(

Decent coffeehouses sprout up about as often as they photograph live giant squid, so it was to my great delight when I heard of one opening up last fall in lovely downtown Wenonah. Unfortunately, due to being away most of the fall, I was unable to finally visit until recently.

The location stands out nicely, right on the main strip of Wenonah where the train tracks intersect (very convenient parking, unlike most Main St operations). Opposite of the typical cream exterior, the inside exudes more life and a cafe-ish look complete with decent seating and what appeared to be a couch/lounge area in a side nook.

The coffee is from Crescent Moon, a local up-and-coming roasting outfit who produces some of the best java in the Philadelphia region. More Perks served the coffee well (I don't recall if they used pump pots or not) as the drip tasted very fresh.

The espresso was another situation. Given that the owners of this outfit had no prior barista knowledge before they made the decision to open More Perks (I think Crescent Moon trained them), my first two experiences were a little unsettling. When I ordered my first americano, the barista seemed a little unconfident (the guy asked waaaaay too many questions of what I wanted) and two days later my latte was quite tepid (they didn't steam it enough). But giving them the benefit of a bad week, I came back a week later (my fiance' lives nearby, so it twas an easy side-stop) and I was satisfied with the subsequent espresso drinks from then on.

On a side note, More Perks also has a full menu deli besides the usual coffeehouse items (I wonder what generates more business). Yipee? (I still don't know where I stand with this issue. Sure such food generates more revenue, but will it take focus off the coffee quality? You decide...).

To summarize, even though the cafe was a little rough at first, I think the place has a good future (though I don't know what kind of promising revenue Wenonah holds...), as long as they stick to aspirations of quality and being willing to learn. If you're in the area, I'd give it a try.