Pressed

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Pressed Books + Coffee + Gifts
Location visited: Erie, PA

WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Erie, Pennsylvania has been a town with which I have had poor coffee fortunes. Each time I have visited, I have either found poor coffee or if I found a quality prospect, it was closed. A few months back, it seemed like my poor fortune would continue while passing through town one Sunday, but just as I had begun to despair, I found Pressed. 

Located in a beautiful brick strip mall at the northern terminus of I-79, Pressed Books + Coffee + Gifts is a joint coffee shop and retail operation. The day of my arrival, the coffee shop was the only portion open and had limited inside capabilities during the pandemic, but nonetheless the cafe was extremely inviting and cheery. Both spaces were beautifully-arrayed with a simple yet alluring decor that would have been likely busting at the seams. 

As for coffee, the coffee roaster utilized was Pittsburgh's Commonplace Coffee and thus, I ordered an espresso of their Perpetual and a single origin Papua New Guinea. The espresso, pulled short/medium with brown crema, smacked of chocolate, lime zest, sugar cookie, cream, graham cracker and some cherry soda, proving sweet and smooth. The drip coffee also offered some fantastic flavors, with notes of strawberry punch, pound cake, rhubarb, black cherry, hibiscus tea, nougat and a little wheat.  

While sticking around was not possible that day (partly because I had a long day of driving ahead), I definitely will return to Pressed in the future. If you happen to be in Erie or passing through, definitely make a refreshing detour to their convenient location. 

These wonderful folks made this visit possible in part. Make sure to check them out!