Lit / Monocacy

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Monocacy Coffee Co / Lit Coffee
Location: Bethlehem, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I have fabulous memories of Bethlehem, PA. I recall visiting a distant cousin and going to a Christmas market as a child, stopping by for numerous respites while passing through and recently, a long-overdue tour of the silent steel mill. Sadly not many of these visits had a great coffee stop but that fortunately changed on my most recent visit.

Fog & Flame

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Fog & Flame Craft Coffee
Location: Bloomsberg, PA

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

I find that Pennsylvania still has gems unearthed even after criss-crossing the eastern half for the last twenty-something years. One particular new-to-me place was a town called Bloomsburg. Having seen it frequently in pamphlets as the backdrop to the local university, I was finally able to become acquainted with the town and a local coffee shop. 

Blackwatch Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Blackwatch Cafe
Location: Scranton, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Many coffee shops exist in a minimalist, white-walled retail space with some minor charm, but sometimes a unique gem works its way into the mix. Such was a winter visit to Scranton to a stand-alone stone shop at a public park where I found what looked more at home in the Scottish highlands than northeast Pennsylvania. 

Morgantown Coffee House

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Morgantown Coffee House
Location: Elverson, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Some of my favorite coffeehouses are watering holes that seemingly come out of nowhere. Whether it's an excellent-yet-poorly-marked coffeehouse in the desert or an excellent espresso stand in a random museum, I love a good surprise.

ThreeBirds Coffee House

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: ThreeBirds Coffee House
Location visited: Easton, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Old house architecture so often gets lost to time and private ownership. Sure, that's kind of the point of houses, but when a gorgeous gem of a residence takes on new life as a more public space, its like sharing or learning a beautiful secret.

Elementary Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Elementary Coffee Co.
Location: Harrisburg, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I remember the first time I drove past the Pennsylvania Capitol building and was struck with its keystone majesty. As far as capitols go, it's one of the better state structures I've visited, not only because of its impressive architecture but also due to the surrounding city, including multiple coffee shops of great worth.

Thank You Thank You

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Thank You Thank You Coffee Brewers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Jewelers' Row has not been one of my frequent stops in Philly, mainly because I buy very few gems (my wife does not allow me to buy her jewelry anymore), yet nonetheless, I have long loved to visit occasionally. So when I found out a newer coffee shop was brewing up a variety of great roasters in a cozy corner on the row, I made quick plans to visit.

The Breeches Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Breeches Cafe at Allenberry Resort
Location visited: Boiling Springs, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

I am always struck with how much of Pennsylvania I still have yet to visit. I literally try to take a different route each time I traverse the state and still, I find surprises unsought.

The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop
Location visited: Mechanicsburg, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

A giant stand-alone coffee shop with plenty of parking is not a common sight, but occasionally one appears on the horizon. The latest one I found in my travels was a shop called The Crack Pot, a cafe in an entire house focusing on providing work for kids who age out of the foster system. 

Two Persons

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

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

In driving around Philadelphia, I am always surprised by what I do not see. I blame it on familiarity. Growing up in the area, I have grown accustomed to the sights that it's only when something new happens that an old structure hidden in plain sight becomes apparent. 

Vagrant Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Vagrant Coffee 
Location visited: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Despite its proximity, there's not a lot of motive for me to visit Baltimore these days. Sure I blame it partially on the pandemic, but I would also chalk it up to just a lack of good impetus to visit the city in general (though as I write this post, I am chalking up some interest in a visit). Thus, when I found a Baltimore coffee roaster had set up a Philly presence, I figured that would be a perfect compromise for the time being.

Boro Coffee Co.

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Boro Coffee Co.
Location: Hollidaysburg, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Pennsylvania is dotted with tons of intriguing small towns, almost too many to visit. Fortunately, it seems that the more interesting a town, the more likely a good coffee shop will open up nearby, so it's just a matter of tracking down good coffee. 

Prince Street Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Prince Street Cafe
Location: Lancaster, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Lancaster is slowly turning into one of my favorite areas in Pennsylvania. The city and the surrounding Amish countryside offer such a beautiful mix of the bucolic and the tantalizing that even though I get out there quite frequently, I have yet to grow tired of the region.

Jiggy Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

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

Philadelphia has a lot of great coffee shops, and there seems to be at least one quality newbie each year. One well-reputed arrival from the past year or so was Jiggy Coffee, a shop in Washington Square West.

The Clay Cup

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Clay Cup
Location: Altoona, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I have driven past Altoona many times but my past itineraries/passengers have never allowed me to make a stop before. Fortunately I was able to remedy that on a recent trip west, where I was able to stop in town not only to take in the local sites but to grab some coffee as well.

Rothrock Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Rothrock Coffee
Location: State College, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Nearly every time I have to cross the state of Pennsylvania, I end up going through State College. While it's hardly a burden given the beautiful campus and local amenities, timing is crucial in order to make it a relaxing layover. Fortunately I played my cards right on my most recent trip and I ended up grabbing coffee at local roaster Rothrock Coffee.

Abide Coffeehouse

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Abide Coffeehouse
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

While I have traveled by Wilkes-Barre multiple times, I never had the opportunity to stop there until recently. While driving south, I detoured to this northeastern PA city to see the downtown and grab some coffee at a local establishment that had caught my eye, a place called Abide Coffeehouse.

Mechanic Coffee Co.

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Mechanic Coffee Co.
Location: Verona, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

A town with charm not overrun with foot traffic is a rare sight, but that is how I found Verona. Meandering through the western PA countryside towards Pittsburgh, I found myself in town one gorgeous Saturday morning with relatively empty streets and word of a great coffee shop operating out of a two-story white brick structure on E Railroad Avenue.

Adezzo

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Adezzo
Location: Scranton, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

A lot of people call things hidden gems (even me) but very few times are said gems truly hidden from plain view. But such is exactly the case with a coffee shop in Scranton called Adezzo, that despite being a block from the courthouse area where I have been dozens of times, the building it resides within was all together unknown to me until recently. 

Redhawk Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Redhawk Coffee
Location: Oakland location, Pittsburgh, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

After spending time in the wilderness, I like to balance it out with some time in the city. Thus, in a trip to western Pennylvania to take in some of the great outdoors, I was glad to swing into Pittsburgh for some good food and great coffee.