Friday, November 19, 2021

Essy's Coffee and Frozen Yogurt


Subject: Essy's Coffee and Frozen Yogurt
Location visited: Bozeman, MT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

As a place I called home for nearly a year, I am always happy to return to Bozeman. The town is sadly losing some of its quaint quirks with its ever-growing popularity, but one positive is the increase in quality coffee establishments. The newest to my eyes on my recent visit was a combo that is not often seen, that of frozen yogurt and coffee at a place called Essy's. 

Tuesday, November 09, 2021

Grindstone Coffeeology


Subject: Grindstone Coffeeology 
Location visited: Huntington, WV
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I have had my eye on the western border of West Virginia for some time, so when plans finally came together to visit the vicinity, I already had a small list of coffee destinations mapped out and ready to go.

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Nomad Coffee & Crepes / Knockabout Coffee


Subject: Nomad Coffee & Crepes / Knockabout Coffee
Location visited: Ballston Spa, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Many trips have I made to the mountains of New York, and every time I try to find a new coffeehouse. So far the vastness of the state has made that goal fairly obtainable, and on my last trip I was blessed to visit the lovely town of Ballston Spa to check out the beautiful town and visit a place called Nomad Coffee & Crepes.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Enlightenment Coffee


Subject: Enlightenment Coffee
Location visited: Walton, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

On a visit to Noah's Ark in Kentucky, I found myself without a drop of good coffee in the immediate vicinity of my hotel. The city was aptly named Dry Ridge and fortunately, I was able to make plans to travel a little out of the way early the next morning to grab some local coffee and remedy my situation. 

Friday, October 01, 2021

Vagrant Coffee


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.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Honeybee Coffee Co.


Subject: Honeybee Coffee Co.
Location visited: 700 Sevier Ave, Knoxville, TN
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Knoxville is another city that I've seen from the highway several times but have never really visited until recently. This summer finally offered a great opportunity to see the city and check out the coffee. 

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Sibling Coffee Roasters


Subject: Sibling Coffee Roasters
Location: Charles Town, WV
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Reading about Harpers Ferry in history books always had me curious about checking out the area, but since it was a bit far for a day trip, I never made it out. Then this past year, my son got his free national park pass in 4th grade and suddenly free park admission motivated my family and I to head over.

Thursday, September 02, 2021

Boro Coffee Co.


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. 

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Prince Street Cafe


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.

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Mission Coffee Co


Subject: Mission Coffee Co.
Location: Columbus, OH
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

In my past few times through Columbus, I had only been afforded views of the city from the interstate, as each time my passage through the city was either late at night, or unfortunately paired with a hurried time table. Thankfully, on my most recent visit to the city, I was able to make time for some good coffee. 

Monday, August 02, 2021

Jiggy Coffee


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.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

The Clay Cup



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.

Monday, July 12, 2021

Z Vault


Subject: Z Vault
Location: Bel Air, MD
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Most people think you have to head to California to visit Bel Air, yet if you live east of the Mississippi you can just head over to Maryland. Located in about 45 minutes northwest of Baltimore, I had often passed the city but never made a stop until recently.  Fortunately, my visit made a perfect opportunity to stop at a local establishment called Z Vault.

Monday, June 28, 2021

Rothrock Coffee


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.

Friday, June 25, 2021

Whole and Grounded Cafe



Subject: Whole and Grounded Cafe
Location: Woodbury, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Ever drive by a shop and wonder why in the world a quality coffee shop has not opened within? I have had that phenomenom happen many times, but none more often than on the corner of Delaware and Broad in Woodbury. The space had all the trimmings for over twenty years(!) but never had a quality tenant hile I have traveled by until finally this past year.

Friday, June 18, 2021

Abide Coffeehouse


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.

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Salt City Coffee


 Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Salt City Coffee
Location: Syracuse, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Every city has its nicknames, some more obvious than others. Living in Syracuse, NY one finds out that before the town was known for its orange pride it was known for its salt industry. And while there aren't many vestiges of the salty days, small nods remain in small things like business names, such as Salt City Coffee.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

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.

Monday, May 10, 2021

Adezzo



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. 

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

SkyTop Coffee


Subject: SkyTop Coffee
Location: Manlius, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

When I lived in Syracuse, I definitely did not take full advantage of the many nearby towns and attractions. One such nifty nearby town was Manlius. While I made a few trips over for dining or to take in some history, it sadly lacked a good coffeehouse in my days upstate.

Monday, April 19, 2021

Redhawk Coffee


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.