Rustic Cup

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Rustic Cup
Location: East Prospect, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

The more I drive around the country, the more I appreciate small towns. While cities still cradle a chunk of my heart, there's nothing like a tree-lined boulevard, easy parking or finding a great coffee shop on a country road. 

Herman's Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Herman's Coffee
Location: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

As many entrepreneurs have now proven, auto garages make excellent coffeehouses. Maybe it's the rough-and-tumble aesthetic or maybe it's because people like large garage doors, but either way I've seen cafes successfully set-up shop across the country in similar concrete shells, each one offering a great community hub, especially in the summer.

Malvern Buttery

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Malvern Buttery
Location: Malvern, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Since taking up beekeeping as a hobby, I have found that I do not mind driving around with swarms of bees in my car. Granted said bees are in contained boxes called "packages" so the danger of injury is limited to the box opening somehow, but nonetheless there is still something invigorating about high-risk insect chauffeuring. 

Coperaco

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Coperaco
Location visited: Harrison, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]

Few coffeehouses have a jaw-dropping physical presence. Given the cost of real estate and the rather boring architectural options developers create for retail, most shops end up working with your standard rectangles and visual cues. But some cafes are fortunate, able to capitalize on beautiful and/or unique concepts, adding a glorious third space for their local community.

Dog and Hat Coffee

Subject: Dog and Hat Coffee
Coffee Mugged and Rating [see key]:
- Horsham Coffee Roasters, Rwanda Bwishaza, 5+
- Cafe Mokxa, Boliva Genaro Mamani, 6+

There is nothing like coffee arriving at your door, especially when the coffee made a trans-Atlantic voyage. Recently I had the opportunity to try out Dog and Hat Coffee, a coffee subscription operation catering mainly to folks in the UK and Europe. Not only do they deliver fresh, whole bean coffee from a variety of excellent European roasters each month to their members, but they also offer occasional goodies and special deals from time to time.

Order and Chaos Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Order and Chaos Coffee
Location: Baltimore, MD
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Over the years, I have had many conversations with friends and colleagues on how they sate their desire for a good cup of coffee at the office. Some bring a thermos; others have a hot water kettle and pour over set-up right at their desk. But very few are as lucky at the folks at Baltimore's Planit Agency, where a superb in-house coffee bar keeps their employees, as well as the surrounding community, on task with excellent beans.

Three Ships Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Three Ships Coffee
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

When my sister first moved to Virginia Beach some years ago, I remember having an excruciating time finding a good place to grab coffee between Williamsburg and the ocean. But then around 2015, I came across a young company called Three Ships and ever since, it seems the availability of good coffee in Virginia Beach has been slowly blossoming.

NJ's Great 8 Coffee Roasters

What makes a good coffee shop? Many coffee establishments thrive on selling gigantic coffee milkshakes and sugar-bombed lattes, but if you really analyze it, when the syrups are pushed aside and the whipped cream is blown away, you need good coffee to make such concoctions work. Thus for a local cafe to make great coffee beverages, they need good beans, and to utilize good beans means a shop must either source from a quality coffee roaster or take up the herculean mantle themselves.

American Bulldog Coffee Roasters

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: American Bulldog Coffee Roasters
Location visited: Ridgewood, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Long ago, I found the lovely NJ town of Ridgewood and it seems to only have grown in beauty since. Outfitted with a pleasant downtown, a slightly bucolic train station and good local coffee, I have visited the area more often in these past years than some towns 20 miles from my house. To put it simply, if I had to move to north, Ridgewood would be on my shortlist.

Amity Coffee Roasters

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Amity Coffee Roasters
Location: Greenwood, DE
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]

In my travels, rural northeast towns are some of the hardest spots in which to locate good coffee. I do love driving, but there remains only so much distance I can convince my passengers to detour for a decent cup of coffee. Thankfully, the regional prospects are getting better and fewer trips exists where a good, local shop is completely out of reach.

Evermore Coffee Roasters

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Evermore Coffee Roasters
Location: Burlington, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

The city of Burlington sits a few River Line train stops below Trenton and arguably holds some of the finest architectural charm in the area. It's a town that has a beautiful view of the Delaware River, and even though Burlington has had a share of tough goings through the years with a declining business district, there are signs that the area could be on an uptick.

Adagio Tea

Subject: Adagio Tea
Tea Mugged [pictured above from left to right]:
- Golden Spring

- Ooooh Darjeeling

- Thai Chai

While coffee is my favorite drink, tea is certainly a close second. Especially in the past decade, it seems like the tea options have exploded, with a larger variety of teas becoming more easily available to the tea drinking public, not to mention a higher popularity of tea-based beverages entering the menu at local cafes (think match lattes and london fogs).

Bird in Hand

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Bird in Hand Coffee and Books
Location: Baltimore, MD
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Some of my favorite memories involve drinking coffee while perusing through a bookstore. Though some booksellers sadly refuse to embrace the calling of serving excellent coffee, there have been many establishments that do a wonderful job weaving the written word and the well-roasted bean. One such literary oasis new one to my eyes emerged during a recent trip to Baltimore, when I found that Artifact Coffee and The Ivy Bookshop had created a beautiful space adjacent to Johns Hopkins campus in Charles Village called Bird in Hand.

Ohmies

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Ohmies Coffee Bar + Yoga Studio
Location: Roselle, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Coffee pairs well with a lot of things in life. Chocolate, cake, long nature walks, mornings, chocolate cake, late nights and fruit are all things I think go well with a quality cup of coffee. Thus why not exercise? Aside from the risks of vigorous movement with a hot beverage, the coupling makes sense, especially since many people have come to accept black coffee as a delicious, healthy drink. Thus when I found a coffee bar and yoga studio in my travels through Roselle, I was surprised that I had not found such a place sooner.

Germantown Espresso Bar

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Germantowan Espresso Bar
Location visited: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Two decades ago, I would argue that Philadelphia really only had a handful of neighborhoods worth traversing. Now in 2018, there exists so many vibrant parts of Philly and yet, many breathtaking portions of the city are still overlooked or missed by most people. One such area is Germantown, a neighborhood as old as the Revolution (the site of the Battle of Germantown in 1777) and full of charming architecture and beautiful homes. Currently riding a rejuvenating wave of local improvements, there are many reasons to detour out to Germantown to sample the changes.

The Coffee Bar

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Coffee Bar
Location visited: 1201 South St NW, Washington DC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While seasonal rain is welcome for purposes of irrigation and staving off drought, downpours during a day in the city sure make the day a little more challenging. Fortunately when recently I ran into this dilemma in DC, I had planned a visit to the African American Civil War Memorial Museum and a highly-reputed coffee stop nearby called The Coffee Bar.

Hotel RL + Victrola Coffee

SPONSORED POST


Many people expect a decent cup of coffee in the morning when they stay at a reputable hotel. Is it too much to ask for a hot cup of joe that doesn't taste like old cigarettes? Experience would echo with a resounding "yes." Sadly the expectation for good hotel coffee has been eroded over time, with tons of mediocre (at best) coffee experiences regularly tarnishing the mornings of coffee lovers across the globe.

But fortunately, some hotels are exceeding expectations in terms of coffee excellence. Take the Hotel RL, who not only offers great coffee from Seattle juggernaut Victrola Coffee Roasters but they have actually gone as far as to build a legit coffee bar in many of their lobbies. Having the opportunity to stay at their Baltimore location this past weekend, I was able to experience this hotel rarity firsthand.

Pretty Bird Coffee Roasters

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Pretty Bird Coffee Roasters
Location: Yardley, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

I once knew a somewhat unpleasant fella from Yardley. It wasn't that he tried to be off-putting, he just never had anything to contribute except woe and headaches. Sadly, due to the fact that he was the only constant association with Yardley, I subconsciously allowed my love for this river village of Pennsylvania to grow cold over the years. Thankfully news of a decent coffee roaster surfacing on the main drag sparked a return one afternoon to sip some coffee and give Yardley a new chance.

Mugged: The Barn

Subject: The Barn
Coffees Mugged (coffees were not rated on the normal scale due to small amount mugged) [see key]:
- Nano Challa, Gera, Ethiopia
- Amaca - Los Anayes, Cauca Colombia
- La Isla, Naranjo, Costa Rica

- La Montana, Narino, Colombia

- Fazenda Um, Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Nguguini AB, Kirinyaga, Kenya

- El Diamante, Intibuca, Honduras

Lots of coffee roasters extend across the continent of Europe, but only a handful have a strong reputation internationally. One of these roasters is The Barn Coffee Roasters in Berlin, a German roaster that has been growing in reputation since their inception in 2010. Sadly I have not set foot in Europe during the past 8 years, so my interactions with their coffee have been fleeting and subject to luck in finding them here in North America.

Black Swan Espresso

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Black Swan Espresso
Location: Newark, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Having driven through Newark hundreds of times this past decade, it has been a constant pang of grief that the city possessed little (if any) in the way of great coffee. Yet despite my fruitless searches, I never gave up searching for a long-lost caffeinated diamond in the rough, and finally after ten years of combing the internet, I found Black Swan Espresso.

Sawhorse Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

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

Some towns have all the luck. While I am not one to let envy overtake me, I definitely get a little green in the eyes when I find a town has more than one great coffeehouse. With most towns operating with zero quality shops, it is truly great fortune when a small geographic area gets two (or more!) great coffee operations.

Backyard Beans

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Backyard Beans Coffee Company
Location visited: Lansdale, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While I hold firmly to the opinion that turnpikes ruin road trips, I have come to embrace their necessity. Sure, tolls effectively suck the fun and loose change out of life, making a carefree drive into a financial balancing act, but having driven much of the United States I have come to terms that toll roads are a fair compromise until flying cars become a reality.  

Loma Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Loma Coffee
Location visited: Wilmington, DE
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Many people often overlook tax-free Delaware when it comes time to plan an outing, but the more I visit state the more I find new reasons to return. One particular area of interest is the region's blossoming cafe culture, with a once arid coffee landscape becoming an increasingly lush place to find good beans. One of the oases I've encountered as of late resides in Wilmington on a beautifully walkable stretch of Lower Market Street (aka LoMa), a shop thus aptly named Loma Coffee.

Mugged: Ferris Coffee

Subject: Ferris Coffee and Nut
Coffees Mugged and Rating [see key]:
- Costa Rica Sumava 5+

- Guatemala San Sebastian 6+

- Ethiopia Misty Valley 6+

Most coffee roasters older than disco do not produce coffee worth coffee drinking. Whether one attributes it to a fear of change or the stubborn fortitude of old habits, most coffee purveyors that predate Alfred Peet still usually purvey subpar coffee. Thus in light of the disappointing odds for old coffee roasting operations, it's pretty amazing that Ferris Coffee and Nut, having been around for nearly a century, delivers some pretty amazing coffee.

e-shot Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: e-shot Cafe
Location visited: Larchmont, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Even though I am a huge fan of the automobile, trains are still my favorite way to get around a metropolitan area. Sadly when those trains get out into the suburbs, most towns do not possess a complimentary infrastructure, with the train station often being far from shops and cafes (usually to accommodate parking). Thus, to find a decent coffeehouse near a train station appears as rarely as an open seat during the morning commute. 

The Wydown

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Wydown
Location visited: 14th St, Washington DC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Long weekends on the road often make coffeeshops the perfect oasis for some leg stretching and refueling. Recently after spending some time relaxing with friends in Crystal City, my family was heading north towards NJ, when a (typical) major traffic upset sent us on an odd detour through the middle of DC. While driving through our nation's capital can be an inconvenience, in this case it actually made for a perfect opportunity to hit a coffee establishment that's been on my list for some time: the Wydown.

Mugged: Overwinter Coffee

Subject: Overwinter Coffee
Coffee Mugged: The Lemon Drop

Rating [see key]: 6+

For a couple of years in the early 21st century, I called Upstate New York home. While it took me some time to warm up to it, I genuinely do miss being close to the raw beauty of the Adirondacks, the exorbitant snowfall and visiting the old towns that remind me of Bedford Falls. 

The Nook Coffee House

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Nook Coffee House
Location: East Greenwich, RI
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

When traveling through Rhode Island, I have usually stuck to the same tired roads around Newport and Providence. But thank the Lord above, I found myself on a long overdue detour meandering a less-traveled route along the Greenwich Bay to see some of the beautiful New England coastline and enjoy some local sites. One such establishment fixed in my map was a local cafe called the Nook Coffee House.

Alabaster Coffee Roaster and Tea Co.

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Alabaster Coffee Roaster and Tea Co.
Location: Williamsport, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

A lot of folks forget about the many beautiful towns dotting Pennsylvania. From Punxsutawney to Bethlehem, there exists plenty of hidden gems clustered all across the state, little pockets of sunshine I try to visit when I travel the Keystone State. Until recently, one city that had long eluded me was Williamsport, home of the Little League World Series and Lycoming College. But some months ago I set out on a trip to the region, booking a room at the historic Genetti Hotel (which was a superbly pleasant stay at a great rate) and staying within easy walking distance of another draw to Williamsport: Alabaster Coffee Roaster and Tea Co.

Lackawanna Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Lackawanna Coffee
Location: Jersey City, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

*UPDATE 03/31/19*
Unfortunately they dropped Parlor Coffee and went with a less exciting line-up (just being honest). Coffee quality decreased a tad.


When making my way through Jersey City, I am often encouraged by the growing number of decent coffee establishments popping up in the area. One of my favorites is a fairly spacious joint with an excellent courtyard, a shop called Lackawanna Coffee.

Breville Oracle Touch

Over the past couple of years, decent home espresso machines have become far more accessible. I remember ten years ago, walking into a department store and finding the average espresso machine to be a glorified water heater, never mind a precision tool that produces excellent espresso. But now, the consumer market is finally catching up to the geeks, and household brands once overlooked in the quest for good espresso are emerging as contenders.

Source Coffeehouse

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Source Coffeehouse
Location: Bridgeport, CT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

After a gorgeous weekend relaxing in a New England cabin, the only thing left to round out the experience was a stop by a great coffee house. Fortunately, my path led me through Bridgeport directly past a coffeehouse I had been looking to try since their 2013 inception: Source Coffeehouse.

Grace Street Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Grace Street Coffee
Location: Washington DC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Georgetown displays some of the best scenery in DC, with lots of historic architecture, cobblestone streets and occasionally-filled canals. Striking a great balance of conservation and new construction, many of the local businesses operate out of beautifully rendered venues, making a sunny walk down M Street a window shopper's paradise.

Double Knot

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

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

Until recently, I never realized how much an izakaya was missing in my life. The equivalent of a tavern or pub, izakayas became popular watering holes in Japan along main routes during the late eighteenth century. Today, these Japanese establishments serve far more than sake, with some offering light fare along with various beverages, while others serve "an all you can consume" option with a set time limit.

Ahh, Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Ahh, Coffee
Location: Houston, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

As far as convention centers go, George R Brown takes the cake as a top favorite. Whether it's the peaceful park outside its front doors or the Texas-shaped pool in the adjoining Marriott Marquis, I list it among convention centers at which I don't mind being stuck.

Lorca

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Lorca
Location: Stamford, CT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

If there's a state in which I started off on the wrong foot, it was Connecticut. As one of the first states to grace my youthful eyes, the land debuted as merely a glorified series of congested interstates. No sooner had I entered into Connecticut did I wish to be rid of it on the other side, destined for tourism in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and other points north. Now older and wiser, I have realized how many gems I have missed in the many towns of CT. To make up for lost time, I recently began retracing old road trips but using time-tested logic of seeking local dining establishments instead of truck stops and coffeehouses of repute versus caffeinated drive throughs.

Qathra Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Qathra Cafe
Location: Brooklyn, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Many people think that most of New York City is a blurring labyrinth unfit for the visiting motorist. Sure many people who live and work in the area drive around, but most tourists to Manhattan tend to think that driving in the other four boroughs are just as bad as gridlock in Times Square. The truth is that once one gets out of Manhattan, the majority of NYC neighborhoods are fairly drivable and less chaotic.

The Spoke and Bird

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Spoke and Bird
Location: Chicago, IL
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Having gone to McCormick Place in Chicago more times than I have eaten deep dish pizza, it has become a point of mine to find good coffee in reasonable walking distance from the giant halls that occupy much of my day when I visit Illinois. Over the years, Chicago's blooming coffee scene has made this hunt for quality coffee less and less daunting, with this past visit turning up a coffee shop a mere three blocks away.