I always have a backup plan. Whether I’m packing extra clothes in the trunk ‘just in case,’ or I’m stuffing extra precharged batteries in my pocket to stave off the consequences of a phone losing charge at exactly the wrong moment, I like to take a cue from Odysseus and never be at a loss. Sometimes, that looks like choosing a contingency coffee shop.

When I planned the trip to Cafe Luli, I wasn’t sure there was a Cafe Luli. The website hadn’t been updated, and Google Maps couldn’t produce their hours. I wanted to plunge that deep into the Baltimore countryside, but I didn’t want to waste gas if there was nothing there. I had to find a place that looked promising, but which wasn’t too far off the Beltway. That place was the Stone Mill Cafe and Bakery just outside Timonium.

The name alone sounded auspicious. Stone mills are where you make craft bread. They’re historic. The image of a stone mill easily dovetails with the thought of sitting by a window with a steaming cup of coffee and contemplating things. Assuming that was the intent, I screenshotted the directions and set off. Cut to a few hours later, the entire exercise was unnecessary. Cafe Luli was there, and it was fabulous. But that left me wondering: What about the other place? It was on my way home, and I couldn’t just do one coffeehouse when two on the same stretch of highway were viable options. So, I decided to stop by Stone Mill after all. I’m glad I did.

Oddly enough, this was yet another coffeehouse in a plaza. The plaza can’t possibly be new, since I’d learn that the Stone Mill Cafe has been here for over thirty years now. It sits along famous Falls Road, as does the plaza. Falls Road is a major thoroughfare in suburban Baltimore, connecting a multitude of similar shopping malls, service plazas, train stations, and hotels that cater to the thousands of travelers who pass through the region every day.

The Stone Mill, in this context, is something of an oasis. You’ll see what I mean if you look at the photos below. The building is trying its level best to be cozy, and it does as well as a tall brick edifice can. The garden and archway help. Oh, yes, there’s an arch leading through a green space strewn with seating; the path leads to the entrance of the coffeehouse proper.

The interior was not at all what I had been expecting. I don’t even know what to call it. It was a hodgepodge of features. There were tables beneath fascinating works of art. There was a busy counter fit for mass coffee production. Then, I found a large, circular window looking out over the green space I’d just come from. Dreamlike. That’s the word I’m looking for. You know those dreams you can’t forget because they’re such a bewildering combination of images that they stay in your waking memory? That’s Stone Mill.

Regarding the coffee, my expectations had gone through a rollercoaster ride on the way here. First, I thought ‘Stone Mill’ meant something self-consciously fancy. Then, when I saw the plaza, I thought this might end up being some cheap, generic Arabica fit for travelers more thirsty than choosy. They defied me on both counts.

The coffee was from La Colombe, a roaster in Philadelphia. They’re famous for being a key member of coffee’s Third Wave. ‘Third Wave’ coffee is an academic term for what we’d call craft coffee. Specialty, boutique roasts only really burst into the Western mainstream during the latter days of the hippie era in the 1970s. For perspective, the First Wave includes diner coffees. The Second Wave emerged in the heyday of the cultural revolution in the 1960s, with a focus on spotlighting its international sources. La Colombe wasn’t founded until 1994, but it was the 90s (far more than the 70s) that are associated with what we consider ‘coffeehouse culture’ today.

I didn’t really get a coffee. I got a soup. That’s how strong the coffee they gave me was, and indeed, they’re proud of having the strongest coffee in the area. It immediately reminded me of something I’d had a few months ago: Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee is known for being so thick that you have to wade through the grains at the bottom of your always-tiny cup. Stone Mill wasn’t making it quite that thick, but the flavor profile was so deep it was almost smoky. It was also intricate, with a distinct green pepper note spicing up the rich, leguminous base.

I love pleasant surprises. Alright, we all do, but this one came after driving through the Maryland woods all morning, so it gets bonus points.

As I write this, I’m planning what region to showcase next. I’m also praying for more rain to help the last vestiges of my garden last a few more weeks into autumn. Please join me in both endeavors. Here’s the travel dilemma: I was originally considering a jaunt to Delaware, but a trip northeast amended that plan. There are too many interesting small towns up there to ignore. We’re headed back through coal country, the Bloomsburg area, and hopefully on to the Poconos! I’m an Office fan, so don’t be shocked if the Journey winds its way up to Scranton and into that…well, you know, that New Jersey/New York, Parsippany-type place. Oh, I have no clue what to call that region. Help me out here, people. Anyhow, that’s where the Journey’s aiming for next.

Until next time, stay caffeinated!

the facade…

the grand entrance…

the setup…

the art…

the whimsy…

the seating…

the beans…

the data…

the great outdoors…