Author Archives: coffeehouseguy80

This installment of the Coffeehouse Journey took me to a cafe that has rapidly become one of those “old familiar places” in my heart. I actually visited here for the first time over two years ago while strolling the streets of Harrisburg after a poetry reading. Back then it was located on the much-maligned Second Street in the heart of the city, but has since moved to its Third Street location in Midtown; Midtown being the heart of our Bohemian (or at least hipster) demographic here in the ‘Burg.

The freewheeling, urban atmosphere remained the same though, and it’s all due to the owner of the shop, Ambreen Esmail. Originally hailing from Pakistan, Ambreen has become a local go-to person for the coffee connoisseurs of the area. Ironically, she herself claims to be a committed tea-drinker. Thankfully that doesn’t stop her from knowing the ins and outs of the coffee trade; she even jets off to New York City to get new beans and engage with the cupping community up there. Cupping is the coffee equivalent to wine-tasting, with “Master Tasters” taking the place of sommeliers.

Sometimes there is live music music here, especially on our monthly Third in the Burg nights (that’s every third Friday night), and most commonly in the summer. Besides the eclectic atmosphere of the place, though, the coffee itself really shines through as the main draw. The sheer pace of flavor change-up and willingness of the staff to help you concoct literally any variation on a theme make this a place to stop for anyone working here. Oh, and by the way, she’s only closed on Sundays! Unlike many of the places here with schizophrenic hours, this place is quite consistent. It also doesn’t try too hard to be “cookie-cutter” Bohemian, which is very refreshing. Whether you’re a resident or just passing through, I recommend this one or sure.

Oh, and on a personal note, not all of my reviews for coffeehouses in general will be this cheery, but I figured that we might as well start this blog off on a positive note! Good idea right? Well, until next time folks.

A shot of the interior…

And the exterior…

And that would be Ms. Esmail’s head scurrying busily behind the counter…

And, we’re off! This is the first official coffeehouse entry on this journey, and I found it fitting to make the “cornerstone” of this trip our venerable Cornerstone Coffeehouse on Market Street in Camp Hill. This is actually one of the first coffeehouses I ever visited, and while I’ve been there several times, this is the first time that I’ve ever spread the word about the virtues of this place. And it deserves that. Bohemians, hipsters, and suburban soccer moms all frequent this place in relatively the same frequency, and that’s no small feat for a niche business like a coffeehouse.

You see, I called the place “venerable” in the last paragraph because this is one of the few coffeehouses in the area that has been around for as long as most people can remember. It existed before the big-city business boom at the turn of the millennium that brought all the clubs and pubs to downtown Harrisburg and Wormleysburg across the Susquehanna. They are also one of the shrinking number of venues for live music around here. On the weekends they have a range of singer/songwriters coming in from around the area.

As for the coffee, it’s definitely good, but I must warn you that they err on the side of making it strong! Aside from that, the quality seems to be quite excellent, as is their selection of coffees. There’s also the normal coffeehouse fare; light pastries, etc. If you’re in the area, definitely check it out. Like I said before, it’s one of those “neighborhood haunts” for West Shore folk and you can always trust a place with so many regulars! Here are a few pics I snapped outside.

Here's the Market Street entrance...

And this would be my coffee.

Finally, this project has officially begun. I say “finally” because I’ve actually had the website in my name since February, but a confluence of crazy events during the early spring kept me from actually traveling around the state looking for coffee. Now all is well and I’m ready to start out on what I hope will become the only Pennsylvania Coffeehouse Journey ever attempted. At least the only one being blogged about. The truth is, most people in this area have no idea how many of these little bastions of Bohemia actually exist in this area, and will be genuinely surprised to know how many coffeehouses not only serve great coffee, but also serve as homes for the arts. The mission of this journey is to change that.

Here’s how this will go. Every week or so I’ll try out a new coffee hotspot or two somewhere in the area, starting in my hometown of Harrisburg, PA and expanding out across the state and most likely into other states as well! The focus, however, will always be right here in Central Pennsylvania. The coffeehouses will be reviewed, and basic info given about each. Whether the coffee is bitter or better, you’ll know about it; bear in mind, however, that it’s only my opinion and I recommend that you personally subject your taste buds to the coffee in all the places I review. I’ve been toying with a ratings scale for measuring not how “good’ the coffee is (since that is so subjective), but rather how well the environment of that coffeehouse stays true to the Enlightenment-era, Bohemian zeitgeist of the original coffeehouses of Europe.

The first actual entry should be coming very soon, so if you’re reading this while it’s still in the formation process, please be patient, and please stay tuned. Happy journeying, fellow caffeine addicts!

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