Category Archives: Uncategorized

This month I didn’t really go far afield for my coffee. I hope you all understand; it’s been freakishly cold here in our corner of America, and my car has barely been able to start a few mornings. As well, it’s been busy season at the bookstore where I work. We supply used textbooks to students for low prices, so we have been swamped as the new academic semester began, meaning some long, or at least stressful and busy days for me. I’ve been lucky to have enough energy to get to work and back, let alone go on much of a bean-related trip! I have plans to venture west to Carlisle and east to Reading, and hopefully into parts unknown in the next two months as the days get longer, if not actually much warmer.

For now, I’m just going to let you know about a new kind of coffee that I found at a local shopping center purely by accident, which has become my go-to coffee for those days when I’m afraid to venture outdoors! It’s called Peet’s Coffee, and it hails from Berkeley, California. A pretty appropriate source if you ask me. After all, coffeehouse culture has always been the epicenter of social change, and if there’s one thing that Berkeley is famous for, it’s activism.

As usual, when I’m trying a new coffee, I get the house blend first. I think that gives a very good first impression of what the coffee is “about”; what it’s makers are trying going for in terms of style. I took it as a very good sign that the exact date of the roasting of the beans that went into that particular batch is noted at the bottom of the package. Shows a lot of class. What I get from this house blend is something that’s not quite as buttery and smooth as, say, Eight O’ Clock coffee (a family favorite that I’ll talk about another time), but certainly not as bold or bitter as Seattle’s Best. It’s a good, mid-range, not-too-earthy flavor that goes very well with fresh cream (which cuts down on a bit of acidity and lets the full flavor really come out.

Well, I hope that was informative and showed you a nice potential drink to keep you warm and satisfied on those long winter mornings when a trip to get coffee feels like commuting to work! See you in February with some more updates.

My new friend.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a joyful Yule and Solstice. That cover everyone? This is looking to be my last entry of the year. It’s been a really busy two months, with Thanksgiving and Christmas so close together this year, and New Years Eve right around the corner. So many family events, so much inertia when I’m laying in my warm bed! Since I did have a week off of work though, I finally had the energy and the free time to visit what may be the last really local coffeehouse that I’ll be reviewing for a while. Oh don’t worry there will still be regular updates…I’ll just have to travel a bit farther afield for new cafes.

This is a Camp Hill/Mechanicsburg coffeehouse that I’ve heard about for some time. It’s a local spot, mostly frequented by people traveling along the Carlisle Pike on the west shore of the Susquehanna. It’s a humble looking place from the outside, located in a very small plaza right off the main road. A little post-industrial, but hey, that’s Central PA.

When I got in, it was much warmer than I expected from the outside. It’s really inviting, if rather small. No sign of any local music, but the coffee itself was quite good; once again I found a place where they distinguish between “strong” and “good” coffee. That’s always a good sign. The Colombian was quite tasty. I was also impressed by the fact that they open at 6:30 in the morning during the weekdays! Nice to have a place that I can be sure is open way before I go to work.

The staff was nice, especially given that they were working the holiday week, when many of us have off. In fact, a friendly accessibility seems to define the feel of the shop. If you’re part of the morning commute across the west shore heading up through Market Street, I would recommend this place for certain. They did just recently re-open in August, so I’ll be keeping my eye on the development of this nice little cafe. Until then, I’ll see you in the new year. Stay thirsty.

Tables and chairs…

more tables and chairs…

friendly signage…

I found this coffeehouse while I was on a special, unrelated mission. I was visiting a local bookbinder in Grantville to get some PDF files that I had printed off (about a roleplaying game that I like) made into a book. I left in the afternoon after work and hadn’t had my coffee yet, so I did a quick search to see what was around after I got finished, and I finally found one coffee shop…but it was not what I expected!

Google maps, which had been anything but helpful in finding the bookbinder, said that the only local coffeehouse that didn’t have “Dunkin” or “Donuts” in the name was located inside of a farmer’s market. Skeptical of that, I asked one of the people at the bookbinding service about it, and they said the same thing. Now, you can probably imagine my misgivings; a farmer’s market is an unorthodox location for a cafe. More typically it consists of some old dude giving out styrofoam cups of boiling-hot, bargain-basement brew. Still, I was jonesing for some caffeine after a long drive, and really had no other option but to see what was up at this marketplace.

Once again, it was proven that the best discoveries are made by accident. The outside of the market was utilitarian-looking at best, but on the inside…the place was first of all a tchotchke-lover’s paradise! There were large, wooden stands and mini-rooms where all sorts of things were being sold. Homemade bread, organic food, homemade candy, and plenty of clothes and curios were scattered around the room. It’s the kind of place that makes you say “yep, we’re in the rural Northeast all right.” Oh, and there was also a rather awesome coffee shop too, right where the bookbinder folks said it would be.

The coffeehouse itself, called The Bean Cuisine, was run by two folks named Dave and Vanessa. There were really nice people (in fact, during our conversation about the shop, they offered to help me set up my own coffeehouse because…well, because they like helping people. It was that simple.). I tried their house blend, and I really enjoyed it. I use the word “earthy” way too much, so I’ll just describe it as deep and complex, but not as bold as many dark roasts. I got some kind of nice strong flavor that was bordering on chocolate, with not even a hint of citrus. I like. I asked Dave if they were planning on moving to Grantville proper anytime soon, like Google maps said they were. Strike two for Google maps. I will definitely make a return trip to this place, despite it being about 20 miles from home. It’s worth the trip. On my way home I was driving west in the middle of the afternoon, and the sun was shining through the turning autumn trees as I sat there sipping my memento from this interesting adventure, considering in the back of my mind Dave’s offer. It’s funny how when the magic works, it really works.

The first sight.

The promise of coffee.

The delivery of coffee.

The cafe.

Told you there were tchotchkes.

This little adventure started with a rain-soaked drive down to York to meet a friend for a drink…and ended with a cancellation by that friend and an even more rain-soaked drive back to Harrisburg. In between those two things I had a rain-date…with coffee.

I heard about Macklin’s from a random online search, and almost bypassed them. It said “Macklin’s Cupcakes and Coffee,” so I figured that they were probably just a deli or bakery that happened to also occasionally keep a pot of coffee warm. That’s usually my experience with a place that says “and coffee” in the name! Well, you know that didn’t happen, or else I wouldn’t be posting about it.

The place is owned by a guy named Mack Farquhar and his wife and it’s been open since September of 2011. Pretty brave of him I think to have started a coffee shop of all things right in the middle of the Great Recession, but it seems to still be going strong. In fact, it seems to be kind of a local fixture; they have music there some nights and the locals seemed to be clustering in there during the downpours that were hitting just as I walked through the doors.

The coffee they had held a surprise…it was a blend from St. Thomas Roasters up in Lancaster! It was great to see someone contracting from a local beanery like that, especially since it was probably my favorite coffeehouse to visit so far. I chose a blend made up of the regular house coffee cut with a little bit of the decaf. The regular was the Lancaster blend from St. Thomas and the decaf was Guatemala. As you might expect, the coffee had quite the earthy flavor. I regret that I didn’t have room in my stomach for a cupcake after stuffing myself with spaghetti prior to heading out into the storm…but that’s just a good reason to come back again right?

The only downside of this coffee house is the location. It’s in a shopping plaza that is incredibly busy on a Saturday night, and almost impossible to find via Google Maps! Once you get there though, the shop is kind of off in a quiet-ish corner of the mall and the owners did a capital job on the interior, making it really warm and inviting. Definitely a beautiful alternative to a rainy day…or a cancelled night out.

Random interior shot…

Some good eats…

Some good art…

I saw the sign…

Well, here we are almost at the end of summer. It’s gone by really fast for me, and part of the reason for this is that I have been doing a lot of traveling. Most of that has been down to Baltimore (because it’s a much easier drive than Philly) and most of the traveling to Baltimore has been for science fiction and fantasy conventions. Yep, I’m a nerd. Have to declare it plainly lest you think I’m a hipster just because of the blog and the love of art and coffee. It’s a common mix-up, don’t feel guilty. This last one was two weeks ago and was called Shore Leave, owing to its Star Trek theme. William Shatner was the guest at this event. Insanity ensued which I won’t detail here.

Anyhow, the first of these conventions was in May, and I visited a coffeehouse on that trip, so I thought that I would repeat that success this time around. That turned into a real adventure. For such a populated area, there were few options other than Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. I’m serious; in Cockeysville and Hunt Valley, there are no independent coffeehouses on the map. I drove all the way to Pikesville on the hope that a place called the “Milk and Honey Cafe” would be open. It was open, but they served absolutely no coffee. By that time it was three in the afternoon and I was in full-on panic mode. Well, panic muted by a lack of stimulant that is. When I gave up and just settled in to the hotel where the convention was, someone overheard my plight (I was venting quite loudly at the time to anyone who would listen) and told me that there was some little place in a plaza across the street that might still be in existence.

I drove across the busy highway, desperately hoping that this place, whatever it was, would still be open. It actually was, and boy was it better than expected. Granted, I don’t heap expectations upon a place stuck in a tourist plaza, but this was a genuinely nice joint. It had a hustle-and-bustle feel to it, but that’s only to be expected given where it was located. The coffee itself was good; not to Ambreen’s level of distinction at the former Cafe di Luna, but certainly better than the generic stuff spewed out at a deli! They even had non-dairy creamer as an option. The best touch to the coffeehouse was a chalkboard hanging on one of the walls where tourists could write where they came from or where they want to visit. This really impressed me because they’re owning the fact that they’re inundated by tourists just passing through the area. Instead of trying to be something they’re not, they are embracing their role without snark. Now that was as refreshing as the coffee.

Oh, by the way, if you’re wondering why there are no photos yet…it’s because I got a new iphone and for some reason it won’t sync to my gmail account, which means that I can’t even send myself my own photographs. Lame. Oh well, tech support should have it sorted by the end of the week and then I’ll post a few goodies, including that travelers chalkboard. Until then, stay caffeinated.

Well, if you’re searching for a good coffee shop in Harrisburg, you may have noticed over the past few years that it’s been getting harder and harder to find an independent, non-chain coffeehouse in this city. A bad economy, civic financial and crime woes, and a migrating youth population are all likely to blame for this; less foot traffic and less liquid capital mean less money to spend on luxuries, and so all of the hip little stores and restaurants downtown have to divide up the customers. Many businesses that started out here late last decade are no longer with us. The most recent casualty of this has been Midtown’s own Cafe Di Luna.

Yes, earlier this month, one of Harrisburg’s best coffee providers packed up her bags and closed up shop. Ambreen Esmail, owner of the chic Cafe Di Luna on Third Street in Midtown has moved away to Atlanta. It’s a sad day for coffee lovers here in Central PA; Ambreen was (and continues to be) someone who is totally dedicated to her craft and to the people who were lucky enough to call themselves both her regular customers and her friends. She’ll still be plying her trade down in the south, where there’s more foot traffic and where she’ll have the support of her family, many of whom live down there. I can understand that for certain; my family is of paramount importance to me, and the idea of being thousands of miles away from them, even to make my fortune, does not sit easily with me! Cafe Di Luna will possibly have a brick-and-mortar store down there, and Ambreen told me that she will start doing some coffee bean sales online I’ll let you all know more when I hear from her again. Until then, keep calm and carry on caffeinating.

Well, my spring travels have come to an end…and my summer travels have begun! Over Memorial Day weekend I made my annual pilgrimage to the northern suburbs of Baltimore to take part in Balticon; a large science fiction and fantasy convention. I spent several days geeking out with my fellow bloggers, podcasters, tech nerds, and various and sundry oddballs. It was the most productive trip I’ve made in a while, and the convention itself was only part of the fun.

As any reader of this blog probably knows by now, the first thing that I did after booking my hotel for the weekend was to scope out any local coffee depositories online. The first coffeehouse that was mentioned near Cockeysville, Maryland was a little place called “The Filling Station.” On the map it seemed like it was off the beaten path; not a safe choice given that I rarely leave I-83 when I take a trip south and was unfamiliar with the backcountry areas. I decided to go for it, since the only other options for coffee were the usual Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. I looked at their website right before I left. It hadn’t been updated since January of 2012 so I was hoping that the place was still around!

Long story short, It’s definitely still around. You see, this is why I pursue the hidden places. I was expecting yet another family-diner-cum-coffee-shop (a common sight in the Mid-Atlantic region). What I found was a pretty little place that really embodied the ideal of the cozy and bohemian, but not painfully hip, coffee spot that all the locals know about, but which takes a bit of searching for those who are not in the know. It’s nice to be in the know.

A woman named Meg Enns, who owns the shop, told me that they had been in business there for a little over six years now. Actually she and cook Rosa got into a discussion about exactly how long it had been, and in the process I learned that Rosa is the reason why this coffeehouse, unlike most, specializes in Latin food as well as coffee. Apparently she was such a talented chef that the menu was expanded to showcase her talents! The smells coming from the kitchen seemed to attest to those skills, but I was there for one purpose…to try the coffee. It was all fair trade beans, which was a nice touch as always. The coffee itself was very rich, with a sort of creamy texture independent of the milk I added. Most impressive. It was the house blend, and I’m not sure exactly what all went into it (the components were rattled off too quickly by the obviously knowledgeable Meg!). The half and half was good. I did wish that they had non-dairy creamer as an option, but that was my only complaint amidst a glut of positive experiences. It really was one of those rare cosmopolitan, yet rustic establishments that are vanishingly rare outside of old Northeastern college towns.

So yeah, definitely stop by this place if you’re in the Hunt Valley/Cockeysville area. It’s the best alternative by far to the mass-market coffeehouses which pepper the interstate. Especially stop by on a Thursday because apparently they have barbecue cookouts and music those nights. I’ll be going to yet another convention soon in the area in August; let’s hope that the weather cools enough for me to enjoy another hot cup or two at this spot on my way down!

The sign out front…

The other sign…

Left here by local Maryland artists…

Fine interior…

Fine exterior too!

Before I left on vacation, I took the time to review one last cafe before leaving Central PA for a few weeks. I was asking friends about cafes on the west shore, given that I’ve reviewed all there is to be had on this side of the river. No one mentioned any that I hadn’t already heard of, so I decided to just drive around a bit through Camp Hill and points west. From the road, going 30 miles an hour, I saw this little place out of the corner of my eye. I just had time to see the sign and remember the name, which I promptly Googled when I got home. I resolved that before I left for Florida, I’d give it a shot.

I had my misgivings. The store seemed small, and was not well advertised from the road. Mention of Kauffman’s was utterly missing from local magazines downtown. I had just been burned by a place advertising coffee and tea; it turned out to be a local wholesaler only with no brewed coffee on the premises. My Mom went with me on this trip actually! Over the past few years she’s become quite a coffee aficionado (not my fault whatsoever, I promise…) and was game to be my co-pilot on this adventure. We went in, and it had the look of an old, long-used and genuinely “homey” coffee shop.

Turns out they have three rules in this place. First, you aren’t allowed to use the “F-word.” Folgers, that is. All of their coffee is of the exotic and diverse variety, and is ground on the spot. Second, and this is the one that took me aback initially, there is no to-go coffee sold here unless you buy it in a bag. That’s right, gone are the paper takeout cups that are ubiquitous in so many coffee shops in the bustling city. Third, no cell phone conversations allowed. My knee-jerk reaction was to take umbrage at the inconvenience of no takeout, but since I was in no hurry, we both sat down and gave it a chance. I am certainly glad that I reserved judgment that day.

The mandatory sit-down is part of a whole, encompassing philosophy at this shop. The owners truly believe that coffee should be part of a self-consciously civilized experience, not unlike that of a British high tea. In fact, our whole experience there resembled a high tea, with table service and light snacks like Biscotti to accompany the coffee. The people who own this coffee shop have a love of the old and the treasured, right down to the beautiful old cash register that is about a century old.

All of the coffee is French press. I’ve said before that French press coffee is not for everyone, especially those who like their coffee a bit on the gentle side, and I stand by that; but let it be known that this was a truly good French press, augmented by the fact that the customer was allowed to press the coffee themselves and brew it to their own tastes. Their cream (served in a little glass cup no less) was obviously real, chilled cream, a fact which earned them some extra points from me! The coffee was also less than two dollars for the equivalent of a medium cup; far less than most coffeehouses in the area charge, with far more attention to the little details that make a well-crafted cup of coffee.

I had no idea that this little wonder even existed. And shame on me for not looking until now. After all, as I left I learned that they had been in operation for over twenty-five years. I thought that Ambreen’s operation on Third Street in the ‘Burg (Cafe Di Luna) was the only hidden gem in the metro area, but I will have to amend that statement to include this fine little cafe. There will be many return visits.

Right outside on a cold March day.

The French Press.

Looking forward to next winter?

Teas and such.

Me and Mom.

If you read this blog with any frequency (and I hope you do) you probably noticed that this winter was a bit sparse as far as posts go. That was partly work, but also partly because your local Coffeehouse Guy took an extended road trip down to sunny Florida with the folks to get away from the dreary weather up here.

The good news is that I’m back and in the next few days over Easter weekend, I’ll be able to put up a new coffeehouse or two that I managed to visit before I left. The bad news is that there were no coffeehouses to review in Florida anywhere near to where I was staying in Kissimmee. In fact, the stereotype of “coffeehouse culture” being a phenomenon with its center in the West and Northeast seemed to be borne out by the dearth of cafes present as we winded our way down Interstate 95 through the deep South. Now I’m sure that if we had actually gone into a major city, it would have been a different story, but as it stands, Pennsylvania seems to be a relatively fertile ground for caffeine in comparison.

Well, it’s good to be back, and I look forward to getting back to working on this blog again. If any of you have any good spring break adventures (coffee related or not), feel free to comment!

This was another place where I didn’t really know what to expect. I had never heard of this establishment before. The circuitous, out of the way route to the coffeehouse made me wonder if anyone ever really came back this way at all, and the fact that the storefront was in an apparently low-end suburban plaza didn’t seem to bode well for my prospects here. As has so often been the case, appearances proved deceptive.

I will mince no words. This is the best coffeehouse that I’ve encountered so far on the West Shore. Yes, that includes the usual roundup from Camp Hill. In fact, I learned that they won a Harrisburg Magazine Reader’s Choice award in 2004 and apparently 2008 as well. So what makes it the best? As usual that would be a clever and quirky combination of atmosphere and the coffee quality. I went on a Sunday afternoon in January and it was still packed; needless to say, that was a good sign. There was a combination of the young, very young, and very old present; also a good sign. They got some extra respect for their large menu. Usually, it’s hard for a place to be serious about both food and coffee (usually emphasis on the one ends up detracting from the other), but such was not the case here. Indeed it doesn’t have to be so, and I was hoping that I would at least find one coffeehouse along my journey that was able to incorporate both. I guess this would be the place.

When I tried the coffee out, I decided as I usually do on the house blend. The house blend in this case turned out to actually be quite distinctive; Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Columbia beans were blended with dark-roast Ethiopian. It was rich and creamy, with some really exotic, and delightfully subtle, flavoring. It helped that they actually had real cream, as distinguished from simple milk, available to add in. Now I must admit that I am biased towards richer, darker roasted coffees like this; the caffeine is usually less but the flavors always seem deeper and more well-defined to me. Others may take issue with that assessment and are more than free to leave a comment or two!

Well, this is definitely one place that I will be returning to. They do apparently have live music sometimes, so it will be interesting to see if they’ll be having any bands place during the Millennium Music Conference in a few weeks. I encourage anyone in the area to stop by!

An unassuming exterior but…

A nice interior.

The menu boards.