Saturday, July 28, 2018

Dick's Restaurant

A Coffee Maven Review

On a drive from Port Hawkesbury on Cape Breton to Derby Line in Vermont and Quebec, we had a nice stay at a tidy lakeside inn just outside of Farmington, Maine. The place was lovely but we wanted more than the included continental breakfast. Coffee had been offered in styrofoam cups, so we set off on toward the northern border, with our eyes peeled for a diner.

Photo: Yelp
We found a newish, trendy-looking place when we arrived in the paper-mill town of Mexico, but on the door found that all-too common and sad obituary of small businesses: a handwritten note that simply said, "Sorry, closed."

We drove just a few blocks further when we spied Dick's Restaurant in the center of the town. From the outside, it had the look of a café that is more saloon than diner. We had walked out of such a place elsewhere in Maine on the first morning of our trip, and so at first I continued to drive. Then I remembered how few options we had seen so far (that is, zero), so we turned around and entered.

And we were very glad we did. I did not get a photo, but picture a rather large interior in several sections with a lot of pine paneling and wooden furniture and you will have a good idea. Picture a table full of older ladies talking quietly and a couple of tables of older men talking loudly, and you will have an even better idea. (I'm not sure why, but in our study of diners, we have found more than once that men of a certain age who are regulars will take separate tables and then talk across open air to each other. We call them "Old Man Kelliher" guys, not because that is their name, but because the two who haunt a diner in our town analyze each bit of the day's gossip in terms of what Old Man Kelliher would have said about it.

So yes, the place has atmosphere. And it has very friendly, efficient service and really good food. I had corned-beef hash just as crispity as it ought to be. My favorite librarian was considering several options, but had to choose the plate called Pam's Special -- after the owner -- because she very rarely finds things with her name out in the world. Xará!

As I commented elsewhere, very few places have excellent food and excellent coffee, and this does not quite qualify as an exception. But the coffee is definitely better than standard diner brew, and this Coffee Maven had two cups, no cream. I did find specialty coffee a bit later in the drive.

Monday, July 23, 2018

Fancy Pants

A Coffee Maven Review

During our long-awaited visit to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia (for our Bridgewaters Project), we explored lunch and dinner places, and found a pub we very much enjoyed, because of its friendly staff and its large deck overlooking the LaHave River.

But very much out of character -- and in contrast to my approach in St. John's immediately prior -- I did not seek coffee places. This is because we were in a bed & breakfast -- River Reflections -- with absolutely amazing breakfast food and quite respectable coffee.

It was not until our last morning -- faced with a long ride to Cape Breton -- that I sought an after-breakfast coffee. Translation for those who are innocent of my Coffee Maven ways: an after-coffee coffee. 

We had noticed Fancy Pants almost directly across the street from that pub, and I decided it would be our last stop on the way out of town.

I should stop here to introduce a finding -- more of a bald assertion -- based on my extensive field research over the past decade. It is summarized in the following Venn Diagram, which has been on my mind for many months, but which I finally got around to creating for you, Dear Reader.

As mentioned above, I stopped at Fancy Pants after a scrumptious breakfast, so I was not in a position formally to test my hunch that this might very well be one of those rare places that is both great for coffee and great for breakfast. I can verify the coffee directly - it was delicious, and the employees knew something about it. The breakfast I can infer only from the general atmosphere, the signage about local and organic ingredients, and a very important clue: indispensable cast-iron skillets on the stovetop.

So in our last few minutes in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Fancy Pants gave us yet another reason to return some day.

No 9

A Coffee Maven Review

First, a word from John:


We were absolutely enchanted by Lunenburg, Nova Scotia -- a place so charming that it is the only place in North America where an entire town is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Those who know the geography of coffee shops will understand that in a place this precious is likely to have some excellent coffee.


Among the many promising options No. 9 Coffee Bar got our attention, and after a carriage ride, a lunch at one of the top do-not-miss places in the country, a visit to a distillery (that was actually our first stop), and a considerable amount of walking, it was to No. 9 that we repaired for some iced coffee.

We were delighted, not only by the ethically-sourced and delicious coffee, but also by the wonderfully cetacean decor, in recognition of Lunenburg's whaling heritage. 


Rogue Coffee

A Coffee Maven Review

Coffee has made me a morning person ... and not the kind who cannot function before coffee: it is the opposite of that. At home, I get up first and make the coffee. As those who know me might imagine, it is a process.

When we travel, it is my job to find some alternative to hotel coffee, which is almost universally undrinkable. We call it "foraging" but it really is an internet-enhanced activity. During a recent stay at a lovely hotel by the harbor in St. John's -- where we liked the wine but did not sample the coffee -- our strollings about and my online research led to quite a few options.

Among three strong contenders, I had convinced myself that Rogue Coffee would be the best. I set out to what I thought was the correct location along a steep, narrow side street, but somehow I could not find it. I was almost ready to go to my second choice (yes, I had a ranked list in mind), but I could smell really good coffee, as if it were coming from one of the closed-up clothing stores nearby. I was confused as I worked my way back down the hill.

Glancing in an alley I had somehow missed, I noticed some party lights a hundred yards or so away. As I got closer, I realized that this was Rogue Coffee!


I learned something new about my favorite brewer -- I always associate the Chemex with Springfield, Massachusetts, but it was really born in New York City -- and had a nice chat with the owner. She is passionate about good coffee. I was able to take a couple of delicious cupfuls back to our hotel, and feel good about supporting the farmers in the process.

Downtown St. John's has a lot of decent coffee shops; I am pretty confident that I found the best one.

In a neighborhood full of food and beverage options, this is a gem!

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Moose Muck Coffee House

A Coffee Maven Review


As we wended our way through rural Maine -- after a nice breakfast in Mexico -- we found a café with good coffee and a strong sense of humor near the convergence of streams and mountain roadways. (Note the oxbow lake in the southwest corner of the map above.)
Curb appeal is very important for independent cafés; I know some really good places that have closed because they did not pay attention to this. Moose Muck is the opposite -- this Coffee Maven was drawn right in!
The Moose Muck Coffee House makes playful use of its name, including a signature drink of coffee with a shot of espresso. The coffee is locally roasted and delicious, though the staff do not know much about its origins. Bonus: Equal Exchange chocolate is available. Oddly, the shop has no web site and its Facebook page has been shut down. That is odd for a café of this kind in 2018.
Completing the moose motif.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Elvera's Cafe

Indoor seating with a view of Main Street
Baked goods, the menu and where you can interact with workers
Closest Dunkin Donuts only a 4 minute walk away
Elvera's Cafe is located on 132 Main Street in the heart of downtown Brockton. Elvera's cafe is open from 7am- 4pm, Monday through Friday. This modern cafe sells lots of things from coffee's, teas, hot chocolate, bagels, baked goods, soups and more. Only a 4 minute walk away from a Dunkin Donuts and Elvera's still has many loyal customers and overall has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. With indoor seating, no outside seating as the area is extremely busy, this cozy cafe was nice, clean and up to date. During my experience, I noticed there weren't a lot, if any other people in the cafe, most likely because of the time of day that I visited, I assumed that many were at work and it was a slow time of day. I also noticed that, with the 1-2 people that did enter, that people grab and go, not really sit inside and eat or enjoy their cup of coffee. I believe this is mostly because of the area and the time the cafe is open usually people are on their way to work first thing in the morning or stopping by for lunch. I noticed the customers were older men and women, not as many teens like you would see at Dunkin Donuts or a Starbucks.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

JJ's Cafe !




Image result for jj cafe brockton ma
When driving down North Main street in Brockton, you will notice the Saint Edith Stein church, gas stations, and the local pizza pub but discreetly in the same area as all that is a hidden gem. Ran by a gourmet chef, Nelson Fernandez and his father Justino "JJ" Fernandez, the two put on a show right in front of you as the dining area and kitchen have no separation or divider as in you watch the pair cook the food right in front of you and their number 1 goal is to make sure the food they serve is the best food you've ever had.  With JJ, his reputation of his own as he stated as a dishwasher and worked his way up to cook for presidents and mayors in the state. With breakfast being the main course they have specialties like red velvet pancakes, eggs Benedict or their creme brule french toast which is one of the popular dishes. They also serve lunch with sandwiches salmon and burgers like the best selling burger in the cafe the "Oli Burger" named after Oli Spearce who is known for coming to the cafe everyday for a month when it first opened and repaid him by allowing him to get his own burger. So if you're ever in Brockton and want a gourmet meal but not for the gourmet price go to JJ's Cafe !

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Coffee Milano TL

Coffee Milano is a nice cafe located at 58 Center St, Middleborough, MA about a 15 minute drive from Bridgewater State University.


I went there with my girlfriend for breakfast and had an overall pleasant experience. The thing I liked most there was the atmosphere. Had a fun a rustic vibe to it with plenty of comfortable seating.


















 The food was good and fairly priced with good portions, and the menu had plenty of options for both breakfast and lunch.




For my coffee I ordered a cup of cappuccino which was okay, the worst part being served in Styrofoam. 




The owner was there and super friendly and will answer all questions you may have. Customers seem like a majority of loyal return customers for the friendly and nice atmosphere of the shop. Overall I would recommend Coffee Milano as a great spot for meeting an old friend for food, a quick date or a chill spot to relax.


By: Thomas Lucchini

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Borealis Coffee

Borealis Coffee is a wonderful small coffee shop located in Riverside, RI.  The shop is located in the center of town only 2 minutes away from the ocean with a National Historic landmark very close by.  The shop uses only small batch, in house roasted beans from various regions of the world but specifically uses mostly Central American grown beans.  They take great pride in the roasting of their beans and also in educating the community about the world of coffee holding cupping events almost every week that are open to all.  The inside is a nice setup providing mostly natural light from all the windows that overlook the town and the bike path that goes behind the shop.  The choice is yours to sit and stay a while, or grab something on the go, but either way the coffee will always be of top quality and flavor that will keep you coming back for more.



Sunday, April 29, 2018

The Java Room

The Java Room is located at 14 Littleton Rd, Chelmsford, Ma 01824. The Java Room opened in 2003 and has been a very popular cafe for the locals. This cafe is a more sophisticated coffee shop. They served coffee and espresso many different ways to suite everyones tastebuds. They also have live music on weekends which make your stay more enjoyable. The Java Room also has a small wine bar. The environment was very relaxed and inviting. The baristas were very friendly and polite. Overall, my experience here was very pleasant.


Friday, April 27, 2018

Country Kitchen




Country Kitchen is a small independent coffee shop located on Main Street in Walpole, MA and is open from 5AM-5PM every day. Though it has had a few different owners over the years, Country Kitchen has been around for about 50 years now and is still going strong. They serve bagels and pastries that are made fresh every morning as well as a variety of different flavored coffees, served both hot or iced, which they purchase from New England Coffee. The inside of the shop has a lot of old fashioned decor, like a diner counter for people to sit at and some 1950s era pictures as well as some small knick knacks that are designed to look like some signature buildings that can be found around the town. The atmosphere of Country Kitchen is very calm and definitely has a small town community feel, as the owners are members of the Walpole Community and the majority of their customers are regulars but on the weekends it tends to get crazy, as you can find people of any age trying to grab a quick coffee and a bagel to start their weekend.


Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Somethin's Brewin' Book Cafe

Located at 241 Main St in Lakeville Massachusetts, Somethin's Brewin' Book Cafe offers a quiet coffee experience with historical charm. The historic building the cafe inhabits was formerly home to the Lakeville public library. The century old architectural design and finely crafted wooden interior provides for an exceptional coffee drinking experience. Rows of books and chess boards, which may be enjoyed at will, adorn neatly arranged bookshelves throughout the seating area. The casual seating style and quaint environment makes this the ideal place to enjoy a book, play a chess game with company, complete work assignments, or simply to savor a cup of coffee.


Red Eye Roasters

Red Eye Roasters, Hingham MA

After driving by this shop year round on the way to Nantasket Beach, I finally decided to visit with a couple of friends. This place is deceiving on the outside because of its plain exterior, but inside is a warm and cozy environment. Sitting by the windows one can see the harbor and the activities going on in the area year round. There is plenty of seating, including a big couch, that adds to the clean-cut, bohemian vibe. The coffees and teas are appropriately priced, and the variety of pastries pair well with whatever selection of coffee or tea are on the menu. One can get coffee on the go, or sit for an hour or two (or three!). I find myself ordering a coffee to go if I am on the way to the beach, or else I sit and bask in the comfortable quiet environment this coffee shop provides. Beautiful sunflowers surround the outdoor seating in the summer and the staff is super friendly. When I am home from school I love stopping by Red Eye Roasters for a little get away from stressful everyday life.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Mellow Yellow Coffee and Vibes NY



    I decided to go to Mellow Yellow Coffee and Vibes in New York. I was extreamly intrigued by the name of the shop and the idea of the shop. The outside of the coffee shop had an earthy feel as did the inside. I really enjoyed the surrounding area as well.
  This small coffee shop was not too busy but I did go early in the morning. There were plenty of funky chairs to sit in, however a lot of people were in and out. I got a cappachino and turkish coffee to try it out. The coffee was very good and I was told they get their coffee from Italy. Other than that, the staff was not the friendliest so I did not get a ton of information on the shop itself. The price of the coffee was cheap for the area. The turkish coffee ran as the most expensive coffee on the menu. There was a dunkin dounts one minute away, however there were a lot of coffee shops on the blocks nearby. I really enjoyed my experience.


By: Haley Castellano

Friday, April 20, 2018

Mirasol's Café



Mirasol's Cafe
   

Mirasol's Café is a Latin American influenced Coffee and Sandwich Shop located 439 State Rd., Dartmouth MA. The coffee shop is located between a Starbucks and a Dunkin donuts, but that doesn't stop Mirasol's lovers from keeping the business booming. Opened in 2005, the coffee shop has a very relaxed atmosphere, with it's calm music of which you can sample of their website, its comfortable furniture with lounge areas, and beautiful scenery with real plants and flowers painted all over the shop, including the windows and menus. The coffee at this shop comes in all different flavors and all different forms, so basically anything you want, they'll make it. However, they're special and what they are known for is the Chippi, which is the smoothest mix of coffee milk and coffee, spiked with a lot of caffeine. It's their biggest seller and anyone who tries it wants another one. - Shawn DaSilva

Thursday, April 12, 2018




Honeycomb Cafe is a newly opened cafe located on 107-109 Savin Hill Ave in Dorchester, MA. The owner's are residents of the neighborhood that felt the neighborhood was missing an important necessity - a coffee shop. So, when this location finally went up for sale, they jumped at the chance to open the perfect cafe.

The inside of the cafe is perfect for sitting and reading as there are tall glass windows allowing in all the natural light. The kitchen is completly open so customers can see exactly how their food and coffee are being prepared. The cafe has every kind of coffee you could need: hot, iced, cappucinos, espressos and so on. Along with a wide variety of teas and fresh organic food.

The location of this cafe is perfect as it is seconds away from a red line stop that goes directly into downtown Boston. This is perfect for the residents in the area who want to grab a coffee and bagel in the morning before getting on the train and heading into work.

Despite living minutes away from this wonderful cafe, my first visit was for this project and I can definitely say I will be back! I got an iced coffee and it was very enjoyable! If you are ever in the Savin Hill part of Dorchester, I highly recommend Honeycomb for a quick, yet still perfect, cup of coffee.

By: Niamh Kerr