Mister Q cafe

 Mister Q Cafe is a cafe in Charlestown, MA, that opened in early 2020. Although it is only a short walk from my house, this was my first time visiting the cafe. There has been a heavy rotation of businesses on Main Street since I moved there in 2011, so I was interested in what made this cafe stick around through COVID-19 times. Mister Q cafe is less than a 5-minute walk from Dunkin, less than a 10-minute walk from Starbucks, and down the street from a bakery that also serves coffee. Mister Q cafe serves a variety of drinks and food.

When I walked in, there was a line just about out the door because Mister Q is a relatively small

establishment. Most of the interior was taken up by counterspace and a pastry display case. There were

a couple of seats by the window taken up by customers, and outdoor seating that was too cold to use on

the day I went. The cafe was filled with people of all ages, and its menu reflected that, with items like

juice and milk boxes for kids displayed in a refrigerator case. Along with the many customers, the cafe

also seemed to be overwhelmed with DoorDash orders. Since I am not a fan of coffee, I went to the

cafe with someone who does like coffee quite a bit. I ordered an iced chai, and they ordered a small

coffee. That small hot coffee was ready immediately, and the barista poured it as we paid. The total

was just over $7 before tip, and we tipped $1. A minute or two later, my iced chai was ready. It was

just too busy to sit inside, so we took the coffee to go. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, even in

the few minutes I was inside. 

I am sad to report that my iced chai was not very good and tasted watery. I asked my coffee connoisseur

to give me a breakdown of how their small hot brewed coffee tasted, and they reported that it smelled l

ike generic restaurant coffee. It was dark in color, and you could not see through it. There was not a lot of

flavor, and no discernible notes. It tasted old, as if it had been brewed a while ago. Overall, it was bitter,

stale, and oily. 

The coffee shop was too busy to ask a barista about their coffee when I went, so I called Mister Q cafe

the next day. When I called, I was immediately asked to hold, and I could hear the worker taking an order.

When I introduced myself and asked what he could tell me about their coffee, he just said La Colombe

coffee. I did some research on La Colimbe coffee and found out they partake in informed trade. That means they

work with importers who connect them to producers, ensuring they can trace their coffee for maximum

quality. The importers help make sure producers are paid accurately. La Colombe gets their coffee beans

from all across the coffee belt and has many flavor blends available. 

I think what keeps people coming back to Mister Q cafe is their variety and sense of community.

They have a sandwich on their menu called the “Townie Stacker Sandwich,” which is a reference to the

nickname for residents of Charlestown. They have food and drink items for every age on their menu

and often have specialties. They have also hosted Mayor Wu and the Horace Mann School for the

Deaf & Hard of Hearing. 

- Lily Brigham