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
