The Rescue Cafe

For my café visit, I decided to check out The Rescue Cafe. I had heard about this café several times before, and it felt like the perfect place to write my blog post, and I’m really glad I chose it.

Like the name suggests, The Rescue Cafe’s purpose (other than selling amazing coffee) is to help animals in need of a home. They donate a portion of their proceeds to Southcoast Animal Hospital. This was probably my favorite aspect of the café because your money isn’t just supporting a local business, it’s also helping animals. They also host events like “Save a Cat Sunday,” where local shelters bring in cats for visitors to meet, play with, and even adopt.

When I walked into The Rescue Cafe, I immediately noticed the cozy atmosphere. There were plenty of seating areas, many of which felt a bit tucked away, giving you privacy while you enjoy your coffee. Another thing I loved was the variety of local vendors set up throughout the café. They sell things like pet treats, crochet items, paintings, and more. It really helps shine a spotlight on local artists and small businesses that might otherwise struggle to get attention. Overall, the café felt very community-oriented. I even noticed that many of the customers seemed to be regulars who knew the owner.

The menu is packed with specialty drinks, and they offer much more than just coffee. You can get smoothies, pastries, and even shaved ice in the summer. They also have monthly specials, which is what I decided to try. I went in March, and for the March specials, I ordered the “Cadbury Egg,” an iced white mocha with caramel, and I absolutely loved it. It was rich and creamy, exactly how I like my coffee. I also asked what kind of coffee they use, and the owner was very kind and told me they use Bristot Espresso imported from Italy.

Along with my drink, I got a Boston cream donut, my favorite kind, and something I always try when I visit a new place. It was definitely one of the better Boston cream donuts I’ve had, probably because, like many of their pastries, it’s homemade. They offer a variety of baked goods each day and post their daily selection on Instagram every morning.

On my way out, I also grabbed one of their smoothies, the “Good for You Morning Smoothie,” which had banana, dark chocolate, avocado, and peanut butter. I added protein powder as well. Even though I loved it, I could only take a few sips before I was completely full. Next time I go, I’ll definitely make sure I’m hungry so I can finish it, I was honestly a little sad I couldn’t!

There’s a Dunkin' just two minutes down the road, but if you’re in the Fairhaven area, I would 100% recommend choosing The Rescue Cafe instead. Not only does it have amazing coffee and a cozy atmosphere, but you’re also supporting a local business that gives back to animals in need.

Restoration Coffee - Emma Larose

 

Restoration Coffee, located at 23 Central Square, Bridgewater, MA 02324, is a local coffee shop to the students of BSU well-loved and well-known. It is about a little less than a 10 minute walk from Boyden Hall. I have been to this coffee shop many times with many allergen-friendly food and coffee options, such as gluten-free bagels, almond milk, and oat milk for coffee. I heard nothing but good things about this cafe my freshman year here at BSU, and ever since, it's been a weekly stop! The cafe has a calming, earth-toned vibe that gives me down-to-earth vibes. There are lots of colors, greenery, and art, along with a guitar hung up on the wall. All of the employees always greet customers with a warm welcome and a big smile. 

The coffee I ordered was the "Paige Lattee" that had oat milk, cinnamon, and vanilla syrup. My roommate Sarah had the "Gabby Lattee," which was hazelnut and mocha. My coffee had actual cinnamon powder sitting at the top, which added a special aesthetic and picture to it. The coffee had a sweet and not strong or bitter taste. There was a variety of iced lattees, hot coffees, and hot lattes, cold brews, light and dark roasts to choose from.

These were some of the coffee bags that were handmade and sold directly at Restoration Coffee. Their website ensures that there is a fair trade of coffee coming from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala! The beans are roasted primarily at their Whitman location weekly.

Other Information

Phone: (774) 222-8992

Adress: 23 Central Square, Bridgewater, MA 02324

Website: https://www.restoration-coffee.com/

Identity Coffee Co. - Taunton

Last Tuesday was what I think of as “a good day in March.” One of those days where the birds are chirping a little louder and there’s proof in the air that Spring is soon to come and the cold will bite no more. With no classes on Tuesday, I had slept in and was already through my first cup of coffee at home. The entire day stretched before me and it felt like the perfect time to make my way to Identity Coffee, located in the Taunton Green (49 Main Street, Taunton). 

Upon entry, I was greeted by a lofty and expansive room, with plenty of comfy seating, places to work, and even a small chess table with pieces available. It was clear to me that this coffee shop wanted people to be comfortable, stay awhile, and enjoy the space (more on this later). So, I did just that. My girlfriend and I sat and worked quietly for about two hours from 2-4pm. During my time there, I counted a total of eight customers. A group of three chit chatting on one of the sofas and four college-aged individuals working quietly on laptops. One businessman in a suit and tie grabbed a coffee to-go.

                                                                                                                       

 

Although I will typically try flavored lattes when I visit coffee shops, in the true fashion of our class, I opted for a hot black coffee. My girlfriend ordered a green tea based strawberry refresher which I am not usually a fan of but found tasty. The friendly, laid back barista informed me that the coffee is sourced locally! She said they get it from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Furthermore, anytime someone buys a coffee bag to take home, 15% of the sale is donated to a human trafficking organization. Being sourced locally, the coffee had the personality of a New Englander - to the point and no special frills, but with a promise to get the job done and grow on you if you take the time to sit with it. I ultimately found it delicious and think I will stick to black coffee when I return.

                                                                                                

        

                                                                                                                                                                               

             

                                          

            

Aside from offering coffee, this shop also appears to serve as a community center. There are instruments where after some investigation I found out that a jazz band comes and performs on Friday nights and people coming in can purchase ice cream flights. Back rooms offer quiet spaces to gather and work or simply enjoy the company of others. There is a second floor balcony with a pool table and foosball table that are free to use. There was even a community project area in which people could write thank you notes to social workers. This place uses coffee to bring people together and provide a positive gathering space - a far cry from the average Dunkin Donuts which serves its purpose of quick and easy. The closest Dunkin is a 4 minute drive away with others not much further.

For a place called Identity, this coffee shop knows exactly what it is and where it wants to go.

- Thal Nogueira

Cafe du Monde - New Orleans

A Coffee Maven Review

We visited this famous cafe during spring break of 2026.

Not just a coffee shop: THE coffee shop. Café du Monde is very close to the docks where a majority of this country's coffee imports once landed. Roasters without scruples used chicory to stretch the product that it became an iconic ingredient of the coffee. 

This café is the real deal: open air, lovely architecture, wonderful service. 

From our seat at Café du Monde, this fellow with the wonderful hat treated us to the National Anthem and Amazing Grace, with many more great tunes in between. He clearly has many good friends on the staff -- a few of them were goofing with him like they were siblings. 

Hole-In-One Donuts and Coffee

 by: Sarah Ahern

    Hole-In-One is located on 482 Market St, Rockland, however there are other locations in Cape Cod. I have driven by this coffee shop a handful of times, but I finally decided to stop in and see how their coffee and donuts were for myself. I went there around 11 am with my friend and it was very quiet. Most of the customers that came in just got their coffee to go, however we decided to sit down. Although some of the seats were covered with donut boxes, there were a few free tables we could sit at. It was small inside with large windows, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and the natural sunlight that came in. It's a perfect spot to catch up with a friend or even get work done. 

An iced mocha latte & iced caramel latte

A blueberry bagel

A powdered jelly stick

    I decided to get an iced mocha latte for my coffee choice. It was very good! I asked them what they used to achieve the chocolatey taste, and they told me they used a combination of chocolate milk and chocolate syrup. Their bagel and donuts were delicious! I loved the dough on the jelly stick and how much better it tasted than chain coffee shop's donuts. The prices are reasonable too! They're open everyday from 5am to 5pm, making it perfect for morning people and workers! They also sell their own coffee as whole beans or grounded in house blend, dark roast, hazelnut, french vanilla, and decaf. Not only that, but they sell their own merchandise too such as cups, shirts, and beanies.

    The closest Dunkin' is only a 3 minute drive away! Instead of going to a chain coffee shop, anyone can opt out and just drive a few minutes to this local café!

Other information: 

Phone Number: 781-356-4916

Website: https://theholecapecod.com/?utm_source=gmb_rockland&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=listing

Six Depot - Stockbridge

 A Coffee Maven Vicarious Appreciation

One of the many good things about being the coffee maven is that people sometimes just put a bag of really good coffee in my hands. This was the case on Christmas Eve Eve, when I received a coffee gift from a young friend whose own birthday was to be two days later. 

First, to explain: when I say "young friend" these days I can be referring to full-grown adults -- as was the case with this high-school teacher -- because they are younger than I am. In this case, I remember his Christmas Day birth a few decades back. His parents were among our first friends we met in Massachusetts, and his was the first birth among our close friends after the birth of our own kiddo. 

We see each other on what we call Christmas Eve Eve or Little Christmas Eve, the most magical night of the year at our cozy and historic church in Bridgewater, and this year he came over to me, clearly happy to be able to pass along this gift.

This is an espresso blend known as Notes from the Underground. Espresso is a brewing method, not a type of coffee, but this labeling suggests a very dark roast suitable for use in espresso. This coffee is sold in whole-bean form, so that I was able to give it a medium grind (rather than the very fine grind needed for espresso) and brew it in my Chemex.

When Patrick handed me the bag, my first instinct was to check the front and back for a CO2 valve. Even though this bag has a paper exterior, the valve was my signal that it is a layered package with foil to keep oxygen out. Bags sealed this tightly need the valve to allow carbon dioxide to escape -- they are a sign of real attention to freshness. The brew did not disappoint -- this is a deep, flavorful coffee.

Many of the offerings at Six Depot are single-origin coffees, and the couple who own the shop clearly enjoy connecting their customers to the farmers on whom they rely. This particular blend, however, is an actual blend from several sources. Attention to quality is reflected in the fact that the package indicates which varietals (sub-species) of Coffea arabica are present: Mundo Novo,  Katuaí, and Kent. Of these, only the Katuaí is familiar. I like it because it is fun to say and also one of the few varietals that ripens to yellow instead of red. Harvesting this coffee requires even more than the usual amount of skill!

I usually require students to include a map indicating how far a café is from the commonly known coffee chains. In this case, those chains are not much in evidence in the neighborhood, so the map above points to two destinations elsewhere in Stockbridge. One is Tanglewood -- the beautiful concert venue I visited for the first time in 2025. I will definitely be returning, and I will visit No. Six Depot when I do. The other famous site is a certain restaurant made famous by Arlo Guthrie. Also in the neighborhood --- on the way to Tanglewood -- is the wonderfully relaxing and enriching Kripalu retreat center.

Have a Cookie

 A Coffee Maven Repost of an Online Gem

During my usual doomscrolling this snowy afternoon, I found this brief story from The Other 98 Percent -- a political site that I follow and that is usually a reliable source of doom.

They say "don't read the comments" and usually they are usually correct. These are deeply cynical times, and naysayers abound right, left, and center. I was pleased, therefore, to see only a modicum of skepticism about this veracity of this post. 

Most commenters loved it -- as I did -- because whether things literally went down this way or not, this is what a local business can and should be. And in my GeoCafes experience, it quite often is!