Custom House Coffee of Middletown, RI by Bethany Matern

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On this map, Custom House Coffee is the lowest blue marker while the other two at the top mark the closest Dunkin Donuts locations. 

Outside View

Kathleen, Bob, & Delia

          Over spring break I visited Custom House Coffee located in a strip mall at 796 Aquidneck Ave. in Middletown, RI sandwiched between a pizza place and a clothing store. There are two Dunkin Donuts located a few miles away but when it comes to Custom House Coffee there is no comparison. I was able to get a full insider experience over the course of the day because my aunt is friends with the office manager, Kathleen who has worked there for 5 years. I went to work with Kathleen at 5:30 am on Tuesday and stayed with her until her shift was over at 12pm. I can honestly say that during the almost 7 hours that I spent there I had an absolute blast and I was never bored, not even for a second. Throughout the day I was able to meet the head roaster, Steve, the owner and general manager, Bob Mastin, and the on-shift barista, Delia, all of whom were very helpful and informative. Before the shop opened I was able to take a lot of pictures and I got some background information about the shop from Kathleen as she prepared for the day.

          Custom House is open from 6am to 6pm Monday through Friday, from 7am to

4pm on Saturday, and from 8am to 2 pm on Sunday. The shop was opened in May of 2002 by the owner and general manager, Bob Mastin, who also owns the strip mall in which the coffee shop resides. In 2006, Bob opened a secondary Custom House location in Portsmouth right off of West Main Rd. He later sold it as a franchise so he is no longer involved with the day to day of it but he still provides the coffee to them.

Bob makes sure that Custom House stays active within the local community by having a Martin Luther King Center Food Bank donation bin right by the counter, by donating day old pastries and 5 pounds of coffee a week to the children’s school breakfast program, supporting local artists by allowing them to display their photography in the shop and by saving all the coffee grounds to give to a landscaping business up the street for compost. He goes even further as to provide an incentive for customers to want to donate to the food bank by giving those who do a free coffee!

          Now speaking of the coffee, Custom House is not just a coffee house, it is also a coffee roaster and according to the head roaster, Steve, it is the only roaster left on Aquidneck Island. They order the coffee in green whole bean form from their two brokers Royal Coffee and Inter American Coffee and then it is roasted in one of their two roasters. The smaller roaster is located inside the shop almost as a decorative element and it is the roaster used to roast the organic coffees while the larger roaster roasts everything else. The large roaster is also referred to as the production roaster and is out back in their Roastery & Training Center in the strip mall behind the one Custom House is in, which Bob also owns.

  

          Since I was there so early I was able to go out back and watch Steve roast the coffee and talk to him about the roasting process. Steve was extremely knowledgeable and he seemed to enjoy having someone to tell and show things to about coffee. He said that they roast 6 out of 7 days a week and that roasted coffee should be given a few days before it is ground and brewed to drink and in his personal opinion he says 3 days after roasting is the “sweet spot”. Steve told me that he has been in coffee for 20 years and has been roasting for the last 7 years. He got into coffee as a college job and he started his own coffee business called Coffee Guy, selling coffee at local farmers markets. Another fun fact is that Steve even took a couple of business classes at Bridgewater State University!

          The shop offers 6 types of organic coffee and 14 types of non-organic coffee some of which are even Fair Trade. When asked about his stance on Fair Trade, Bob said that he believes in the sentiment of it and thinks farmers should be treated fairly but he has noticed that it does not hold up very well in practice since small farms cannot be certified for Fair Trade unless they are in a coffee cooperative. Their coffees originate from all over including Columbia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Peru, Tanzania, Costa Rica and even Hawaii. Not all of the 20 coffees they sell are available brewed in the shop all the time, they just have their house blend, a mix of Columbian Supremo and Costa Rican coffees, in regular and decaf and then they pick a few other coffees to have brewed for the day. However, all of their coffees are available for purchase by half or whole pound bag in either whole bean or ground form for home use.

             When the shop opened at 6am it was kind of slow to start, a few customers trickled in over the first hour or so, mostly the regulars and by 7:30am it was starting to pick up but it still seemed to be mostly the regular crowd, most of whom were older gentlemen. When I asked the barista, Delia, how she likes working at Custom House she said, “Working here is like working at Cheers…everyone is always in a good mood and that is very important to a successful shop.” Custom House seems to have quite a following with the locals despite its lack of a drive through and because of that regular customers are greeted by name with a smile. Only one or two women came in to get coffee before 8am but around 8:30 a lot of women, mostly young to middle aged mothers who just dropped their kids off at school, started to show up for their morning buzz. During the day the customers seemed to get progressively younger in age from the older men in the early morning to the middle-aged women and eventually men of the middle to late morning to the young adults that strolled in around lunch time. From my observation, customers in the earlier part of the day carried out there coffee while later people would sit down to have coffee and maybe a bagel or pastry. The majority of customers either came in in small groups or pairs or they met up forming small groups, chatting in a familiar almost routine-like fashion while intermittently watching television. I noticed that there were people who came in alone and just got coffee to go but that there were some that got coffee and sat alone to read the paper or use the free wifi.

          The very friendly employees coupled with the interesting décor and home-like feel make Custom House Coffee a very happy and comforting place to be. There is a variety of seating options including tables and comfortable chairs in addition to bar-style seating and outdoor tables in nice weather. The white walls are accented by the teal trim and accents although it’s a wonder you can even see the white through the large collection of amusing coffee-themed sayings plaques lining the walls of the shop. Out on the counters there are numerous antique pieces of coffee equipment among other interesting tidbits of coffee information. One of the things I found most interesting about the décor was the ever-growing collection of antique coffee tins that sit on top of a ridge the lines the walls near the ceiling. I asked Bob about them and he said that he started out with just a few and then people started bringing them in when they found them at yard sales or flea markets and thus the bring-in-a-tin-for-a-pound-of-free-coffee policy was born. Also, on one of the walls next to the landing where some tables are located is a photography display put on by a local photography studio.

In addition to just plain hot or iced coffees, which are both very good, Custom House also offers a variety of specialty drinks including the Iced Coffee Addict and the Zombie killer both of which contain their special cold-brewed iced coffee that is absolutely amazing. Cold brewed iced coffee is extremely smooth and flavorful and also packs quite a punch seeing as it has the most caffeine possible due to the grounds soaking for 24 hours. The menu also includes numerous chai beverages and the classics like espressos and lattes.

Custom House also offers a variety of food options to go with your coffee. There is a large pastry case to choose from in addition to a variety of fresh bagels and breakfast sandwiches. In addition to breakfast foods the shop also serves various lunch foods such as chicken wings, soups, paninis and other sandwiches. When I was there I got to try hot coffee and the cold brewed iced coffee in addition to trying the chicken pesto panini for lunch which was absolutely delicious, I highly recommend it.

Overall I have to give Custom House a 10 out of 10 because it is just amazing. If you are ever in the neighborhood and even if you aren't, you should definitely give Custom House a try because I promise you won’t be sorry the trip would be worth it!

The Ultimate PERK (North Andover, MA)

Store Front, Photo Credit to Toni H.

If your ever traveling near North Andover make sure to stop by the Ultimate PERK located on 96 Main Street. There isn't much parking available however there is a large public lot right across the street where you pay usually only a quarter. 

When you walk into the shop it is very small and only offers 3-4 small tables to sit at but when it is nice out, the coffee shop puts out 5 more tables along the sidewalk to accommodate for more customers. When I walked in at around 12:00 pm on Friday, there were customers of all ages sitting down with their coffee and catching up on life. From retired men to college girls on spring break, everyone was sitting down to hangout and almost everyone that came in after me knew each other. For going at what the shop considered to be their "slow time" the place still seemed to be very busy.



The entire time I was at the shop business men and women came in and only ordered a coffee to go. This place is all about the coffee. They do have a selection of muffins and donuts however they are purchased from other stores such as the Ginger Bread Company which are exceptional.The Ultimate PERK also has a few breakfast sandwiches and a lunch menu during the week but the main focus here is on the coffee. I ordered a small hot coffee black and at the first sip, I understood why everyone raved about this place. Even with a Dunkin Donuts directly across the street there is no competition. The Ultimate Perk definitely has the better cup and for a cheaper price too!

Donuts and Muffins Provided

The menus located on the top of the wall gave the overall prices of everything including their food. The bottom menu attached to the counter though showed customers all of the different flavors available, along with extra signage promoting their lattes. The unique thing about their flavored coffee is that it is not full of sugar and artificial tastes. Here the coffee is brewed with the flavor shots allowing for a subtle and more enjoyable taste. This shop also offers soy milk with their coffee which made many people, including the gentleman sitting next to me, very happy. I tried asking my barista more about the coffee and where it came from but she had just started working there that month and was not informed about the history and production of the coffee shop. She was very friendly though and patiently waited for me to read the entire menu before deciding on my coffee.

Flavors available

Menus

Separate Coffee Pots for Each Flavor

Overall the Ultimate PERK is a great place to spend your free time. The atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming and the natural sunlight from all of the windows makes it more relaxing. This is definitely not your average coffee shop. Along with being served a great cup from friendly people, you can spend quality time with friends and family. This is a coffee shop that welcomes you to sit down and spend hours with others in a great atmosphere. Almost everyone knows each other making it a great place to be.

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Brittany Angiolillo 

Rainy Day at Mocha Java

Rainy Day at Mocha Java

I visited Mocha Java, a coffee shop that has been in business since 1995. This coffee shop is located at 3 Eastern Ave in Dedham, mass. I have never been here before but it was recommended from friends who had lived in the area. The atmosphere is very relaxed, clean, comfortable and warm.

Today is a rainy Friday afternoon around 12pm and there is steady business with a few customers lounging. The baristas are very friendly, talking to customers along with customers sitting and doing work, talking with friends and relaxing. The type of customers seem to be mid thirties to fifties, men and women equally. This might have to do with the time of day though, as a high school is right near by but kids are in class now so it might be busier once they get out for the day. As a few customers are seated, most others are just getting their drinks to go, which seems they might be on a lunch break.

The shop has a pretty good variety of coffees, including signature lattes. These include caramel, butternut crunch, love potion, junior minty mocha and other unique flavors.

The barista was very friendly and mentioned that this Dedham centers’ original “coffee shop” and that recently they were able to put outdoor seating out front. The shop really seems to pride itself on connecting and being apart of the community as well as bringing everyone together through their business. The barista said that he had been working here for only about a year but the business has been around for almost 15 years. He mentioned that the mornings can be busy but people tend to mostly order the plain coffee drinks, and then later in the afternoon more lattes and cappuccinos are sold. 

Java House in South Boston

Java House

I have always been told that South Boston was made up of Bars, churches and coffee shops. And that statement still stands true today (though I think the coffee has changed a little).

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On East Broadway in South Boston you could find at least three coffee shops while walking down the street. But Java House is the one you should actually stop at. Though its appearance has you questioning its taste once you try the coffee you’ll remember the saying ‘never judge a book by it’s cover’.

Java House has been around since 1989. Though it does not have the traditional local coffee shop feel you still feel its connection to the town. Even though it has no seating inside or out you likely to linger. The employees are friendly and the costumers are even more so. Staring a conversation with a total stranger is a cliché in a coffee shop but at Java you’ll leave questioning how you have never met that person before. The regulars come from a wide variety of people. With school, churches, and a courthouse surrounding the area you are sure to meet an eclectic bunch.

Where Dunkin Donuts gets it wrong.  Java does it SO right.  The flavors are there, but not overpowering.  The coffee tastes fresh, not like it is sitting in a tub for days on end. The iced Coffee selection is vast and each flavor is ordered from a different company to guarantee the best taste of each flavor. 

Panache Coffee Shop Matt Bianchi

Panache Coffee Shop, Framingham MA

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Panache Coffee Shop is located a half mile west of Framingham center on

680 Worcester Road or better known as route 9. Panache coffee is in a 

great location located on a busy road generating lots of customer traffic for 

the coffee shop. 

Panache Coffee Shop is also located near Framingham State 

University, and the Coffee shop gets frequent visiters there and 

enjoy their coffee while doing their homework. Panache Coffee 

offers free wifi which makes it a perfect place for college kids to

go and when I was there that was the general age of the customers

My visit to the Panache Coffee Shop was a great experience and 

would suggest it to everyone who loves coffee. I went on the 

weekend mid day and most of the seating was full. The store provides

 a great atmosphere to enjoy your coffee in and hold a conversation. While

in the shop it was mostly a sit down and have a conversation coffee shop, 

or do your homework. Not many people came and left almost everyone

came in and sat down. And Panache coffee does not offer a drive through.

Panache coffee has a great atmosphere playing soft  acoustic music lifting

the mood in the store, and has a warming environment due to the color

scheme and the warm furnature.

Panche Coffe Talks about there coffee very highly, "Panache 

Coffee only buys, roasts, and packages class 1 Specialty Grade

 coffee beans. These beans represent the top 5% of harvested 

coffee." and I would have to agree that the coffe is delicious. As 

for literature to go with their coffee, they provide books to read,

and also games to play with friends.

Pictures of Panache Coffee Shop

Coffee Milano ( Middleboro MA)

The Coffee shop in which I visited for this assignment was Coffee Milano located in the center of Middleboro, MA. I have never been inside the coffee shop before so I decided to try out this place across the street from the Honey Dew I always go into. Let me tell you, I will never go back into Honey Dew Doughnuts again. I decided to visit the coffee shop with my mother because we always make coffee runs together in the mornings at either Dunks or Honey Dew.


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When I first got into the coffee shop, it was just my mother and I, but also a group of 5 local business workers sitting around drinking coffee, and talking about the upcoming town selectmen voting.
When we were leaving there was a younger man around his 30s, and as soon as he got into the door the lady at the front knew just want he wanted.

I felt like it was a very friendly, nice, quiet environment. The lady working was a sweetheart, and explained to me the in's and out's of the people that visit this place, and how she runs things in the shop.

The price was by far more then reasonable, the coffee was very rich, and my bacon egg and cheese tasted like it was home made!

One Cool Feature I found that they had all the types of coffee bags out so you could look at the labels

Vienna Coffee with a Colombian Decaf.

Overall I give Coffee Milano a 10 out of 10.

58 Center Street Middleboro MA. 508-946-4006
Open Mon-Sat 7-5 Sunday 7-2

Looking Down to the Center of Middleboro

Right Across the Street is a Honey Dew

Sitting Area ( Wi-Fi)

Menu, Counter to Order

Cafe on the Common 12 S. Main Street Mansfield, MA

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Café on the Common is located in the center of Mansfield. It is across the street from town hall. There is competition all around it, there are several Dunkin Donuts, Honey Dew Donuts, and other cafes near Café on the Common. I went to Café on the Common on Sunday April 11 around 10:30 am. It was very busy there. When I first walked in, there were already people in line waiting to be seated. I was told it would be about a 20-minute wait. I noticed there was a coffee bar in there with several seats available so I asked if I could go to the coffee bar and they served me right away. Even with it being extremely busy, the staff was very friendly. The prices were cheap and their food is really good. You can get breakfast or lunch there. There menu was big and it took me a few minutes to decide what I wanted to order. I did not see any signs promoting a specific brand of coffee. I had 2 cups of black coffee. The coffee was ok, there was nothing special about it. Overall, I liked Café on the Common and I will go there again.