My experience at Somethin's Brewin Bookstore and Cafe

Somethin’s Brewin Bookstore and Café
(508) 946-5055

Hours:

Tuesday	6:30AM–4PM
Wednesday	6:30AM–4PM
Thursday	6:30AM–4PM
Friday	6:30AM–4PM
Saturday	7:30AM–3PM
Sunday	7:30AM–2PM
Monday	6:30AM–4PM

Address: 241 Main St, Lakeville Massachusetts

 

  I grew up in franklin Massachusetts and all we really had around that area was just the same old chain coffee shops like “Dunkin Donuts” and “Honey Dew”. Upon driving up to this small coffee shop on peaceful back roads I was excited to see what a true coffee shop looks like and what it really entails. Once you arrive you are immediately in captured by the vastness the building itself presents for someone visiting for the first time such as myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 My friends Abby, Sam, Shannon accompanied me on this lovely 16 minute trip from campus. I figured it would be best to go with them because they are avid coffee drinkers and I am not so much. We went at about 12pm on a warm Monday, which was not a very busy time.  We were glad regardless, because then we could actually see the effort that was put into this lovely coffee shop.

As I entered I experience a feeling of being welcomed with open arms because of the way the workers greeted me. Upon explaining why I was there, and what I was doing, they could not have been more willing to provide me with the information I needed. When talking with the owner she said that the mornings are usually the busiest time. I also discovered that they have been in business for eight years and are doing well. They get their coffee from Speedwell Brewery in Plymouth, which produces a vast majority of different, good quality coffee. When you enter this shop and you look to the left you see books and people casually sitting invested in conversation as well as joking and laughing. The welcoming feeling is only more embraced when you realize the community books they have available to enjoy while you sip a cup of coffee, as well as a variety of comfortable seating arrangements. 

 

With all these factors in consideration I would say that Somethin’s Brewin Bookstore and Café, I would call this lace a very peaceful and welcoming coffee shop to attend. The workers are very pleasant and the furniture and atmosphere are very welcoming as soon as, and even before you walk through the front doors. They also include patio furniture as an option to sit outside in the nice weather and enjoy some sips. Before leaving I ordered a specialty coffee called a mocha iced coffee. The quality of this coffee did not match the cost; I would have paid more for it. Once I thanked them for their help I exited with my friends and sat outside on the patio furniture with them in the nice warm weather and we just all talked and drank good coffee. As strange as it is to say I have never really experienced an event such as this in my life before. I never usually went out of my way for coffee like that (Though it was well worth the drive). Now I feel changed and I feel as though I have a new aspiration for coffee. All in all I would rate this coffee shop a 9 out of 10.

Coffee Obession- Woods Hole, Ma

From my home in Bridgewater, Ma, there are four Dunkin' Donuts within a mile away from me. That being said, I thought the best coffee ever was a "Pumpkin Spice" Dunkin' Donuts hot coffee, with two cream and two sugars. Boy was I wrong. Branching out and drinking coffee made at shops other than chain coffee shops, like Dunks and Starbucks, is an experience worth taking.

I just happened to be in Woods Hole, Ma when I stumbled upon Coffee Obsession. My destination was actually Woods Hole Science Aquarium which wasn't even a half mile down the street. Located on 38 Water Street and basically on the water, the cafe was calling my name to come in.

The building that holds Coffee Obsession is a beautiful Victorian-looking house. It looked like it had three or four floors but the shop was on the main level. I was especially a sucker for the wrap around porch. I mean, what else could I ask for? The interior was equally as cozy. There was a fire place with wooden tables and chairs to enjoy sitting at.

There was no line at the counter and I was immediately greeted by a friendly server. Behind and around the counter was a bit overwhelming, though. Not only was there many types of coffee to choose from but also tons of food. From granola bars to baked goods, everything looked enticing. I settled on a Brown Sugar flavored coffee and a paleo banana muffin. I most certainly did not regret that decision.

The coffee was debatably one of the best I've ever had. I will admit that maybe it was because the flavor was incredible but it also could have been because of the quality of coffee. My server was happy to answer my questions about where their coffee was from. All the coffee they purchased to brew was fair trade and organic from Boulder Organic Coffee from Boulder, Colorado. She showed me a bag of beans, which said the coffee was from Peru. My muffin was also really great and looked like it was homemade. I would recommend this combo to anyone.

All in all, I was very impressed by Coffee Obsession. It has another location in Falmouth which I definitely plan on visiting this summer. While I went on a weekday afternoon, the shop wasn't very crowded and many people sat with friends or with computers. There were no chain coffee shops particularly close to the shop but I passed at least one Dunkin' Donuts driving through Woods Hole.

Coffee Obsession Woods Hole, Ma Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday: 7 AM to 5 PM

Coffee Break Cafe

A few days ago I visited the Coffee Break Cafe in Quincy. The Coffee Break Cafe in Quincy is located on Parking Way near the center of town. I arrived at the coffee shop around 2 in the afternoon and it was pretty quite with a few customers sitting at tables with laptops enjoying their coffee. I was told that the place can get pretty busy on weekend mornings though. 

The crowd was mostly young professionals in their 20s or 30s and students from nearby Quincy College. Their are a few big chain coffee shoppes within a close proximity including a Starbucks and a Dunkin' Donuts. The nearby Dunkin' Donuts is actually the very first Dunkin' Donuts which I thought was interesting.  

The Coffee Break Cafe was started by Jenn and Danny two college students who are now husband and wife. After having mediocre coffee for many years Jenn convinced Danny who at that time was her boyfriend to open their own coffee shop. With no money or business experience they opened their first restaurant on March 3rd 1996 and have opened four more since then, all within the same area. 

Jenn and Danny only do business with certified specialty coffee roasters and are not interested in fast food quality coffee. They believe that their coffee is better than the big chain coffee restaurants because they only use the best quality coffee.

Hours:

M-F 5:30a-6:00p, Sat 6:00a-6:00p

Sun 6:00a-5:00p

-Jarrett McSherry 

Coffee Milano

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, I visited Coffee Milano in downtown Middleboro. I heard about this shop from my father. He is the Lieutenant of Middleboro, and with the Police Station being just a two minute walk from here, he recommended this shop to me. 

Upon entering, I immediately noticed how presentable the front end was. A glass case was full of tasty-looking food with a colorful menu behind it, and a variety of coffee bags were on display. I started small talk with the staff, who were extremely friendly and happy to hear I picked their shop to do a project on. 

After chatting, I examined their huge menu. It had coffee every way you could imagine it: hot, iced, lattes, cappucinos, americanas (my favorite, don't know why I didn't get one of those), espressos, chais, teas and frappes.  They also ordered a large amount of food, focusing on breakfast. Since it was rather warm out, I ordered a coconut iced coffee. Although they used pumps of flavored syrup for the coconut (I prefer my flavors to be brewed in with the beans, not pumped), it was simply a good cup of coffee. Notably refreshing. 


After getting the chance to sit down with my coffee and friends, I couldn't help but notice how it did not have a coffee shop type of feel. To me, coffee shops are usually cozy and homey. But Coffee Milano had two divided, long rooms. It was clean and decorated well, however the ambience was not necessarily homey to me. Based on its appearance, I would guess it was a diner. 

Regardless, I definitely enjoyed my visit. The coffee was good, I didn't have to wait in line, the food looked great, and the staff was friendly. Not to mention the free wi-fi, street view windows, and take out food available. I would rate it an 8 out of 10.

Mon – Sat 7:00 am - 5:00 pm  
Sunday 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

S

Samantha Bazarewsky

Roebling Point Books & Cafe - Covington, KY

A Coffee Maven Review


The wedding of friends in Cincinnati was the occasion for our first visit to the city since I quit working there in 1990. Since I commuted (the only time in my life) from outside the city, I never really knew it very well. So we enjoyed a morning of wandering its many parkways and neighborhoods. When we found ourselves downtown near the famous Roebling Bridge, we decided to extend our jaunt into Kentucky.

Facing north on the Roebling Bridge, into Cincinnati. This bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1866, and it figures prominently in the sense of place for the two cities it connects. It is the prequel to the Brooklyn Bridge, which opened three decades later. Note the condo development named "Current" in the middle-right of the photo.

Immediately upon entering Covington -- a city which I remembered mainly as the butt of impolite jokes -- we were pleased to find Roebling Point Books & Coffee. We took an acrophobic walk out near the midpoint of the bridge, 100 feet above the Ohio River.

We returned to find the best of both worlds in this coffeeshop/bookstore. Both the coffee and the books were selected and presented with care. We found a lot of our favorites among the books, and ended up buying two that were totally new to us -- an illustrated Moby Dick and a book about the geography of Christmas lights.

Pam rocking her anti-censorship t-shirt in one of several book rooms in this cafe. the book she is holding, of course, will be taken to our Whaling House near New Bedford Harbor.

We each enjoyed a cup of light-roast black coffee -- Pam had the River Rowing blend in honor of my rowing -- and because the barista said it was her favorite. I had the cafe's new Panama single-origin, in honor of a friend currently serving in the Peace Corps in a coffee-growing area of Panama. I was remiss in not asking for more details about the coffee sourcing, but have inquired online.

I was intrigued, though, by the point-of-sale equipment (aka, the register). As with almost every independent business we visited in the Cincinnati area, transactions were conducted using an iPad. What made this cafe a bit different is that the owner -- described by the barista as "crafty" -- had created a cash box from a recycled wooden door (the same material used in the main counter) and had fit the iPad into it in such a way that the barista could read it, and then flip it up for the customer to read when she opened the box.

I find many cafes in which the cup warmer on the espresso machine is used to store paper goods, either because the cafe has no real cups or because nobody has been thoroughly trained on the machine's features. This was the first cafe in which I saw that the warmer was not only being used for cups, but also to keep the honey supply warm!

The sense of place -- and pride of place -- in its location steps away from the Roebling Bridge is captured in the graphics used in the main coffee-serving area.

One way to explore both Cincinnati and Covington is by Red Bike -- a network of automated rental kiosks located throughout both cities -- including this stand directly in front of the bookstore/cafe.

Baxter's Coffee - Somerset, KY

Over two years ago, I flew to Somerset, KY to visit my boyfriend, Michael and his family. In the months previous to my arrival, Michael and I had devised plans for our week together. Although we didn't make a definitive plan, Michael informed me that we must visit the local coffee shop, Baxter’s Coffee. As a lover of coffee, I happily obliged.  

One morning after I arrived in Somerset, Michael drove me down a couple side roads to visit Baxter’s. Upon arrival, I was surprised to discover that Baxter's was a small home that had been converted into a coffee shop. The small parking lot in front of the building was packed with cars and many customers found parking along the street (us included). After finding an open parking spot, we walked into the small coffee shop and were greeted with the scent of coffee and freshly baked goods. 

The main part of the building was packed with people chatting, while they waited for their morning beverages and breakfast. Along all of the counter and walls, there were various blends of specialty coffee and a large assortment of merchandise from other local stores and artisans. The coffee shop's warm colors and unique set-up gave the building an inviting feel. After a short wait in line, Michael and I ordered our coffees and breakfast. The staff was more than pleasant (although they were quite surprised by my Boston accent).  

When our order was complete, we walked through the various rooms of the coffee shop to find a seat. We finally found a little wooden table that was unoccupied in the corner of the shop. As we set down our books and coffee, we were able to watch the customers stream in and out of the building; there were moms with infants, elderly couples, teenagers, and local doctors. After a few minutes of people watching, the coffee was cool enough for me for try. To my delight, the coffee was great! It was freshly roasted, naturally sweet, and smooth; there was no need to add cream or sugar. The specialty "Baxter's Blitz" was also a great frozen drink topped with homemade whipped cream. After Michael and I finished our coffees, we enjoyed a delicious blueberry muffin.  

We spent most of our day there studying, but other customers were reading books, gossiping with friends, or enjoying a coffee date. The cozy atmosphere, friendly-service, and good coffee have made this family-owned coffee shop a great success. If you are ever in the area and love a good cup of coffee, I would recommend stopping in to Baxter’s Coffee. The coffee shop is open Monday-Saturday 7 am-7 pm and closed all day Sunday. 

For more information about Baxter's Coffee and their other locations check out their website: http://www.baxterscoffee.com/ 

Coffee & Cotton

A review of Coffee & Cotton in Lowell, MA

This weekend I spent a couple of days visiting a friend at UMass Lowell. While I was there, he introduced me to a fabulous coffee shop called Coffee & Cotton. We had a pleasant time enjoying sandwiches with fresh ingredients and quality coffee. We were also lucky enough to arrive on a day where there was live music and a small farmer's market on the floor where the shop is housed.

The coffee shop is in an area amidst a number of small restaurants and cafes. It is on the fourth floor of a building that was once a textile factory now renamed as Mill No. 5. It is a rather large, old, dull, stained building on a quiet street not too far from downtown. 

It was remade into a space that is artist friendly and creates a lovely place for people to enjoy their time. We entered the building through big black gates to where we rode a slow elevator to the fourth floor. We were greeted with a lively and energetic atmosphere. As far as you could see there were vendors selling a variety of things from sweet-smelling pastries to clothes, jewelry, honey, handmade pasta, plants, books, maple syrup and more. Other shops on the floor included a record store, a book store, a yoga studio, and an old fashioned style theater. 

Entering the shop was magical. The place has a rustic, vintage style look with mahogany wood furnishing and lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling above your head. We visited the shop at about 10am on a Sunday and there was a large crowd for the farmers market. The shop was somewhat busy but still maintained it's calm and cozy ambiance. For the most part customers opted to sit and either read a book, do work, or interact with whoever they were with. Some would take advantage of the comfortable couches in the next room of the shop or they would find a table off in the corner. 

The menu offers an assortment of house made pastries and hot and cold beverages like tea, cider, and lattes. There is also different kinds of espresso as well as some food. We both chose iced beverages. I tried the mocha latte which was delicious. It had a slight chocolate taste which was nice because it was balanced and not too overbearing of the coffee flavor. He chose the maple flavored coffee and it also had a mixed smooth flavor. For sandwiches, I decided to go with a grilled cheese on sourdough bread with tomato and bacon and for my friend a pesto chicken on sourdough. Both sandwiches were made with care and you could tell. The bread was toasted a perfect golden brown and the ingredients were fresh and flavorful.

Besides the wonderful atmosphere, the quality food and beverages, what really impressed me was how knowledgeable the barista was about the products. Overall the visit was great and I would recommend anyone to stop by if they are in the area of Lowell. Sunday through Tuesday, the shop is open at 7am until 8pm, and the rest of the week it is open at 7am until 10pm.

2022 Update: Coffee & Cotton decided some while ago (before now but after my original post) to take a bold step in support of livable wages. It raised prices in order to remove its staff from dependency on tipping. Of course, there was a lot of complaining about this online at the time, but it seems to have worked out well.