Although the convenience and popularity of Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks among students at Northern may not be able to be matched, there are plenty of local coffee shops and cafes in and around Dillsburg that offer quality coffee. Throughout the week, I visited various coffee shops around Dillsburg to try their coffee and observe the other aspects of these businesses that set them apart from the larger coffee chains like Dunkin or Starbucks. At every café, I ordered an iced latte with caramel syrup and almond milk in order to compare the different coffee shops. As I visited every shop, I noted the price, atmosphere, and quality of the coffee itself to form my opinions of these local shops.
SQUARE BEAN COFFEE
Located in the center of Dillsburg, the Square Bean Coffee shop is a convenient location for students to get coffee before or after school because of its proximity to Northern. The Square Bean offers indoor seating, so you do not have to worry about taking your drink or food to-go. The interior of the café is cozy with low ceilings and plenty of seating, which makes this coffee shop a suitable place for coffee with a friend or for working on school-work. As I tried different iced lattes from varying shops, I noticed that some of the ice cubes that were used did not keep my drink cold or made it luke-warm, but at Square Bean my drink was cold from the minute I received it. The flavor of the coffee was not very strong and I was able to taste the caramel syrup more distinctly than at other coffee shops. Although I would have preferred a stronger taste of espresso in my latte, I would recommend this drink for those who enjoy a sweeter coffee. If you want a sweeter drink, the Square Bean carries over fifty different flavors of syrup to add to any drink you order. The Square bean also offers a full menu of food ranging from quesadillas to pastries that are decently priced. My coffee was priced at $5.50, which makes it the most expensive coffee that I purchased out of the four cafes that I visited. The convenience of the Square Bean makes it a solid option if you are looking for a local coffee shop to try, but there are other local shops with cheaper coffee and better atmospheres that I would suggest.
CORNERSTONE COFFEE SHOP
The Cornerstone Coffee Shop in Camp Hill stands out from the other coffee shops I tried because of their extensive food menu along with the many variations of coffee that they offer. The extent of their food menu could qualify this coffee shop as even a quick sit-down or grab-and-go restaurant, which is impressive considering they also have a full drink menu. This coffee shop has indoor and heated outdoor seating for the winter months that is located on the patio outside the store. Similarly to the Square Bean, Cornerstone’s indoor atmosphere is quaint but inviting to guests. As I tried my drink, I noticed that parts of it were still warm from the espresso but within thirty seconds my drink became cold. I enjoyed the stronger presence of espresso in this coffee but struggled to taste the caramel syrup in the drink. Despite not tasting the caramel, the coffee itself was enjoyable and had the right combination of sweetness from the almond milk and bitterness from the espresso. My latte at Cornerstone cost me $4.93, which is the cheapest drink that I ordered throughout the week. I also noted that Cornerstone had a decent amount of drink specials that varied from lattes to smoothies, thus adding to the plethora of offerings that this coffee shop has. Overall, the Cornerstone Coffee Shop is a quality coffee shop if you are looking for food and a drink.
CRACKED POT COFFEE SHOP
The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop is a non-profit coffee shop in Mechanicsburg that employs youth who are aging out of the foster care system. The philanthropic drive behind this coffee shop only adds to the other positive aspects of this business. The atmosphere of the Cracked Pot has a quaint farmhouse feel, while providing plenty of space for customers to work, study, or socialize. Aside from the inviting environment, there is a sizable menu that consists of brunch items, sandwiches, pastries, and more, although the menu is not as large as Cornerstone’s menu. When I received my latte, it was presented in a glass mason jar mug and was ice cold, which I appreciated. The Cracked Pot utilizes Passenger Coffee in their espresso and drip coffee, and the flavor of the espresso was a perfect balance with the almond milk and caramel syrup. Although the drink was large in size, I finished it within minutes because of the not-overly sweet taste of the latte. Similarly to the other cafes that I visited, the cost of my latte was $5.35. The quality coffee and food that the Cracked Pot Coffee Shop offers to customers, along with the homey interior and philanthropic business model, makes this coffee shop one of the choice coffee shops in the area.
CAPITAL JOE
In regards to interior, Capital Joe in downtown Mechanicsburg has the most pleasing atmosphere and styling. This coffee shop has a modern interior set in a relatively old building off of main street Mechanicsburg. The interior of Capital Joe does not seem as cramped as the interiors of the other local coffee shops I visited this week, which helps customers to feel as if they have more personal space. All of the baked goods, including muffins, biscotti, and more, are homemade fresh at the stores. Capital Joe serves Square One Coffee in their drinks and has monthly drink specials that correspond with the season or holidays of that month. Personally, Capital Joe is one of my favorite coffee shops in this area because of the consistency of the quality of their drinks. My latte was cool when I received it and the espresso did not overpower the caramel syrup in the drink, while still having a strong presence in the latte. This balance between espresso and caramel made the latte a perfect midday snack after school. In terms of price, my latte at Capital Joe cost $5.20, which is similar to the price at Square Bean. The location of Capital Joe is convenient enough that residents of Dillsburg can commute there within ten or fifteen minutes to enjoy a quality cup of coffee and a beautiful atmosphere, which is why I would recommend visiting Capital Joe as an excellent local coffee shop.
From left to right: Square Bean, Cornerstone Coffeehouse, Cracked Pot Coffee Shop, and Capital Joe
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