The perfect cup of joe
Posted on January 14, 2008
White Mocha. Caramel Macchiato. Java Chip Frappucino. Venti nonfat triple latte.
No matter what you call it, coffee is a major part of many people’s day, especially for college students. In a town full of stores and restaurants, where are the best places to get a caffeine fix?
THE ARTFUL DODGER
The Artful Dodger, located downtown, provides excellent-tasting coffee paired with equally excellent service. Even though its coffee menu is a bit limited, containing basic beverages and a couple of specialty espresso drinks, the coffee blends are packed with exquisite, rich taste.
“Most of our coffees are fair trade or organic or both, and they get overnighted to us and so it’s definitely really fresh,” said Beth Nelson, who has been the manager at The Artful Dodger for two years.
With cool blue and black décor and a menu written in neon, The Artful Dodger gives a hip atmosphere for you to sip your drip. Parking can be limited, but if you’re looking for a place to sit down and chill out for a bit, The Artful Dodger is the place to go. This coffee spot, which seconds as a cocktail lounge, is open seven days a week until 2 a.m. Nelson thinks what sets The Artful Dodger apart from other coffee shops “is a combination of the coffee and the atmosphere and the service.”
The Artful Dodger is located at 47 West Court Square.
OLD DOMINION COFFEE COMPANY
Old Dominion Coffee Company seems like a privately-owned Panera Bread located on a downtown corner on South Main Street. The coffee shop has an adequate menu of sandwiches and soups as well as hand-made Italian gelato, in case you’re craving more than coffee. If you prefer, you can pair your coffee with an assortment of scones, cheesecake slices and other pastries. Old Dominion is a great place to go to study or surf the Web since it provides free wireless Web access for its customers in a cozy atmosphere.
Old Dominion serves unique coffee syrups from candy bar and cake flavors, to Banana Caramel Steamer or Jamaican Me Crazy flavored espresso drinks.
“From Amaretto to Peach, you name it, we got it,” said Howard Simmons, the manager of Old Dominion.
An Old Dominion favorite this time of year is Mexican hot cocoa, and Simmons recommends the Blue Ridge Blend House variety if you’re a black coffee aficionado.
Old Dominion Coffee Company is located at 2 North Main Street and at the Valley Mall.
STARBUCKS
Whether you stop in Top Dog for a quick java fix, or you’re cruising down Port Republic Road, Starbucks can satisfy your craving for coffee. It has delicious seasonal beverages, and it just finished showcasing its holiday drinks, like the eggnog, gingerbread and peppermint mocha lattes. If you’re trying to cut your calories, Starbucks’ newly-introduced skinny lattes may be what you’re looking for.
Although Starbucks has a reputation for serving quality coffee, its drinks seem overpriced. Many of Starbucks’ espresso drinks are 10 or 15 cents more expensive than other cafés around Harrisonburg that serve virtually the same kind of beverage. The quality of Starbucks drinks can be inconsistent from visit to visit. Sometimes your caramel macchiato may be made to perfection; other times, it can come short on the sweetness or have too much foam floating on the top. Starbucks also has a habit of serving too much ice with its iced beverages.
Starbucks is located in Top Dog and at 1306 Hillside Avenue.
GREENBERRY’S COFFEE & TEA COMPANY
Walking into Greenberry’s on any day of the week could mean finding standing-room only, because its coffee is just that delectable. Located on the corner of S. High and E. Grace Streets, Greenberry’s is just a short walk away from the Quad, and right across the street from Memorial Hall. Greenberry’s tea and coffee menu is a six-page pamphlet outlining an abounding assortment of beverages. It boasts 25 varieties of coffee blends, seven of which are decaffeinated, from all over the world — from Guatemala and Sumatra to Kenya and Arabia. It also has classic coffee drinks, flavored lattes and a variety of non-coffee beverages as well as frozen, blended drinks. Greenberry’s makes it easy to fully customize your cup of java — you can even choose to have your drink made with “half-caf,” a step in between decaffeinated and caffeinated.
Greenberry’s is located at 400 South High Street.
