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Procaffeinating
For those looking for the perfect cup of coffee
Den Da Coffee and Drinks (Towson)
A Vietnamese coffee shop right next to the roaring sushi bar and in between 2 pubs on Pennsylvania Ave. in Towson. You walk in and it looks modern with hints of rustic pieces on the shelves, filled with old books and antique nicknacks. You can sit and eat, do work, or you can take it to go.
For coffee I tried the Den Da Espresso and how they serve it is unique. Everything comes separate on the tray, you get their coffee in the mug and the sugar and cream come in separate small cups for you to poor yourself. Don’t worry, if it’s your first time going then one of the workers will explain it to you. The coffee was strong but had a very good taste.
It’s Vietnamese coffee meets modern American coffee shop and you can’t go wrong with anything you get.
Cup rating: 5 ☕️
Starbucks in Towson Library
What is supposed to be a convenient place to get coffee on campus is often a nightmare for both students and the baristas. Located in the Albert S. Cook Library on Towson’s campus is a Starbucks.
The only thing going for them is their location. Every time I’ve gone in there, even to get a simple macchiato, it’s always taken over 15 minutes for what should be a 5 minute drink. They never have the food they advertise in the display case and a lot of times the line itself is long with very few baristas behind the counter.
If what’s going for them is convince for busy college students, why does it take so long to get anything?
Cup rating: 1 ☕️
Dunkin' (Towson)
Towson students know exactly where this Dunkin’ is located, right on York Rd only a block or two away from campus. It’s okay to find but cheap and fast if all you need is a coffee and pastry before you rush to class.
The phrase “America runs on Dunkin’” is true because there isn’t a lot of seating for you to relax and enjoy the coffee or pastry. It’s for you to literally run in, grab coffee, and go. I’ve had other coffee at Dunkin’ before going on this particular day and I always remember it always being too sweet, even for a simple coffee. This time I ordered a caramel coffee with no cream or sugar. Although this tasted more like coffee than many other drinks there, it still didn’t satisfy the taste buds.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a “quick cup of coffee” before class or work but do you really want to sacrifice quality for something fast that may or may not taste like coffee?
Cup rating: 2 ☕️
Starbucks (Towson)
In comparison to the one in the library on Towson’s campus it was much faster. I got an iced caramel macchiato, which was sweet, like it usually is. The place was busy, as it usually is on the weekends with college students but there was nothing special about it, at least not anymore, other than over paying for standard or candied coffee.
Now that you know there are better coffee shops in Towson:
Cup rating: 1 ☕️
Image taken from Google
Cunningham's Cafe and Bakery (Towson)
Located right off of the Towson Circle is a busy little bakery called Cunningham’s (not to be confused with the restaurant). It’s a decent size cafe with a combination of a rustic but subtle modern feel. They seemed to be well organized until they lost my coffee through “miss communication.”
To drink I got a smooth, and subtly sweet, Cinnamon Toast latte. It was one of their specialty drinks and because of that I expected a more cinnamon taste with it, which wasn’t there. As a specialty drink there wasn’t anything very special about it other than the name.
To eat I got a cranberry muffin. A nice surprise was that they put whole cranberries into the muffin, which made it taste even more fresh, they definitely have the bakery part down.
In the end, it seems to be a combination of Red Canoe and Zeke’s, but with better coffee.
Cup rating: 2 1/2 ☕️
Kung Fu Tea (Towson)
Not spending much time here I changed it up and tried a tea place. The place was empty when I walked inside but the workers were still rushing to have me order and finish. I looked through the menu looking for the coffee (because I was told they had some) but couldn’t find it and ended up getting Almond Milk Tea. It was sweet but almost too sweet. Once it was ready I took it and left because I didn’t feel that welcomed to stay.
Cup rating: 1 ☕️
Zeke's Coffee (Harford Rd.)
On Harford Rd. they’re known for their having their own roastery but they also have a cafe right up the street. They have seating outside and inside with the main room being large and open, and a separate smaller room as a place to work. The outdoor seating is covered for shade but still allows you to enjoy the day with plenty of seating. It was always slightly busy with people always coming in and out, whether they were there to sit or to get food to go.
Coffee wise I got a small iced mocha which was rich with chocolate flavor but perhaps too rich to drink.
I don’t think you can choose wrong when it comes to food, they have a breakfast and a lunch menu. I ordered Grilled Chicken Sandwich, the portions are huge and filling but it is delicious. A perfect place to stop and have lunch.
It comes to question though, for a place that has its own roastery, why do they seem to be more focused on the food than the coffee?
Cup rating: 2 ☕️
Red Canoe Cafe (Harford Rd.)
Also doubling as a children’s book store is the small, and local, Red Canoe Cafe located on Harford Rd. With a lot of places to go to and walk around town, it acts as a nice place to stop and cool off.
For my drink I ordered the Iced lavender latte which gave a sweet and refreshing taste, perfect for a warm day.
The atmosphere was relaxing and laid back, with more seating in the back to eat. Food and drinks came out quickly but there was no rush on leaving, but it’s definitely a local hot spot for the people in town.
I didn’t order anything to eat because I wanted to walk up to Zeke’s for lunch. I plan to eventually go back and try one of their pastries but I also didn’t feel like there was anything very special about it.
Cup rating: 3 ☕️
Dovecote Cafe (Baltimore)
Almost dead center of some townhouses you’ll find one of my new favorite coffee shops, Dovecote Cafe. As I was walking up to it I felt as I was part of the community, welcomed by someone sitting on the bench outside, who I don’t think works there.
It’s small when you walk in but there’s a couple places to work or sit and have something to eat. You can tell a lot of people knew each other in there, it was a large feeling of community that you couldn’t help but be a part of.
They only have one brew and you can add cream and sugar based on that. And here is how: you start with black (known as Inkwell) and as you add cream you get smidge, then Honey Pot (the most popular), Fawn and then Tiza. I ordered Honey Pot which was the smoothest cup of coffee I have ever tasted, even better than what I make at home. It was simple, yes, but sometimes it’s the simple that makes the best coffee.
They’re known for their peach upside down cake and when I took a bite of it I immediately knew why. It was an even balance of lemon and peach flavor all rolled up into one delicious and homemade cake, add vanilla ice cream and you have the perfect spring and/or summer day.
This is the type of coffee shop I love to go and be in. Which is why I’m breaking rules
Cup rating: 6 ☕️
Vent Coffee Roasters (Baltimore)
Located right off of 83 at the bottom of a hill you’ll find this not very small cafe right next to the Charmery. With the location, Vent Coffee Roasters gives off an industrial vibe with a very welcoming and happy staff
For my coffee I had an americano with cream. It had a simple taste, okay to sip on during a nice day.
Although I didn’t order anything to eat I liked talking to the barista as she was making my coffee and I started taking pictures. This is part of the reason why I really enjoyed just simply being there. They had the garage door open where the benches and tables were, helping with the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Cup rating: 4 ☕️
Artifact (Baltimore)
I was told by several different people that I had to try Artifact Coffee. So I did.
For my coffee, I ordered a Strawberry Rhubarb Latte.
I didn't originally order food because the waitress took the orders of my friends after I had gotten up to take pictures. When I came back to sit down their food came but the coffee still wasn't on the table. After my friends had finished eating the waitress realized the coffee never came and gave us 2 pastries on the house, a blueberry danish and a chocolate chip cookie. Both tasted fresh but the chocolate chip cookie was the favorite at the table.
When the latte finally came it was simple with a subtle strawberry taste after taking a couple of sips.
The atmosphere was cozy and very welcoming with places to work as well as places to sit and have food and morning coffee with friends. It's an old stone building with seating outside for when it's nice out. Inside is everything you think would be in a coffee shop, strings of lights hanging above your head, a large table for you to work, a station to make your coffee if you're taking it on the go and even a typewriter that you are allowed to type on.
Cup Rating: 4 1/2 ☕️ (because the food still came before the coffee)
If you're looking for a great brunch place to go with or meet a friend then Artifact coffee might just be the place for you.
One of my roommates went to visit her sister in West Virginia. During her visit they went to a coffee shop and this is what she had to say about it:
Located on West Virginia's downtown campus, the Grind is a small coffee shop decorated in blue tones and chalk board paint, with abstract art on the walls. Seating is limited and the kitchen is open and visible from some seating. You can hear the employees chatting in the back. They offer a variety of breakfast sandwiches and bagels along with baked goods. They also have dark and light roast coffees of the day.
Recently opened in Towson on Chesapeake Ave is the second location of The Bun Shop and I decided to do a comparison.
First, if you haven't been before it's slightly confusing when you first walk in. You don't see menu's when you first walk in, not written on the wall, none on the tables. Instead, you have to go up to the register where you might find one or two menus but you also get an up close look at the pastries and treats they have in the showcase. After figuring that out here is my assessment of the shops:
Baltimore: Here I ordered something simple, a Honey Macchiato and a Berry Pocket to go with it. Both were delicious. The honey macchiato was smooth and sweet and the berry pocket complimented the coffee perfectly with a sweet but tart filling. The seating was unconventional with couches and large rustic tables to spread out to do work. My first thought when walking in was it's trying very hard to be "Hipster" with a piano that you aren't allowed to sit at or play. It was quiet and surprisingly not busy for a Saturday morning. I didn't have a desire to stay very long.
Cup Rating: 4☕️
Towson: I enjoyed the atmosphere here at the Towson Bun Shop than the one in Baltimore. I ordered an iced Hong Kong coffee which is now one of my favorite cups. It was a perfect balance between coffee and cream. In both shops they serve the coffee in to-go cups, this way the coffee is easy to take with you when you're done with your work.
Cup Rating: 5☕️
The Bun Shop might bring the full cliche to coffee shops but I must say they have delicious coffee and provide a good midnight cram session whenever needed since they are open from 7am to 3am everyday.
TripAdvisor
Café Au Lait
A cute little café, shaped like the top of a lighthouse, located on Kenilworth Ave. right next to a Trader Joe's. For a small coffee shop they pack a lot of flavor, with a lot of natural light inside and seating outside (weather permitting of course).
For my first cup I got a vanilla latte, it was simple, sweet, and nice to sip on as I looked around this petite café. The coffee came in a mug handmade by Marylander J. Beaumont. I noticed everything they sell and make is from local farmers markets, there's even art on the walls you can buy from local artists.
To eat I ordered a delicious Grilled Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Sandwich. I do recommend to ask for it pre-cut, since it comes on a large pretzel bun, making it difficult to eat at first. As for my second cup of coffee I ordered a Café Au Lait, which is just a fancy name for coffee and milk. Once I added a little bit of sugar it reminded me of coffee I would have at my grandmothers house.
I loved the atmosphere of Atwaters from the moment I walked in to the moment I left. The servers were friendly, as well as some of the customers. Some were there for meetings, some were there to work and some where there just to have a bite to eat and a nice cup of coffee.
Cup Rating: 5☕️
So, if you want to work somewhere with a little bit of background noise or even just to sit and have a conversation over some coffee then Atwaters is the place for you. Happy Caffeinating!
