“Black as midnight on a moonless night” — it’s how “Twin Peaks” protagonist Dale Cooper took his coffee, and really so should everyone else.
Whether at home or in any coffee shop, I find the best coffee to be the simplest and with the lowest amount of sugar, but I remain still on a quest to find the truly “best” coffee.
Perhaps you’d like to begin a quest of your own for the best coffee? Or better yet, send me some tips so I can finally retire from my quest?
The Lehigh Valley, in either case, is a perfect place to drink the brew, whether that’s black, iced, latte or any other style.
Read on to learn where, including at cafes, restaurants and even game stores.
Nationally recognized
Looking for the best coffee around? Don’t take our word for it — the Lehigh Valley is home to two nationally recognized coffee houses.
ThreeBirds Coffee House in Easton last year was named the second favorite independent coffee shop in the country by USA Today, which called the cafe “a 19th-century work of art, and a modern masterpiece in coffee preparation.”
It operates inside the three-story Bull Mansion at 226 Bushkill St., originally built in 1862, and serves coffee, tea and bread flavors such as peanut butter, banana and honey. Also check out their Easton Public Market location.
In this file photo, Joseph Langdon and Jennifer Murray pose inside their forthcoming coffee shop, ThreeBird Coffee House, at 226 Bushkill St. in Easton. (Ryan Kneller / The Morning Call)
Looking for a new spot to get some work done? La Vida Cafe, located inside the Americus Hotel at 19 N. Sixth St. in Allentown, ranked among the country’s best coffee shops for remote work.
The menu includes coffee, tea, hot chocolate, breakfast sandwiches, omelets, burgers, salads and vegetarian dishes like falafel wraps.
Newer additions
One of the great things about Lehigh Valley’s coffee scene is that it’s constantly growing — especially in Easton, which welcomed at least three new spots over the past year.
Glazed Donut & Coffee Shop opened in July at 149 Northampton St. in Easton, where Culinary Institute of America graduate Andy Christie and his wife Catalina serve coffee, customizable donuts, breakfast sandwiches, muffins, croissants and scones.
Also open this summer is the West Side Cafe & Grille, which opened in July at 1100 Bushkill St. in Easton.
Customers can order coffee, lattes, hot chocolate, tea, pancakes, waffles, French toast, quesadillas and cheesesteaks.
Finally, Easton also welcomed Heavenly Coffee last year at the Grand Eastonian Hotel.
The shop serves imported Colombian coffee as well as churros, iced tea, smoothies, soaps, candles and Colombian accessories.
A’ Latte Cafe opened late last year and offers coffee, ice cream, teas, refreshers, hot chocolate, bagels and pastries at 116 E. Broad St. in Quakertown.
Game cafes
Want something to do as you sip your coffee? We’ve got you covered there, too.
Mystery Box Games lets customers enjoy coffee, tea, milkshakes, sandwiches and a library of board games, card games, video games and puzzles at 1458 Northampton St. in Easton.
In Quakertown, enjoy tabletop games, coffee, tea, Italian soda, cookies, brownies, sandwiches and quesadillas at The Parlour Tabletop and Tome, located at 241 W. Broad St.
Also in Quakertown is A’ Latte Cafe, which opened late last year and offers coffee, ice cream, teas, refreshers, hot chocolate, bagels and pastries at 116 E. Broad St. While you’re there you can shop or enjoy treats throughout the Trolley Barn market, of which the cafe is part.
A look at Mystery Box Games on Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Easton. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Health-conscious
Looking for some healthier options?
Cafe 23 serves coffee, low-carb and gluten-free breads, sugar-free desserts, salads, breakfast sandwiches and chicken quesadillas at 318 Main St. in Emmaus.
Let’s Go Coffee Co. serves coffee as well as gluten-free baked goods such as cookies, muffins, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, banana bars and bread at 358 Main St. in Emmaus.
Classics
Sometimes, though, all you want is a good, classic cup of coffee. Here are some choices to get your simple caffeine fix (plus lattes and more.)
Plants + Coffee offers various houseplants as well as coffee, lemonade, spritzers and bagels at 1458 Northampton St. in Easton.
Plants and coffee from Monocacy Coffee is seen Thursday, April, 6, 2023 at Plants + Coffee in Easton. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Nowhere Coffee Co. operates at 17 S. Ninth St. in Allentown and 3127 Tilghman St. in South Whitehall Township, where they serve coffee, lattes, tea, lemonade and hot chocolate.
At Bitty & Beau’s Coffee at 74 W. Broad St. in Bethlehem, customers can enjoy coffee, tea, smoothies, bagels, muffins and cake pops.
Bitty and Beau’s, a coffee shop that employees people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, opened in Bethlehem on Saturday morning. Nov. 06, 2021. (David Garrett / Special to The Morning Call)
The Java Joint drive-thru coffee shop operates at 7370 Hamilton Blvd. in Upper Macungie Township and offers lattes, Americanos, bagels, pastries and shakes such as with spinach and kale.
The Wise Bean serves coffee, lattes, tea, hot chocolate, juices, bagels, pastries and smoothies at 634 N. New St. in Bethlehem.
Lehigh Valley Insider’s Guide is an occasional series on places to go and things to do and see. Have an idea for a topic or a place that we missed? Email us at goguide@mcall.com.
