Coffee Shopping: Lehigh Valley

Did you know that Voltaire drank more than fifty cups of coffee a day??

It's true.

So do not worry about OD-ing on America's most popular drug (legal or illegal, take THAT meth-heads).

As some of you may know, I recently got a job at well-known chain of coffee shops. Today I had to make over 8 different types of drinks as part of my training and had to drink over half of them. That's a lot of caffeine AND a lot of calories. By the end of my shift I was so wired and buzzed, I made it back to campus from center city in under ten minutes. Also, I'm shaking a lot. Woo!

Before my imminent caffeine crash, I would like to share with you, my lovely readers (by the way is that a new shirt? It's looks fantastic. Oh, you've had it for a couple months now? Well I think you should wear it more often) some of my most favorite places to get coffee in the good ol' Lehigh Valley. I would do Philadelphia but I still have one more coffee house to go to before I can order and rank them all.

Here it go:

Best coffee for Thespians and their Families: Hava Java

Located in Allentown's "West End", Hava Java makes for a nice little stop before or after a show at the civic theatre and/or its movie annex. I have only been there a few times after catching a movie at the annex BUT the coffee was really good. I cannot recall too much about it except there were almost always people sitting outside at night when I drove past it. The floor is also pretty neat! Black and white tile from what I remember. I JUST read on their MySpace that they have changed hands but everything will pretty much be the same. Good news for you regulars! Also, if you ever need eyeglasses, a family friend owns a neat little shop right next door. Go in and tell them Andrew sent you.

Best Coffee if you like Hot Topic / You Have a Time Machine that Goes Back Three Years Ago: King Koffee

Okay, maybe this title is a little jaded and bias, but oh well, such is bloggery. Back in the tenth and eleventh grade this Emmaus coffee shop used to be the cat's meow. Every Friday (and most Saturdays) practically everyone that mattered went. I cannot really remember what we did since we rarely bought drinks. Card games, laughter, sitting outside, sitting on couches, etc. etc. Sometimes they would even have shows and that was always an experience. Eventually the older kids stopped going and a younger generation took their spot (enter: Nightmare Before Christmas hoodies, safety pins, and even mesh shorts). Food and drink-wise, they have a vast selection. It's still a pretty nice place to go I'm sure... ya know, if you avoid the weekends. Also open-mic night was always interesting. Check it out sometime.

Best Coffee if you are a Thirty-Something: Perk Cafe

Oh Perk. You are a mystery! In the beginning the small coffee house closed before 1:00p.m. and sponsored one of the High School powder puff teams. Now it seems to be open later and thriving! I have been a few times and always feel out of place as one of the younger customers in the place. Fantastic coffee and other little treats sure to delight those born in the 70's and earlier! The place is always jumping on Sundays and makes for a fantastic stop post-Emmaus Farmer's Market.

Best Place to get Coffee All Night: Dunkin Donuts (The one by Carrabba's!)

Oh gosh. I don't care what anyone says, double D is the best chain coffee house around. It's such a good price too. Also, they call me "chief" when I go in so that's neat. A downside is that there are huge posters of Rachel Ray everywhere. They're open 24 hours so whether you're living it up at the NERD center or bored, stop in.


Best Coffee Overall: Mas Cafe

I discovered this gem far too late in the summer! I mentioned it in an earlier post that urged supporting local businesses and I'll do it again. I never had anything else there but seriously, if you like coffee, GO. The owners are young newlyweds who always wanted to open a coffee shop and went all over the place getting ideas for theirs and finally opened shop. Free wi-fi too. Woop.



Those are a few of my favorite coffee places but there are probably some more out there in the Valley (such as Bethlehem, but that's a bit of a drive). Diners are always a good place for coffee too and the Lord Jesus Above Us knows that there are piles of diners in the valley. Some are mean and only provide one free refill. Do not give these places your money.

Okay! So look forward towards more coffee updates. Also, this weekend should hopefully be nuts and I'll stuff to tell you alllll about.