Lazy weekend mornings are a pleasure I look forward to these days. Spending a lazy weekend morning in a local cafe with a hot tea and pastry is even better. On a recent recommendation from a work colleague, I decided to enjoy this oft repeated vignette of my life at Coffee House Cafe and Goods on Jersey Ridge Road.
I drove out to Coffee House from the East Village north on Jersey Ridge Road. Though the place is pretty big, I missed the initial turn and circled back via the cross street immediately after the cafe. Not a huge deal, I got there easily enough.
There's not a ton of parking immediately outside the location. It definitely strikes me as a cafe designed to service the local community, as in those that can walk to the location from home. Still, I was able to find an open parking spot.
On approach, the most prominent feature of the space is the large patio. There's ample seating available between the many metal chairs at the tables and additional chairs along the patio periphery. Sculpture and raised bed planters further line the space, which I imagine would add additional color and presence in the warmer months.
The interior is similarly warm and unique. Throughout each space a variety of plush and wooden chairs line the space, with lots of tables throughout. Flooring varies from the clean and new looking wood laminate by the entrance to what seems to be existing carpeting in each dining area that appears to have existed in the space prior to this place being a Cafe. Lighting is a combination of suspended fixtures, accent strips, and copious natural light supplied from the large windows. The ceiling in the dining areas is of that stucco/popcorn style with exposed piping and conduit visible to those looking up. The ceiling in the prep area appears very new by contrast - drop ceiling and recessed lighting fixtures.
Everything comes together to tell a story about a building that was a store of some type prior to being a coffee house. It also speaks to the location's further utility as a community gathering space, both due to the ample seating available, but also the board games and books tucked away in one corner. Between this and the soft indie music playing throughout, I can picture spending some serious time here with friends over Settlers of Catan or something similar.
I ended up getting a tea and a pastry, my normal order for a cafe visit. For this particular day, I got a black tea flavored with blueberry, lemon and mint, along with a chocolate chunk muffin. Both were fantastic - the tea was great, even throughout the second steep, and the muffin satisfied my pastry desire that morning. I'd easily come back for both again.
Between the varied seating options, the eclectic furnishings throughout, and the good drinks and pastry, I'd easily come back here again. Especially as the warmer months come around, I'd love to spend a weekend morning hanging out on their patio. Thanks, Coffee House Cafe and Goods!