Off to another coffee shop but taking a detour off 79 to a little town called Evans City. I'm hoping to find a hidden treasure called Coffee Brake directly in the heart of this town.
Location: Coffee Brake was easy to find and follow on google maps. Coffee Brake was a little more tricky to get to than the other coffee shops. Driving into Evans City, Coffee Brake comes up fast on your left once driving over the train tracks. The only real dead giveaway is the huge COFFEE sign on top of the building. There is a narrow street next to it that leads to the parking lot behind the building that has ample spots.
Rating: 3/5 …due to needing more warnings when approaching the building and more signs as to where you are turning to get to the lot in the back.
Trick/Tip: If you miss the turn to drive down the narrow lane to the parking lot next to the building, you can keep going to the street light where you will make two left turns to get into the parking lot from behind…you’re welcome
Ambience:
Light: Natural light illuminated the room with the two walls of windows. Ceiling lights also helped keep the room bright along with stylish hanging lights on the sides of the room.
Rating: 5/5 …due to ample light that was not overwhelming
Trick/Tip: Every seating option was a good one but if you do not want glare off your computer then sitting closer to the main counter is your best option…you’re welcome
Seating: Walking past the counter, the room opens up to an array of different chairs and tables. Short tables, that you can push together to squeeze more people were scattered on the one side of the room. Comfy chairs were grouped together on the opposite side. One high top table was next to the counter, and a counter table rested on the other side of the room. Chairs varied between wooden and metal, but all had the fresh white feel that matched the white walls.
Rating: 5/5 …due to many diverse seating options
Trick/Tip: The counter table is a perfect spot to do homework/work. Do not take the tables in the corner by the two converging windows if you go in the morning. A group of older gentlemen sit there every morning…you’re welcome
Sound: The music was not too noticeable unless you sat at the high-top table next to the main counter since the boom box rested on the shelf right beside it. Classic oldies were playing making you feel that you just stepped into an 80's diner.
Rating: 4/5 …due to not playing classic coffee music. I personally loved the music choice because it blended into the environment, but some may think it’s distracting since it was not the classical smooth, flowing music.
Trick/Tip: Honestly, I was not paying much attention to the music since the conversation the gentlemen in the corner were having was so entertaining. If you do not like people talking then bring you headphones…you’re welcome
Inviting: Two doors were available on the side, but the one that says "welcome" is the door you should enter. Unless you want everybody inside staring and talking about you as you try to find the nonexistent handle on the other door, I witnessed this happening, you should use the door closest to the back of the building. Once inside, the chatter from the room came from a group of older gentlemen talking in the corner of the room. Their conversation consisted of the local community, people coming in and out, old times, and ripping on one another. Their conversation was so entertaining and just gave the place a feeling of community. The baristas were very friendly and helpful when it came to the menu. They greeted the locals as they came in and were talking with one another as some were coming in to start their shift.
Rating: 5/5 …due to a big community environment
Trick/Tip: Apparently the gentlemen come in every day during the week between 8-10 am. So, if you like an old time diner feel and want entertainment while doing homework or office work, here is the place to go….you're welcome.
Drink/Food: The menu consisted of typical coffee drinks such as americanos, machos, lattes, and more. They also had special drinks that consisted of an assortment of different flavored lattes. The food options ranged from breakfast sandwiches and burritos to lunch sandwiches and hoagies. Other options that were not on the main menu were the ones encased in the glass counter when first walking in. This case had many different options from bagels to humus.
Rating: 5/5 …due to the diverse and many food and drink options
Trick/Tip: If you love bagels and cream cheese they have an assortment of many and have a variety of special lattes. I got the O’Henry and was not disappointed…you’re welcome
Overall, I rate this coffee shop 4/5. The place was more difficult to access which would be my only complaint and lowered the score. The food and drink menu were diverse and even tasted good. This was one of my favorite small-town coffee shops that I stopped at so far. The coffee was delicious, but the community atmosphere made this place special. If you like a small-town feel where everybody knows one another and comes to talk and hang out, then you will love this little mom and pop coffee shop. One of the gentlemen leaving came up to me on his way out and stated that the older gentlemen and him solve the world's problems by sitting there talking every morning ….honestly, I believe him!
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