As the weather becomes colder and to-do lists become longer, many students flee homes and cold streets, seeking comfort in the well-heated and well-supplied coffee shops of Bellingham.
As if the evaluating and deducing that students have to do for their homework were not enough, in a town with a hip coffee shop on every corner, deciding which location to choose can be enough to push someone over the edge.
Whether planning to meet a friend for a relaxing break or plopping down for hours to study for the next big exam, it is good to know which places provide the best coffee, atmosphere, customer service and prices.
Tony's Coffee
1101 Harris Ave.
Tony’s Coffee is an old-fashioned coffee shop located in downtown Fairhaven. The lack of wireless Internet at Tony’s discourages some students from the charming coffee shop, but Robin Hoisington, the owner of Tony’s Coffee, said he feels staying Internet-free adds to the community feel.
“I’m a Neanderthal,” Hoisington said about why Tony’s has yet to go wireless, “I think coffee shops should be where people interact with each other…you can’t have a community when you have your face in a computer screen. You have a community when you have people talking to each other and exchanging views.”
Hoisington said Tony’s tends to get an older crowd, but students still saunter in.
Whatcom Community College student Aira Harrison said she goes to Tony’s for the large amount of natural light, calming atmosphere and old-fashioned coffee shop feel.
“I actually like that there’s not a lot of electronic devices,” Harrison said as she sat next to an open window with books spread across the table…there is no high-speed Internet, there is no loud music playing…it’s easier to study.”
Woods Coffee
Downtown location—1135 Railroad Ave.
People go to Woods coffee for the spacious environment and warm ambiance.
“Our atmosphere is very inviting and comfortable,” said Londa Bess, a barista.
Bess said the large space, plentiful and comfortable seating and generally low-key music make it a good place to study or work.
“Mostly people are here to work,” Bess said. “We have an atmosphere where they can do that.”
Woods Coffee is larger than most of the other shops featured. The front of the downtown shop is lined with small tables facing outward looking through large windows facing Railroad Avenue.
Its downtown location brings in plenty of market-goers during the Saturday farmers market. It also makes it quite a bit louder on Saturdays, and generally harder to find a seat.
Woods is open until 10 p.m. Bess said their late hours attract a large number of students.
They also offer a few gluten-free items and free unlimited drip coffee refills.
Woods regular Natalie Counts said she comes to Woods for the ambience.
“I wouldn’t say they have a superior coffee necessarily, but I think they have a superior atmosphere,” Counts said. “For me, it’s more the atmosphere than the good coffee.”
Katie Chandler, 30, and Doug Davis, 39, enjoy people -watching and conversation over a cup of coffee Friday, Oct. 9, at The Black Drop Coffeehouse. Katie said she likes to sit outside on the corner and watch friends go by. Photo by Renee Davies
300 W. Champion St.
If you are looking for a place where the staff knows your name, just as much as they know their coffee, The Black Drop Coffeehouse could be the right place for you.
The staff pride themselves on staying educated about coffee and espresso, as well as educating their customers.
“We’ve become totally nerdy about coffee and everything coffee-related,” said Jonathan Lawson, barista and Black Drop employee of six years.
Lawson said they learn everything about coffee, from its chemical make up to what certain coffee bean origins mean.
The Black Drop Coffeehouse offers free double shot doppios all day on Fridays in order to allow the customer to taste the core ingredient of espresso drinks. A doppio is a double-shot of espresso served in a tiny cup.
Along with the staff’s expertise in coffee, The Black Drop is known for its customer service.
“I’d say I know 92 percent of the people walking through the door by name,” barista Katy Blizzard said.
Bruce Wagner, a regular at The Black Drop, says the friendliness of the staff is what keeps him coming back for more.
“They took the time to know who I am, and they remember what I like,” Wagner said.
Anna Dean, co-owner of the Lettered Streets Coffeehouse, sits by the counter and works on her laptop Sunday. Dean opened the shop with friend Kjirstin Glessner two years ago this November. Photo by Renee Davies
1001 Dupont St.
Anna Dean, co-owner of the Lettered Streets Coffeehouse, said it is the emphasis on staying local that brings many people into this neighborhood place.
The tea and coffee are both made locally. They order sandwiches from Avenue Bread, a Bellingham bakery, and soup from The Bay Leaf Mobile Kitchen, a soup and sandwich shop in Bellingham.
Dean estimated 65 to 75 percent of customers are regulars, and added that a great deal of business comes from people and businesses in the neighborhood.
“It anchors the local neighborhood,” said Western history professor Johann Neem who was at the coffee shop working on class work Sunday. “Various [coffee shops] come together.”
Dean recommends customers park on G Street because its neighborhood locations allows for limited parking nearby.
Avellino
1329 Railroad Ave.
Avellino creates a quaint atmosphere for its customers mixed with high-quality ingredients. The smaller space can occasionally make it hard to find a table during busier hours, but Avellino’s many homemade ingredients keep people coming through the door.
Avellino makes their own chai, caramel and baked goods.
Sensitive to specific dietary needs, they provide a variety of gluten-free items for customers. Avellino barista Evan Bridges said the gluten-free products bring in a great deal of people.
Avellino also provides soy, rice, hemp and coconut milk as alternatives to dairy.
Bridges said the 35-year-old Italian espresso machine also brings in more people. The old-fashioned machine makes for a creamier espresso shot.
Avellino offers daily specials such as free flavors or free extra espresso shots.
“It’s actually the best coffee I’ve found up in Bellingham,” Melissa Grimmer, a regular customer at Avellino, said. “I was a barista for three years, so I’m a little finicky.”
Only registered users can post comments.
Please login or register.
Be first to comment on this article
