South Bethlehem’s Book Loft and Caffeine Cafe sits right above a hardware store on Fourth Street. A book-loving java addict will adore browsing the extensive and cheap shelves of used books, order a coffee and have a reading session. Some nights also feature live music and poetry readings. The prices are low and the baked good are yummy.
This Lehigh hangout has a kind of basement-type charm: kids toys in the corner, movie posters on the walls and yummy smells wafting from the kitchen. The family-owned coffee shop and restaurant is often filled with studying students or professors, but people have been known to cross the bridge for one of Deja Brew’s pastries or melts. During college football season, you’ll always find the Penn State game blaring on the TV - the owners are die-hard fans.
Celebrating its first decade, one of the area’s first drive-through coffee stands continues perking along. Located in Bethlehem Township, just west of Route 33, midway between Bethlehem and Easton, the Brake opens early for the morning java fix. Popular with commuters is the eye-opening Hammerhead—regular drip coffee with a shot of espresso. Close behind is the white caramel mocha, a lighter, a creamier coffee-bar drink with a sweet touch. A large 20-ounce latte costs $3.10 and includes three shots of espresso. Most large drinks at coffee shops come with only two. There are fresh bagels, muffins and assorted baked goods available each morning.
Perhaps the finest independent coffee shop in the Lehigh Valley, Troy Reynard’s shop serves beans from Counter Culture and New Harvest, two small roasters specializing in organic and Fair Trade coffees. The cozy Easton shop has a great window bar, where you can sip your joe and watch the traffic pass on March Street. While just off Lafayette College’s campus, the smoke-free shop attracts a mix of students and College Hill residents. Non-coffee drinkers can enjoy European sipping chocolate, Xocolatl, a spicy hot chocolate drink, or sample a scoop of gelato, the tasty Italian ice cream.
Coffees, espressos and smoothies are the specialties at Rooster’s Coffee Shop. And, as any good coffee shop should, Rooster’s also supplies a large variety of bagels and pastries to complement their caffeinated delights. The coffee shop does also offer two regular sandwiches—which are only selectively available—a sweet mango chicken salad sandwich and a tantalizing turkey waldorf.
Where else can you browse the high-end road and mountain bikes, watch the live bicycle races on a big screen TV and sip your favorite espresso drink? This cozy shop on Emmaus’s picturesque Main Street has become a mecca for cyclists and coffee lovers.
When Lafayette College students and College Hill residents are in the mood for omelets and a warm family atmosphere, they head to Tracy’s Coffee Cafe. Breakfast faves at the Easton eatery, which Tracy Meilinger opened in 1996, include Tracy’s Favorite, an omelet with tomatoes, peppers and cheese; Jodi’s Omelet, named after Tracy’s sister and including sausage, pepper, onion and cheese, and the Country Style Omelet, filled with potatoes, onions, peppers, cheese and choice of meat. Tracy’s also serves lunch. Besides the hamburgers, cheesesteaks, tuna melts and club sandwiches, soups prepared by Tracy’s mom, Nancy Meilinger, also are on the menu. Best bets: the creamed tomato vodka; ham, green bean and potato; seafood chowder, and hamburger noodle.
The first thing that strikes you about Uptown Espresso Bar is the aroma. Whether you like coffee or not, it will draw you in. Once you are inside, you can choose from a variety of coffees, cappuccinos, soups, sandwiches and pastries.
This Emmaus java lounge is about so much more than coffee. It's carved itself a nook in the small but thriving Valley hipster landscape, with its monthly art shows, open mic poetry and live music. While you jam or slam or whatever, enjoy the espresso, teas, sandwiches and apps.
