Harrisburg is home to great coffee. Whether you are looking for a spot in the city, in the suburbs of the east shore or across the river on the west shore, this list is your guide.
Little Amps Coffee Roasters
Since its start in 2010, Little Amps has grown to three locations in the city: Olde Uptown, Downtown and a kiosk in Strawberry Square. Little Amps prides itself in rich, full flavor that can be achieved by small batches, while avoiding “roasty-ness” that often comes with conglomerate coffees. Keep it simple with a pourover or try the Cold Jar (espresso poured over brown sugar, shaken with ice and topped with milk).
With warmer weather coming you can sip your coffee on the street patio and enjoy a view of the capitol from the State Street location. 133 State St., (717) 635-9870; 1836 Green St., (717) 695-4882
St. Thomas Roasters
Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Geof and Pam Smith, owners of St. Thomas Roasters, have been living by this mantra since they left the corporate world more than 16 years ago. “From day one we have met so many great people,” said Geof. This Linglestown landmark is a favorite neighborhood stop as well as a supplier to many local businesses, including Troegs Brewery, which uses the beans in its Java Head stout. If you plan to sip and stay awhile, grab a seat on the couch or on the front porch and enjoy the homey vibes. 5951 Linglestown Rd., (717) 526-4171
Denim Coffee
This specialty coffee roaster has been holding down two retail shops (one in Chambersburg and Carlisle), with a third to open on May 3, 2021, in the heart of downtown Harrisburg beside the Capitol and Strawberry Square) Grand opening is set for Monday, May 3rd. Denim Coffee‘s shops are tech-driven, utilizing some of the most advanced coffee technology available, like reverse osmosis-filtered water, mixed with liquid minerals to create the perfect coffee-brewing H2O. The beans, which are roasted by Denim at its headquarters in Shippensburg, are ground and brewed by weight, a through-the-bar milk dispenser from Australia will dispense precise milk amounts for the baristas’ creations, and an automatic single-serve coffee brewer on the corner of the bar provides a novel, interactive experience for guests. The menu features espresso drinks like lattes, cappuccinos and frappes, and brewed coffees, as well as fruit smoothies and fresh baked scones, muffins, cookies, and brownies. 401 Walnut St., Harrisburg;
Tomato Pie Café
TPC, located outside the city in TecPort, is a great spot to grab coffee to wake you up before work or reboot in the afternoon. The “urban style eatery” with a contemporary decor will have you taking a long lunch break. Tomato Pie created the TPC house blend with the micro-roaster Square One Coffee of Lancaster and also uses its Thaddeus espresso beans to craft creative lattes. 3950 TecPort Dr., (717) 836-7051
Brew Crumberland’s Best
Right over the John Harris Bridge sits a longstanding coffeehouse that took on new ownership just over a year ago. Laurel Weiser, pastry chef, has transitioned the once Bridge Street Coffee House into Brew Cumberland’s Best, combining her unique pastry recipes with local Lancaster roasted coffee. The shop even has a drive-thru that offers quality food with the convenience of fast food. 1903 Bridge St., New Cumberland, (717) 774-6511
Elementary Coffee Co.
Andrea Grove-Musselman, owner/roaster of Elementary Coffee Co., is bringing brew back to basics. No fancy syrups here, Elementary uses simple, natural sweeteners and spices to complement the hand-brewed coffee. For spring and summer, try the cold brew that comes two ways, the Sweet One and the Spiced One. Operating out of the Broad Street Market on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Elementary should definitely become a part of your weekend ritual. 1233 N. 3rd St., (717) 236-7923
Yellow Bird Café
Yellow Bird is a bright and welcoming café in the heart of midtown. Offering a wall full of breakfast and lunch options, YBC proudly pairs its munchies with One Good Woman French press coffee, roasted right across the river in Camp Hill. 1320 N. 3rd St., (717) 635-8991
Cornerstone Coffeehouse
Cross over the Market Street Bridge into Camp Hill to find the Cornerstone Coffeehouse. For nearly two decades the coffeehouse has been a hub for great coffee and live music. Cornerstone serves tons of blends from a variety of artisan roasters with organic and fair-trade options. Local live music, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, comes free of charge. 2133 Market St., Camp Hill, (717) 737-5026
Midtown Scholar Bookstore
The Scholar’s “famous reading café” serves Counter Culture Coffee, which is an organic and sustainably conscious brand. Grab coffee first then browse the wall-to-wall bookshelves, or sit, sip and study. 1302 N. 3rd St., (717) 236-1680
- Photos: Morgan Paese
- Cornerstone Coffeehouse photo: Cornerstone Coffeehouse
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