Interior/Decor 

The interior of The Coffee Co. is warm and cozy. There's a steady whir of coffee machines as many people actually do come for the coffee, probably aware that there are certified and trained baristas on site. The decor is pleasing, and lighting is plentiful but not overly bright. Few of the tables and chairs are exact matches, but are in similar color tones to unify the look. The space is narrow, with the counter and serving area taking up nearly half the width in the front half of the seating area, and a walled off section for the kitchen blocking much of the back half.

Seating 

In the front half of the seating area, there is only enough room for four seat tables and a narrow path to walk between the tables and the counter. In the back half, there is enough room for tables along either wall with a path through the middle, so long as the tables are not directly across from each other. I believe that I picked the only two seat table in the back half of the room, and was quite comfortable as most people prefer to sit near the front to catch the window light. There is also limited seating outside, but the weather is a bit too cold for that to be pleasant right now.

The Menu 

The Coffee Co. has table service as well as counter service. Just walk in, take a seat, and the wait staff will be at your table with a menu for your perusal.

You walk into this place and see only coffees listed everywhere and an abbreviated soup menu along with some pastries on display and you think that's all there is. I honestly thought they'd done away with the spanikopita and sandwiches until I was handed the menu. There are vegetarian choices, large varieties of gourmet type sandwiches (complete with sauces), and simple foods like grilled cheese sandwiches and BLTs. Soups, sandwiches, and desserts, all things that can be eaten quickly or ordered for take out, but solid enough that The Coffee Co. could nearly be considered a restaurant rather than a cafe.

Everything is made on site, fresh, and fully customizable (with the exception of the soups, which can not be customized).

The Lattes 

I always order a caramel latte when I'm trying a new coffee place. The caramel gives me something to cling to if the coffee is bad, but isn't too heavy to keep me from actually tasting the coffee. So, that's what I ordered here.

The latte was rich and creamy, with a considerable amount of whipped cream and caramel drizzled on top. I believe that the whipped cream was fresh made as the texture was relatively thick and it did not melt as fast as most commercial whipped creams do. The coffee flavor was full, but there was a slightly burnt taste to the coffee. I believe this is because of the particular roast they use, and the strength of the coffee made me think that they gave my latte an extra shot of espresso. This, I believe, is how they regularly make their coffee drinks as I'd noticed it on my previous trips to The Coffee Co.

Best Coffee Maker Ever 

We received one of these as a wedding gift, and use it all the time! So much better than pot brewed coffee. We use locally roasted coffee and grind it up in a cheap coffee grinder. I rarely go out for coffee any more since I can make my own coffee much cheaper, and better at home! The to-go cups are perfect for lugging along to work, too.

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The Food 

First I ordered a cup of chicken corn soup. I'm telling you, it's to die for. Absolutely delicious!

Then, I ordered a turkey sandwich. Two slices of lightly toasted rye bread with 1/2"-1" of freshly sliced turkey lunch meat, a slathering of mayonnaise (just the right amount), a layer of tomato and (I'm sorry Travis) bright green romaine lettuce. It was served with a large handful of potato chips, which were crispy and firm, and not over salted. They tasted like Dieffenbach's or possibly Martin's (both local), but it's difficult to be certain. There were a few slices of bread and butter pickles as a sort of garnish, but as I don't like any pickles other than dill, I only ate one slice just to be certain what kind of pickle it was. The flavor was very fresh. The rye bread and turkey meat were both of good quality, and there wasn't even a hint of wilt in the lettuce. The tomato was fresh, but did taste as though it may be a hot house tomato despite its bright color.

Live Music 

While it does not occur every night, several times a week The Coffee Co. plays host to live performers. Tonight was one of such nights, and there was an enjoyable acoustic couple. Unlike many such venues, the music was not overmuch a distraction. Yes, the sound traveled quite well through the building, but it was not obnoxiously loud.

Overall Impression 

Links 

The Coffee Co's Official Website

Want to see the full menu? Read about the company? Call ahead? It's all right here on their website.

Buy Coffee Products Online 

Black & Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 10/07/2008)

Krups Fast Touch Coffee Grinders

Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)

Coffee Masters Perfect Potful Chocolate Raspberry, 12 Packet Box

Amazon Price: $11.77 (as of 10/07/2008)

What Blogs Are Saying About Cafes 

Queens of the cup

Consider old folk

Reviews from Yelp 

See What The Locals Have To Say About Lancaster PA

Here's what Yelpers have to say about Food in 17601

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"the ferry building is nice and all, but i wish that san francisco had something more along the lines of lancaster's central market. the building is..." more

Iron Hill Brewery (Lancaster)  

""Mr. Pink: Look, I ordered coffee. Now we've been here a long ******** time and she's only filled my cup three times. When I order coffee, I want it filled..." more

Square One Coffee (Lancaster)  

"Square One is the best place to get coffee in the city by far! I have gone to every coffee place in Lancaster, and though the atmosphere is not as yuppy as..." more

A Loaf of Bread (Lancaster)  

"Excellent!! I went here with a few co-workers for lunch on a Friday.We had the quiche and minestrone and tuna salad.Everything was very good . The staff is..." more

The House of Clarendon (Lancaster)  

"We heard about this place totally by accident. We were taking a tour of the Fulton Opera House (a must do when in the area) and it happened to come up that..." more

My Blog 

Want to know more about Lancaster, PA? I sometimes participate in My Town Monday.

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Cafe Shout Out 

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