My favorite part of winter is opening the door to a nice and cozy…coffee shop. The smell of fresh brewed coffee filling the air. People quietly whispering under the Indie music playing. Writers scribbling ideas on notepads and laptops. It’s where I want to be.
There are a few coffee shops near Rowan that are MUSTS. You MUST try their coffee. It’s just too good to pass up!
The first contender, the closest to Rowan (5-7 minutes away), and my most favorite, is Endgrain Coffee Bar (3 2nd Ave, Pitman, NJ 08071). My favorite item off their menu is their original hot latte. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans fills the cozy shop. It seats about 6-7 people inside, and about 2-3 on their homey outdoor seating. It is tucked away on a side street, where it’s fairly quiet, but close to the main downtown strip. The baristas are extremely kind, and they are AWESOME at latte art. I 100% recommend going to Endgrain, if you have the chance!
The second contender, the next closest to Rowan (10 minutes away), and the one with the most creative lattes, is Crescent Moon Coffee & Tea (141 Bridgeton Pike #D, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062). Crescent Moon has a more spacious environment where bigger groups of people can come and relax for an hour or two. There are all types of seating arrangements, from high chairs and tables to couches and cushioned wicker chairs.
Crescent Moon’s menu changes by season, and boy are their drinks delicious! I visited in the Fall and had their Harvest Latte, which was full of pumpkin and lots of Fall deliciousness. Each season they have specialty coffee drinks, which keeps the customers coming. Some other favorites there are their Green Tea Latte, Mocha Latte, and iced coffees. The most awesome thing is that they also have food. It’s a win-win! Choose your coffee or tea, then add a bagel or a sandwich to your order. Maybe you could even try their specialty breakfast sandwich!
The third contender, the next closest to Rowan (23 minutes away), and the one with the most entertainment, is Jersey Java & Tea, Co. (140 N Haddon Ave, Haddonfield, NJ 08033). Jersey Java is a cute little coffee shop on the strip in downtown Haddonfield. It’s exactly how most people would describe a local coffeeshop, tables and chairs, a booth with cushioned seats, and a small area where the magic happens. Every Monday night from 7-9pm there is Open Mic. Performances are normally singers or poets, but they are exactly what I want to hear while relaxing and drinking coffee.
This coffee shop has a friendly atmosphere, and the baristas are well versed in their coffee. The coolest thing about Jersey Java is the variety of coffees they offer. They have coffees such as Costa Rica Las Lajas, Falconhead, Colombia, Thaddeus Espresso, and Night Cap (decaf). They have such a wide range of coffees, lattes, and other beverages available. They also have cookies, biscottis, slices of cake, and other snacky foods that are normally eaten with coffee. If I want to sit and listen to a poet or a quiet acoustic performance, I’ll find myself lounging at Jersey Java & Tea.
I definitely recommend visiting each of these coffee shops when you get the chance. Maybe I’ll see you there!