Coffee, Coffee, Coffee

I’m just going to say it, I’m an espresso snob. For a short eight-month stint I was a barista at a quirky coffee shop, forever solidifying my snobbery and ultimate need for an expertly crafted flat-white. Drip coffee is foreign to me as I am forever in search of the perfect crema. 

Since I was already seeking out all the coffee, I asked Visit The County to let me write a blog about it. What is extra wonderful about this topic is that The County is undergoing an espresso Renaissance. Eight new spots have opened over the past year alone, pulling shots and serving the higher power that is caffeine. 

Article by Gaby Cole

The Big Three: Coffee in the Towns

Wellington

The cooler and often windier climate of this mecca on the water is ideal for a walk with hands wrapped around a warm coffee cup. 

Enid Grace Culinary’s Piccolina Bar & Mercato. Pair their signature blend direct from Italy with a bombolina, cornetti, or monete, and order extra. Take some time with the menu, it pays homage to Italian markets and offers a different variety of espresso beverages. 

Oak Surf Club coffee window is perfect for a quick stop. Serving Anchored Coffee out of Nova Scotia, which has a great variety of beans. Beans are also available for purchase. 

The newest addition to the village is Hello Bonjour. They serve quality beans by the perfectionist roasters of Pilot Coffee and add a unique twist to their brews. Here you’ll find brightly coloured and healthful Superfood lattes, and vegan doughnuts. While they do not have an espresso machine on site, you won’t miss it after trying their Dalgona Coffee, a whipped, cold concoction with enough caffeine to shock the system of the most seasoned coffee drinker. 

Drake Devonshire. Right on the water, the Drake is featured on of the top 100 patios in Canada. They have espresso to stay or to go. 

On Saturdays in the summer, the Wellington Farmer’s Market brings in more coffee offerings, highlighting both local and visiting vendors. Check out their website to find out who will be at the market. 

Good Place offers a selection of pick me ups, and not just in the caffeinated form. They are the only spot in The County to offer Bullet Proof Coffee. Here you’ll find the popular Cherry Bomb as well as juices and smoothies. 

Bloomfield

There is no better place to grab a to-go coffee and take a stroll. With well-curated art galleries, antique shops and beautiful gardens, Bloomfield is the ultimate location to unwind.  

Saylor House Cafe. A cozy, out-of-the-way breakfast and lunch spot in the heart of the village with a small tea and drip coffee menu. Enjoy your brew in their garden patio away from the busy street.

If you prefer to be a part of the hustle and bustle of this tiny hamlet, Bloomfield Public House Market’s patio is great for people watching. They make a fantastic flat white and offer a great selection of teas and other bevies. They are currently the only cafe serving up locally roasted humble coffee co.

Bloomfield Beauty Co. You might not expect it, but there is a hidden gem of a cafe inside the Beauty Co. They serve up a list of teas and specialty coffees, perfectly paired with a pedicure. 

Picton

No matter where you find yourself on Main Street, you’ll be sure to be steps away from your next brew.

Located on the western edge of Main Street, perfectly placed beside the LCBO, The Agrarian Market serves their namesake blend from Cherry Bomb coffee. Make sure to pick up some fresh breads and pastries to pair with your brew. 

The Vic has always been passionate about a good coffee. For the foreseeable future they will be doing takeaway drip coffee using Reunion Island beans, or partake in the coolest pivot in town and enjoy it as part of a drive-in breakfast. 

Right next door, the Bean Counter serves up locally roasted organic Fairtrade County Roasters and lovingly made in-house baked goodies. They also have the largest selection of specialty drinks and cold brews. Try their Mean Bean for a deliciously cool pick-me-up on scorching days.

Beacon Bike + Brew serves Quietly Coffee and a killer breakfast sammy. You’ll also find canned cold brew coffee, teas, and the prettiest Blume Tea lattes.  

A few doors down, the adorable hole-in-the-wall cafe, Picnic, serves up local fav Cherry Bomb Coffee, with nitro cold brew on tap. 

Hidden among hand-crafted artisanal soaps and apothecary items, Savon du Bois brews up Toronto’s ethically-sourced Merchant on the Green beans. 

Attached to the local independent bookstore, Books and Company, Lily’s Cafe serves up espresso and a selection of drip coffees from Pilot Roasters and Cherry Bomb. 

Tucked away in Picton’s small didn’t-know-we-had-one Industrial Park, you’ll find local favourite, The Lunch Box. They use Bridgehead Beans for their selection of espresso bevvies and create some phenomenal in-house baked goods for pairing. 

Emergency Coffee: Pick Me Ups Outside the Towns

While you won’t struggle to find a good brew at one of the three main hubs in The County, it can be difficult out in the wild if you are out antiquing or in search of our hidden beaches and best wineries. 

Lake-on-the-Mountain

The Miller House Cafe/Brassiere (open seasonally) is the best place for a coffee with a view. Order something that will take a while to sip so you can enjoy the sweeping expanses of the Bay of Quinte, quaintly dotted with one or two ferries heading to and from Glenora. Be prepared for a wait as line ups for seating tend to form, but with those views, it’s worth it.

Sophiasburgh

Demorestville Cafe & Convenience. Finally a cafe in Demorestville! Locals rejoiced at this new addition featuring espresso plus pantry staples. Refreshingly, the owners do not use social media, so you’ll have to stop by and see what’s new!

Hillier/Consecon/Ameliasburgh

The Counter is your best bet for a morning brew made with Cherry Bomb beans. They also serve up baked goods, to-go breakfast and lunch, plus amazing ice cream treats.

Just outside of county lines is The County Emporium, a great spot to grab a variety of local beans as well as locally made sauces and preserves.  

Not A Morning Person?

Prefer to not have anyone see you before your first caffeine jolt? There are spots within The County to grab beans and all you need to make the perfect cup at home.

Coffee Roasters & Beans

Over that past few years, Stone Temple Coffees has been creating an international brand that is Certified Fair Trade and USDA Organic. Their newly opened headquarters in Cherry Valley is surrounded by giant weeping willows and is one of the most idyllic spots to grab beans (and have them custom ground on-site). They also have full sized bottles of Monin so you can add your favourite flavor shot to your morning cuppa. With thirteen roast profiles available, including in-house blends and single origin beans, the company is looking to expand in the near future by opening a cafe and tasting bar.

Vortex. A micro-roaster based out of Prince Edward County, Vortex can be found in the quaintest of spots, including Flora Lora’s Farm Stand and Sunnydale Farms. Currently only whole beans are available. 

PEPtBO (Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory) beans is a fundraising initiative for our local observatory. These shade-grown, bird-friendly beans can be found at a variety of locations around The County including The Local Store just outside of Bloomfield and Curious Goat General Store. Not your average general store, this off-grid homestead and farm stand on Old Milford Road is one of the few spots in the southern area of The County to grab beans. 

Parson’s Brewing Company. For a brewery that carries a line of stouts, it’s only fitting they should also carry a smoky, chocolatey roast. The beans are organically grown in the Highlands of Lake Atitlan in Central America by Samantha Parson’s father and locally roasted. 

Known for their delicious bread that regularly sells out at the market, humble bread also roasts regular and decaf beans every week. You can grab them on Saturdays in Wellington or place an order online for curbside pick up at their barn. 

Coffee Gear

Zest Kitchen Shop carries a variety of coffee brewing gear including grinders, milk frothers, and coffee makers from Aeropress to French Press.

For stovetop coffee, you’ll find gorgeous Moka pot’s imported from Italy at Piccolina.

Huskee Cups are a must purchase and when we are allowed to use reusable cups again, perfect for offsetting this time when we are using disposable coffee cups. Find them at Beacon along with coffee holders and coffee making devices such as a Collapsible Coffee Dripper. 

There is nothing better than wrapping your hands around a perfectly made coffee mug. The County prides itself on some amazing ceramicists, potters and artisans. For just a few ideas, check out Field Made Goods and The Ye11ow Studio in Picton, Wellington Pottery in Wellington, Mena Dragonfly, and The Local Store just outside of Bloomfield. You’ll be sure to find the ideal mug that will add that much more delight to your morning ritual.

To suggest updates and additions to this blog, contact Visit The County.