As I come up on my one year anniversary of becoming a barista, I realized that I’m not as familiar with the coffee scene in Frederick as I’d like to be. I thought it would be fun to sample some of Frederick’s coffee shops and look for new places for you (and I) to frequent.
Although I am a barista and know a little more about coffee than the average person, I am by no means a critic or expert, so all opinions are my own and are certainly not accredited. That being said, I have been to many a coffee shops in my day and am relatively well-versed in what makes a good one. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Dublin Roasters Coffee
Address: 1780 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701
Contact: (301) 228-9367 https://dublinroasterscoffee.com
Hours:
Monday-Friday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Drinks: ****
Food: **
Service: ****
Atmosphere: ****
{Outstanding: **** Good *** Fair ** Poor *}
My first stop was Dublin Roasters Coffee, which I had never been to before and I was very pleasantly surprised. When I first pulled up to the sort of mini-strip mall I was a bit hesitant, as from the outside you would have no idea what lies inside.
When you walk in, you are immediately greeted with high ceilings, greenery and a comforting, lively, and modern rustic vibe. There is a collection of goods you can buy from small businesses in the front such as honey, canned goods, coffee beans, herb starters, candles, incense, mugs, and even a French press.I honestly don’t know how I made it out of there without buying something for myself.
Now what we’re really here for. Since I had never heard of it before, I ordered the “Dirty Hippie” drink and one of “Alyssa’s Biscotti.” Upon further investigation, I found that the Dirty Hippie is a dirty chai latte with locally sourced honey. When I tell you this is the best dirty chai I’ve had in my entire life, I mean it. The honey really balances out the earthy tones of the espresso and chai, without being too overpowering. It was also incredibly smooth, which might have also been due to the honey. The biscotti was nothing spectacular (it was also broken in half, which happens sometimes), but paired well with the coffee and I would probably get it again.
Overall, I really enjoyed the ambiance of the place. The staff seemed super friendly, the coffee was great, and the fairy lights, wall art, and disco ball weirdly perfectly complemented the exposed textures of the wood and tin foundation. The menu was easy to understand, they had a great variety of drinks and pastries, and you can even refill your drip coffee for $1. While this space might not be ideal for studying or getting work done (I prefer a more mellow atmosphere when I need to focus), it certainly is a great place to catch up with friends or meet new people, and I’ll definitely be back.
The Perfect Blend Café
Address: 31 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
Contact: (301) 662-8020
Hours:
Monday-Friday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Drinks: **
Food: ****
Service: ****
Atmosphere: **
{Outstanding: **** Good *** Fair ** Poor *}
I had seen this coffee shop on the corner many times, and always wanted to check it out. Now, I finally had an excuse to do so.
The first thing to catch my eye when I walked in was a piano and ukulele in the corner and the musician in me was instantly content. Needless to say, it would have taken a lot for me to be unhappy with my experience there. The shop itself is rather small, so seating is very limited. However, the tall ceilings definitely make it feel more spacious than it actually is. I also couldn’t help but notice that the machines there were pretty loud, so it might not be ideal if you’re trying to have a conversation with somebody. But, if you’re someone who enjoys a little bit of background noise, it isn’t overly distracting.
While at The Perfect Blend I ordered a turkey, egg and cheddar sandwich on ciabatta (I go CRAZY for anything on ciabatta) and an americano with white mocha. The sandwich was absolutely delicious, wouldn’t change a single thing about it. The americano was a bit sweet for my liking, which I have noticed is typically my experience with Monin brand sauces, which they had behind their bar. The drink itself was not bad, but definitely not my favorite.
What definitely made this experience for me was the staff. They were super sweet and complimented my (mediocre at best) ukulele skills while I waited for my order. They even were kind enough to let me stay a little bit after they closed as they were just working on cleaning up the kitchen. Another highlight was the extensive food menu. I saw they had a tomato basil soup of the day, and I wish I had tried it, but they also have a great variety of sandwiches and pastries. Even a black bean burger available for non-meat eaters.
Overall, while this shop is a bit small and louder than I’d prefer, the great customer service and food easily make up for it. I’d like to go back and try a few more of their coffees to have a more well-rounded opinion as the americano wasn’t my favorite, but I left happy, nonetheless.
Beans & Bagels
Address: 49 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
Contact: (301) 620-2165 http://www.beansnbagels.com/home.html
Hours:
Everyday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Drinks: *
Food: ****
Service: ***
Atmosphere: **
{Outstanding: **** Good *** Fair ** Poor *}
It’s been a few years since I’ve visited this shop, so I was definitely excited to return to it and look at it with fresh eyes. When you first walk in, you get a sort of sandwich-shop-meets-cafe vibe, which it definitely is. They have a great variety of drinks, sandwiches, omelets and bagels, although the prices for the drinks weren’t listed on the menu which I found a bit weird.
We had to wait a little bit for anyone to take our order, but quickly realized there was only one person working and that’s why there had been a bit of a wait. She was super sweet and accommodating throughout our visit, which definitely added to the experience.
I ordered an iced caramel latte with almond milk and the soup of the day, loaded baked potato soup, while my friend had gotten an everything bagel and a blackberry Italian soda. I was a bit surprised at the cost of the latte, it was $5.59 for a medium, which might be why the prices weren’t listed on the menu. They also put their iced drinks in a hot coffee cup, which I found a bit odd.
The iced latte honestly left much to be desired. It tasted a bit watered down and a little more like sugar than caramel. It isn’t the worst coffee I’ve ever had, but I definitely would not drop $5.59 on it again. The soup, however, was so good. A good soup with potato and cheese always makes my soul happy, but this one was top tier. I almost bought another to take home with me, I didn’t, but I’ll definitely be back for more. I also tried the Italian soda (which was the perfect amount of sweet) and the everything bagel, which was much better than your everyday everything bagel.
I would say that the food is much better than the coffee. I could see myself coming back for lunch or to get work done with a light meal, but it definitely wouldn’t be my go-to for a coffee with a friend.
Frederick Coffee Co.
Address: 100 N East St, Frederick, MD 21701
Contact: (301) 698-0039 http://fredcoffeeco.com/
Hours:
Everyday 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Drinks: ****
Food: **
Service: ***
Atmosphere: ****
{Outstanding: **** Good *** Fair ** Poor *}
This last one has been a long time favorite of mine, so I couldn’t do a Frederick coffee shop review without including it in the mix. Located at a point between two streets, the parking situation isn’t ideal, but there are neighboring parking lots and street parking available.
Frederick Coffee Company definitely has the strongest “coffee shop” vibe out of any of the ones on this list. With the muted warm tones and gentle music, it’s a great place to catch up with a friend, get work done, read, write or what have you. There is also plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating for a more customizable experience.
I ordered the four cheese panini and an oat milk matcha latte with a few pumps of vanilla. The panini was good, not great, but good. While they have a pretty extensive menu, this is one of the few food items that caught my interest, so it might not be ideal for people who lean more towards being a picky eater. The matcha, however, was excellent. I’m relatively new to the matcha world, I’ve probably had it from five or six different places, so while I’m not very well-versed in matcha, this is definitively the best one I’ve had so far. I got it hot and I’m excited to try it iced as the weather begins to warm up.
I think what really sells Frederick Coffee Co. to me is the atmosphere and the coffee itself. They have a variety of specialty lattes, and my favorite drink to get there (although the matcha may now claim that crown) is the ninja turtle latte which has hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate. I’ve come here countless times to meet up with friends, do homework, or just get out of my head for a bit, and I definitely recommend giving it a try if you’re looking for a “coffee shop” experience.
Wow… beautiful will be getting coffee