Square One Coffee
Square One Coffee Roasters
Hello, Happy Beans! It has been a damn minute, hasnβt it? I have no excuse for my leave of absence. I started this blog in hopes of finding a reason to leave my living room couch and explore Lancaster County. I do believe that this blog has helped, as I have several drafts that I started ten months ago, waiting to be edited and published. I also didnβt prioritize myself enough to sit down and write about my yearβs worth of experiences. I first started this blog after losing someone very special in my life to her twelve-year battle with cancer. While Shelly always reminded me of the joys of life, I would be lying to myself and you if I didnβt admit that her funeral served as a physical reminder. As I approach the first anniversary of her death, I realize I want to continue honoring the why behind this blog. Iβm just a Jersey girl on an allergen adventure who is trying to navigate the early stages of adulthood. While this stage in life comes with challenges wherever you find yourself in the world, I realized that my specific challenge is living in a space where I do not feel inherently welcomed. Unlike major cities that college graduates flock to, Lancaster is filled with Pennsylvania natives returning home to begin their careers. For a year now, I have struggled to find a community where I truly feel like I belong (I am still on this journey). In almost every space I joined, I found that I was the oddball out. I was the one who grew up going to the county zoo to see a cow rather than peering out my living room window. I am the one who only recently learned that it is advised against honking at horse and buggy on the road. Today, I found myself feeling stuck and isolated once again, so I decided to revive this blog with a highly recommended cafΓ© downtown. Needless to say, I am very grateful that I did! May I present to you Square One Coffee Roasters, also referred to as SQ1 - hence the very fitting π² emoji! In honor of this weekβs coffee shop, ratings will be out of π²βs (1 out of 5).
COST: π² π² π² π²
The goal is to find good coffee under $6; we were just over this week. At $6.24 for a large mocha, I am not displeased however, I am also not ecstatic. Nevertheless, for 16 oz of coffee, $6.24 is not a bad price. There have been times when I am paying significantly more for less!
SERVICE: π² π² π² π² π²
Could it have been because the barista taking my order was cute⦠potentially. Or maybe the barista who called my name had a British Accent⦠All in all, the service was delightful. Despite several people placing orders before me, I received my coffee in less than 10 minutes. I appreciate that the coffee bar is in clear view of the customer, so I could watch my drink get made. There have been times when I have gone out for an evening cup of coffee and felt judged for my choices (it was after 4 pm when I ordered my drink). Today - there was no judgment, just vibes!
TASTE: π² π² π² π² π²
Large Hot Mocha (shocker)
While this review may be the first Iβve done in nearly a year, it is not the first mocha I have enjoyed since my last review. This year, I have found that at different times of the day, I prefer different tastes of coffee. Thus, todayβs rating is truly influenced by the late afternoon/early evening. The beginning of the sip is very sweet and chocolaty and the aftertaste leaves notes of the rich espresso. Perfect for this time of day!
VIBES: π² π² π² π² π²
I will likely find myself here every weekend moving forward as the vibes are truly immaculate. Should I have the ability to increase my rating scale, I would. At first, I was skeptical of the wooden seating. Would I be comfortable for a long period whilst on a wooden bench? Would all of my belongings fit on the unevenly shaped table without fear of knocking over my drink? Turns out there was nothing to fret about! The exposed red brick coupled with the quirky wooden seating was just the beginning. As my eyes scanned across the room I noticed beautiful dried fruit garlands hanging over the windows, every type of pride flag imaginable scattered amongst the decor, and an appropriate amount of festive characteristics and coffee decor to compliment the space. I continued to explore my surroundings, and I found an exposed brick wall filled with tiny notes left by patrons. Needless to say, this cafΓ© exceeded my expectations. For the first time in a while, I felt like I found a space that was dedicated to people my age. Not a coffee shop for families to pop in and out of, but rather. a space for young adults to converse, read, and mindlessly type on their devices.
ALLERGIC REACTION: π² π² π² π² none!
I can proudly say that I did not have an allergic reaction during my time at SQ1 CafΓ©! That being said, I did notice that there are everything bagels on the menu, thus I will be deducting a point out of fear of cross-contamination. The prep areas do not inherently appear unsanitary. I am just currently in a state of hyper-awareness around the possibility of cross-contamination.
