Local mini-chain of coffeehouses dishes up java drinks and light bites.

by Contributor

In Short
The coffee is so strong you could cut it with a knife--and at this no-frills local stalwart, straight up is way more popular than any complicated barista coffee concoction. Regulars tend to linger, reading the paper and talking over steaming mugs and pastries. Low prices and a broken-in ambiance keep the wobbly chairs pretty full, but the crowd is neither intimidating or exclusive--just honest, caffeinated and wide-eyed.