Coffee shops are not just a space to sip on your favorite caffeinated beverage. It’s about the ambiance and the overall vibe the coffee shop gives us. Whether you’re sipping on a brew with a friend or a date, or you’re doing it over a blog post, Delaware has something for you. The First State is home to plenty of cozy and cool coffee shops. Here are our favorites.
The Fractured Prune, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Ocean breezes, piping-hot coffee and America's favorite donuts await at the Fractured Prune. Featured by the Food Network, the Washington Post and The Sun, this vibrant maritime cafe serves top notch coffee and what some people are now calling the best donuts in the nation. Take a tip from the locals and try a hot donut of any flavor topped with a scoop of ice cream and a hazelnut brew. As the ocean gathers around you on all sides, you’ll have no choice but to meld with the scenery.
Drip Café, Hockessin, DE
You're a caffeine aficionado. You don't just dabble in the art of coffee, you live for it! If that sounds like you, Drip Café is a stop you'll want to make. This company thrives on serving sustainable, local products whenever possible and their attention to detail when it comes to crafting coffee continuously pleases the surrounding community and everyone who ventures inside. This freshly brewed establishment is great for early risers, with doors opening sharply at 6:30 a.m.
Barnes & Noble, Wilmington, DE
Arguably the brew house that changed the way we drink, Starbucks is a classic and with their recently released "secret menu" now in circulation, this iconic shop still manages to satisfy our undying thirst for innovation. From a lounge chair in their public seating section, you can take a window seat into the early 2000's: a time when paper magazines and paperback novels lined the shelves as far as the eye could see. This particular Starbucks is mere footsteps from the Concord Mall and Ulta Cosmetics as an added bonus.
The Perfect Cup Café, Hockessin, DE
This independent coffee company is the people’s choice in and around Hockessin. Not only do they serve a wide variety of delicious coffee, but they also offer amenities not found in other indie cafés. For example, their morning hours are excellent for early risers. You can grab a cup of java here from 5:40 in the morning and well into the afternoon. They also feature a prepaid service that lets customers order over the phone, so waiting in line here isn’t necessary. If you’re seeking an intimate gathering place in an unexpected setting where you’re waited on rather than waiting in line, this really is The Perfect Cup.
Brew HaHa, Wilmington, DE
The eclectic setting in this idiosyncratic café looks like what would happen if “The Great Gatsby” had a steampunk crossover film. Crushed velvet, swaying chandeliers, contemporary seating beside a crackling fire and more make this one of the hottest destinations in Delaware. Their savory brews inspired by the Tuscan countryside have hit the Best of Delaware list for two consecutive decades. What’s more, Brew HaHa now maintains several locations across the state and they’re always on the edge of the trends. Free Wi-Fi and dog friendliness are a couple of their many forward-thinking amenities. Should you decide to pull up a stylish side chair in this one of a kind café, their delectable Newark sandwich is a great, Italian menu choice that truly brings out the flavor of their coffee.
Delaware thrives on innovation and it’s a well-known hub for entrepreneurship, so don’t be too surprised when you see new eateries popping up on corners across the state. Check back with us for highlights on new businesses, eateries and gathering spaces.
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