When you think of a summer morning in Pelham, you may picture strolls to the Farmers Market. However, on weekdays, the main streets of Pelham are filled with sleepy commuters. As they walk to the train station, they pass by many coffee shops. That is why I spent a week trying various iced coffees to find the best one.
5. Village Vibe
Village Vibe is situated across the street from Town Hall and the center gazebo. The store offers various specialty sandwich options, but its coffee selection is more limited compared to typical cafes. Village Vibe focuses more on treats such as milkshakes and juices. I ordered a medium iced coffee with oat milk and two sugars for $4.25. This price was typical for the coffees I ordered because oat milk normally costs an extra dollar. They made my coffee quickly. The coffee itself was a fair blend, but the sweetener was slightly overpowering. The flavor tasted artificial instead of raw organic sugar. I would recommend ordering a drink without added flavorings if you visit Village Vibe.
My overall rating for Village Vibe’s coffee is 3/5 stars.
4. J Cafe
J Cafe is situated at 129 Wolfs Lane, roughly a block away from the train station. J Cafe offers numerous flavors of coffee, including specialty lattes. The specialty lattes are lavender, lavender vanilla, white fudge, Nutella, pistachio vanilla, and peppermint. Once again, I ordered a medium iced coffee with oat milk and two sugars for $4.00. The store was bustling with mid-afternoon customers, but I did not have to wait for too long. An aspect I like about J Cafe is that they have numerous seating options for all diners. My only issue with the blend was that it was slightly watered down instead of rich with flavor. However, I still enjoyed the drink.
My overall rating for J Cafe’s coffee is 3.5/5 stars.
3. Flour Power
Flour Power is situated on Boston Post Road, making it slightly out of the way for commuters. However, it is a good place to grab an afternoon treat. The environment in Flour Power is very welcoming. Similar to J Cafe, Flour Power has various specialty lattes to try along with regular coffee options. I ordered an iced coffee with oat milk and two sugars. My coffee was $3.75, making it the cheapest coffee I tried. They made my drink quickly and right in front of me. The coffee was good, but once again slightly too watered down for me. However, I enjoyed the drink and my dining experience there.
My overall rating for Flour Power is 4/5 stars.
2. Caffe Ammi Roasting Co.
Caffe Ammi is a smaller cafe situated right off of 5th avenue on 6th street. Despite being small in size, Caffe Ammi offers a variety of coffee and pastries. I went to Caffe Ammi early on a Sunday morning and the workers were very alert and friendly. Since Caffe Ammi produces their own roast, the coffee tasted fresh and flavorful. I ordered a medium iced coffee with oat milk and two sugars for $4.37 and it was a delicious blend.
My overall rating for Caffe Ammi Roasting Co. is 4.5/5 stars.
1. Shea Station
My favorite coffee I tried was at Shea Station. Shea Station is situated in the historic Pelham train station where morning commuters can sit while waiting for the next inbound train. I joined the line of commuters around 8 a.m. inside the cafe. The place was buzzing, and the staffers were friendly. Everyone was kind and energetic despite it being so early. Friends sat at tables eating pastries and drinking a fresh blend while commuters chatted with their neighbors in line for their coffee. Despite the high number of customers at Shea Station, the line moved and my drink was made quickly. I ordered a medium iced coffee with oat milk and two sugars for $3.79. The balance between the coffee, sugar, and milk was in perfect harmony.
My overall rating for Shea Station is 5/5 stars.
Every cafe in Pelham offers a unique blend for different coffee enthusiasts. Not all coffee connoisseurs like the same flavoring. My takeaway from this cafe-hopping adventure was that every cafe has something different to offer and is worth trying.
