The Best Cup Of Coffee In Palm Harbor is....

As a coffee aficionado, I am always on the lookout for a great cup of coffee wherever I go. My quest this week was to find the best cup of coffee served in Palm Harbor.  

A person’s relationship with their coffee is no laughing matter. Regular coffee drinkers are connoisseurs, critics, and consultants when it comes to their cup of joe.  At the drop of a coffee bean, they will segue into a long narrative about the great cups of coffee they have consumed, what makes a great cup of coffee, and where to find it.

Seeking out the best cup of coffee was a daunting, but rewarding task. My mission took me to six venues in Palm Harbor that specialize in the celebrated cup of coffee.

I chose the Old Town Café, 7-11, the Witch's Brew, Circle K, Einstein’s Bagels, and Starbucks. For the purpose of this exercise, I compared a 12 oz. cup of house blend coffee at each establishment. 

I considered taste, temperature, available condiments, freshness,   smoothness and the aesthetics of the establishment. 

Here are the results of my pilgrimage:

• Price: $2.00
• Refill Cost: $1 per cup
• Beans: Fair Trade Organic Beans from El Salvador
• Temperature: Perfect
• Sweetener Available: Sugar, Splenda, Sweet and Low, Truvia, Equal
• Flavorings: Assorted Syrups, $ .50
• Milks Available: Half and Half, 2%, almond, soy  
• Served in: Paper Cup
• Service: Self serve from Coffee Thermos
• Summary The shop is quaint, gorgeous, and comfortable. Free Wi-Fi was wonderful. It is a relaxing venue and perfect to sit back and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. The Witches Brew serves a delicious cup of coffee. The beans taste like a mild to medium roast and the flavor is smooth and not bitter. The choices of sweeteners and milks are terrific.

• Price: $1.49   
• Refill Cost: $.99 per cup all day. (You can return to Circle K throughout the day with any cup to get the refill. No receipt is required)
• Beans:  Each Pot of the House Blend is ground fresh. (The coffee grinder is located on the coffee bar)
• Temperature: Extra hot (a bucket of ice is conveniently located for customers)
• Sweetener Available: sugar, Splenda, Sweet and Low, Equal
• Flavorings: None
• Milks Available: A very appetizing automatic vending unit dispenses an assortment of flavored creamers and milks
• Served in: Paper Cup
• Service: Self serve from coffee pots 
• Summary  The quality of the coffee at Circle K is outstanding. They make a heck of a cup of coffee. I like my coffee piping hot, so for me this was a plus.  The beans taste like a mild to medium roast. The flavor is smooth, not bitter and delightful.  I adored the coffee creamer vending unit. It made the experience fun. I tried out the refill policy. I returned two hours later with a large ceramic coffee mug, and sure enough, I got the refill for $.99. 

• Price: $1.45   
• Refill Cost: $1 per cup
• Beans: Costa Rica Blend
• Temperature: Perfect
• Sweetener Available: Sugar Bar including sugar, Splenda, Sweet and Low, Truvia, Equal, and honey
• Flavorings: Assorted Syrups, $ .30
• Milks Available: Half and Half, nonfat, almond, soy 
• Served in: Ceramic mug
• Service: Coffee served from counter
• Summary: The café is a gorgeous Key West style establishment. The menu boards are amazing. Free Wi-Fi is available. The service was second to none, and is the perfect place to relax and have a cup of coffee. The Old Town Café serves a magnificent cup of coffee. The beans are roasted to perfection, and the coffee is smooth and almost therapeutic.  I closed my eyes and savored each sip of the brew. Does a cup of coffee taste better if it is served in a beautiful mug? Definitely! 

• Price: $1.49  
• Refill Cost: $ .99per cup all day. (Same refill policy as Circle K)
• Beans:  House Blend
• Temperature: Perfect
• Sweetener Available:  Sugar, Splenda, Sweet and Low,  
• Flavorings: Cinnamon, marshmallows, chocolate powder, vanilla powder, assorted syrups
• Milks Available: Half and half, vanilla amaretto, hazelnut, and crème de mint    
• Served in: paper cup
• Service: self serve
• Summary:  Thank Heaven for 7-11. The coffee at 7-11 is a simple, nice cup of coffee. It is consistent, not bitter and goes down rather smoothly.  The condiments available are second to none. There are hundreds of flavor combinations you can create.  If you are a fan of flavored coffee, 7-11 will brew the flavor of your choice anytime throughout the day or night. All you have to do is ask.

• Price: $1.75  
• Refill Cost: Free  
• Beans: Einstein Blend
• Temperature: Could have been a little hotter
• Sweetener Available: Sugar, Splenda, Sweet and Low, Equal
• Flavorings: Cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa, vanilla   
• Milks Available: Half and Half, 2%  
• Served in: paper cup
• Service: self serve
• Summary: Clean and well organized. The coffee is tasty, but not the centerpiece of this establishment. Once I put the milk in, the coffee was not near hot enough. The condiment bar while having all the essentials was not as appetizing as the other establishments. The bagels, which are marvelous, are the reason for visiting Einstein’s.

• Price: $1.50  
• Refill Cost: $.54  (several reward progarms available) 
• Beans: House Blend
• Temperature: Very Hot 
• Sweetener Available: Sugar, Splenda, Sweet and Low, Equal
• Flavorings: Cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, vanilla   
• Milks Available: Half and Half, Whole Milk, Non-Fat Milk  
• Served in: paper cup (cardboard Band)
• Service: served from counter
• Summary:  A comfortable upscale place to have a cup of coffee. The newspapers were an added plus, and the free Wi-Fi was fast and efficient. Starbucks coffee is the standard by which all coffees are judged. The brew is very strong, and bold. It is a full bodied coffee that I found a touch bitter. While I like my coffee very hot, Starbucks is a bit too hot for my taste. Starbucks is smart to provide the cardboard band. It is uncomfortable to hold the cup without it.  The condiment bar had all the essentials.

At the end of my journey, a decision had to be made. Who serves the best cup of coffee in Palm Harbor?  After careful consideration and reflection I have decided that the best cup of coffee in Palm Harbor is served by......... the Old Town Café.

The coffee was incredible.  A second cup immediately followed the first... The Truvia sweetener which was available was a wonderful surprise. I walked away satisfied, full of caffeine, and had a big smile on my face.

Editor's Note: So, everybody has a favorite place to go for coffee! Who do you think serves the best Cup O' Joe in Palm Harbor? 

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