Lattes—An Economic Barometer?

Ahhh … that first cup of coffee in the morning—the kick start, the wake-up call, what would we do without it? To many people, it’s a morning ritual that is both a habit and a necessity required to begin the day. 

Squeezing in the stop at the coffee shop on the way to work to grab that latte became a way of life for a lot of people. Then, the economic downturn occurred, and we were bombarded with ways to cut back, economize and become frugal. 

Many reluctantly turned to the office hot pot, a jar of instant coffee and that fake powdery creamer. Yes, we were saving money, but it just wasn’t the same. Not only was the calming effect of our morning ritual upset by the elimination of our stop at the coffee shop, but there was just no comparison to the quality of the coffee, not to mention that there were no lattes, espressos, or fresh pastries and muffins to top it off. 

Needless to say, customers have been making their way back to the various coffee shops as of late.  It has been rumored that this may be the first sign that the economy is picking up since coffee aficionados are willing to shell out the extra cash for a daily indulgence.

Several local coffee shops offer different options and variety for those seeking their daily java.

is located inside the Univest Bank at 1715 Sumneytown Pike in Kulpsville and offers a house blend, espresso, cappuccino and café latte, as well as a chai tea latte and hot chocolate. To round out the selection, CoffeeHead offers breakfast sandwiches, bagels, scones, muffins and Danish, as well as assorted sandwiches, pizza, salads and soups for the lunch crowd. The shop also offers “Kimmie’s Goodies,” which are made-to-order pies, cakes, tortes and specialty cakes for birthdays and weddings. Free WIFI is also available. Hours are Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; and Saturday, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.  CoffeeHead's phone number is  (215) 855-3911.

is located at 401 S. Broad St. in Lansdale, sharing the building with a bank. Each Saxby’s is independently owned and operated, which connects the coffee shop to the community. Saxby's serves a variety of specialty coffees, including its house blend and a café latte, cappuccino and espresso, along with specialty teas, hot chocolate and a Frolatte, which is a frozen latte.  As an accompaniment, muffins, cookies, various cakes, and brownies are served. If you are on the run, there is a convenient drive-up window—not shared with the adjoining bank.  Free WIFI is available, as well as free iMacs so that you can check your e-mail and surf the net while sipping. An inviting fireplace and flat screen TV make Saxby's a relaxing place to spend some time.  Hours are Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saxby's phone number is (267) 436-3140. 

is the largest coffee house chain in the world, headquartered in Seattle, and is a familiar sight in no less than 50 countries.  In Lansdale, the chain resides at 884 W. Main St. Starbucks has many specialized varieties of coffee, including Ethiopia, Sidamo, Yukon blend and Gold Coast blend, among others.  Teas and hot chocolate are served, along with smoothies, cakes, donuts, scones, muffins, cookies, croissants, bagels and Danish.  Other offerings include fruit and snack plates, breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal with toppings, salads, sandwiches, ice cream and yogurt parfaits. Starbucks is a WIFI hotspot, which is free for everyone, with a Starbucks Card no longer required. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.  Starbucks phone number is (215) 412-3158.

has locations at 787 Sumneytown Pike, across from Merck, and at 1739 N. Broad St. in Lansdale. This chain also has global appeal, making its presence known in over 30 countries.  Besides its famous coffee, Dunkin' Donuts also serves espresso, tea, hot chocolate and other favorites.   Additional offerings include donuts (of course), bagels, cookies, Danish, breakfast sandwiches and wraps, and grilled and flat bread sandwiches. Hours are 4:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. seven days a week. Call the local branches of Dunkin' Donuts at  (215) 368-6325 (Sumneytown Pike), and (215) 661-1222 (North Broad Street).