Cedar Bean's Coffee Joint — Restaurant in Cedar Grove

This review is long overdue. Cedar Bean's has a special place in my heart because it was one of my COVID refuges that made me feel normal/human again for at least a small part of my day when everything was just utterly insane. Prior to March of 2020, I stopped here once or twice to sample their coffee (perfectly favorable impression - I think I bought a pound of the Pompton Peach blend, which was light, fruit-forward, just how I like it) but wasn't a regular customer.

During COVID, I started using their app and ordering lavender lattes once or twice a week for an afternoon pick-me-up while I was working from home. Back then, they opened their giant windows at the front of the store so you could just grab your order from the sidewalk. The owner was and is super, super friendly and always up for a few minutes of chatting. I honestly wouldn't recommend using the app if you have the choice, just because it's a little more expensive and it really doesn't take too long to get your coffee when you order in the store. It's nice to have the option though if you need it.

I'm a big fan of their aforementioned lavender lattes, which is my go-to espresso drink these days. I've never had an issue with my order or any type of service problems whatsoever - given the sheer volume of visits, that's pretty astounding in my opinion.

The one piece of constructive feedback I initially had with this place is that their baked goods were pretty mediocre. They heavily relied on third party pre-made, pre-packaged pastries that just didn't taste that great. I thought if they figured out a way to consistently provide homemade, fresh food, that would make this place great instead of just above average. Lo and behold, they did exactly that. Their sea salt chocolate chip cookies are excellent, and for someone like me who has zero portion control, their two-a-pack product is perfect. I'm also a big fan of their banana bread, which is probably closer to the cake family than the bread family, but at least I'm sort of getting a fruit serving in there.

Especially with a place like this that isn't exclusively a to-go establishment, the atmosphere is pretty important and another area where they've checked the boxes off. I'm not totally sure how the antler theme ties in with coffee, but a lot of attention has been made to constructing a cozy coffeehouse vibe. I'm not sure I've ever been in there when they didn't have at least a small handful of customers hanging out. I also admire their willingness to just go for it with respect to their tip jars (see attached). A day or two after Slapgate, there were the competing jars with pictures of Will Smith and Chris Rock. Why any money ended up in Will Smith's jar is beyond me, but that kind of customer engagement I'm sure is bringing them a few extra bucks. Smart marketing.

There are a lot of coffeehouses in the area, and I'd argue it's the type of business that is prone to inflated reviews, just by virtue of the fact that they're peddling in liquid gold. Who doesn't love a place that sells coffee? But Cedar Bean's is a cut above the rest and wholly deserving of...

Was looking for a new coffee shop to catch up with a friend that I haven't seen in months, and I purposely chose this spot since I wanted us to venture out and support other businesses in the area, and it was close to our hiking spot. TLDR: not the best choice.

Strong Points

The atmosphere is laid back, and the crowd is a mix of working folks on laptops and people just hanging out having casual conversation. The noise level is good; not too loud, not too quiet. There are a bunch of different areas to sit, which I appreciated. The decor is neat too. It was actually the photos that drew me to this shop, not the menu. There's seating in the front if you want to get some sun, or a cute back area that looked zen when we took a peek. Their menu, both food and drinks, also looks like it could have some fun options to try.

What Missed the Mark

If you're a new customer and not a familiar face, there’s no real menu besides a small board with staff recommendations, and the girl at the counter does not say hello. She just blankly stares at you. I asked what the faerie lemonade was, since the name intrigued me after seeing it as a staff pick on the board, but it had lavender so I opted out and asked if she had a full menu. I ultimately chose the green pomegranate, which, according to the description, is blended with organic raspberries and pomegranate essence. There were no raspberries, no pomegranate, just watered-down unsweetened green tea over ice. I could not deal with the attitude from the counter worker, so I chose not to say anything, and risk ruining the catch-up with my friend.

Then, when leaving, I asked another worker if they had a recycling bin since the cup was plastic, and she looked genuinely confused as to why I was asking. If you're going to serve drinks in plastic, at least be an environmentally conscious business.

There’s potential here. The space is really nice, the menu sounds great, and the vibe could be something special, but the experience needs to match the aesthetic. It takes only a small amount of energy to create an inviting atmosphere for a customer, and when that’s missing, it becomes...

The shop was very easy to find, and I was able to get on street parking. While the weather was bad the day I went, they had a wonderful outside dining area that I could see being used when it wasn’t a northeaster. The first thing I noticed when I entered, the shop was a large screen over the counter, highlighting various customers. It’s apparent to me that the customers matter are here. There were several in the shop working and conversing. It’s obviously a place where people feel comfortable hanging out. The menu is diverse and there are food options. I chose a pour over and a cinnamon scone. I was waited on by Adriana and Cassie both of whom were pleasant and patient while I decided on what I wanted and asked my questions. When Adriana didn’t know the answer, she turned to Cassie. Cassie appeared quite knowledgeable about the tasting note of the various coffees. She was also wearing an Acadia national Park sweatshirt, so I chatted with her for a minute about Maine. This is definitely a shop I would visit again. The coffee was extremely flavorful, fresh and reasonably priced. The scone was scrumptious and also fresh. The only thing that I struggled with was the counter area and the area above the counter was extremely overwhelming. There was just too much going on, and it made it difficult to focus on finding what I was looking for. I thought it was great having the photos of the patrons, maybe in a different place the voting screen also took away from the menu board. There was just so much clutter at the front. Otherwise, the place...