The Peekskill Coffee House — Restaurant in City of Peekskill

I'm not sure how I've never gotten around to writing a review for my favorite lounge/study/cafe/gameroom/meditation/eatery/etc. location. I guess after years and years of consistently endearing experiences, no one particular day stood out enough to warrant a Yelp. That's no excuse though, so here it is, my ode to a familiar mainstay that's become something of a cultural institution.

Here's the deal - if all you're concerned with is the quality of the coffee, stop reading this and just go. The house brew, "Flatiron", is a workhorse, strong and dependable. Coffees of the moment weave in and out frequently, making it easy to test for new favorites while refining one's palate. In addition to drip, there are a variety of espresso offerings to satisfy all combinations of caffeinated cravings. Indecisive? Grab a red eye and enjoy the best of both worlds. Having tried several spots in the region (Coffee Labs, Antoinette's, Black Cow, etc.) I have the utmost confidence in placing PCH atop the list for quality and consistency.

Were it for the coffee alone, Peekskill Coffee House might still earn itself a five star mark, but so much of the charm and appeal would be lost. In an era where coffee has been largely commodified, great value can be found in the context surrounding its delivery. Housed in a building bearing the name of its signature blend, the atmosphere at PCH is casual and welcoming. It is at once contemporary and classic, littered with a hodgepodge of colorful and worn furniture. Doubling as a local art gallery, its walls cycle through exhibits often, showcasing such varied works as photography sets, tattoo artist catalogs, and even elementary school finger paintings. The ceiling is lined in patterned copper, a holdover fashion from the building's century-old construction aesthetic. All in all it weaves together in a controlled chaos that mirrors the robust and disparate customer base. Infrequent perhaps in general society, it is quite a regular occurrence to find all walks of life enjoying an aromatic respite from the daily grind here. Not simply some hipster hangout (whatever that means), the Coffee House is equally home to the businessman, the layabout, the construction worker, the bookworm, the student, the hip hop head, the square, seemingly any and all who've had the good sense to seek its shelter. There is a genuine sense of community provided by this diversity that I feel should not be discounted. In an industry plagued with stereotypes of cooler-than-thou cultural snobbery, PCH takes all comers. It's refreshing.

The staff are as much a part of the experience as the product and setting. While there are fresh faces often to be found, there is also notable employee retention, with the longer-tenured baristas becoming the equivalent of "regulars" for frequent visitors. The camaraderie on display is infectious and spits in the face of the forced, plasticine glad-handing we've all become a bit too comfortable with in retail settings. Individual personalities are discernible in the flow and atmosphere provided by each. Employee music playlists help to punctuate these differences, with soundtracks ranging from thumb-picked acoustic fare, to '80s-inspired chiptune, to '90s alternative, and anywhere in between.

They say you can't please all of the people all of the time, and maybe that's true. Peekskill Coffee House makes a damn good effort to turn that phrase on its head, however. Need a boost before work? Stop in. Cramming for finals? Stop in. Sunk into a good book and looking to get out of the house? Stop in. Feel like taking in a local musical act? Stop in. Want to catch a break from the heat with an ice cold smoothie? Stop in. If you haven't found yourself doing so just yet, stop in! There's a good chance something you weren't even sure you were looking for will be waiting to...

I had just finished a 2-day backpacking adventure along the Appalachian Trail and boy, this was the perfect place to visit after a very strenuous 15.5-mile hike. Located in the heart of Peekskill, this cafe had a huge inviting space with lots of atmosphere and homey decor. The place had a great vibe as soon as I entered with many customers enjoying both food and drink. The coffee was bold and full of flavor. When I ordered a pacing, the worker first warned me that it could be a 30-minute wait for that, so I ordered an Italia Crepe instead. It came with sundried tomato, pesto, and mozzarella and was delicious. The food menu consisted of several panini options, and savory and sweet crepes. There was a large coffee, espresso, tea, and smoothie menu. I liked the fact that if you place an order of $15 or more, they give you a quarter to win a prize from their special gumball machine at the checkout counter. Instead of a gumball, you receive a plastic ball with a mystery prize in it. Prizes can range from store discounts, free coffee, or various products such as hats and shirts with the Peekskill Coffee logo on them. I won a free cup of coffee, yeah baby! The cafe is so expansive that it wraps around to two sides at the corner of the street. There's a door that invites customers to come check out other indoor mom & pop shops. I love it when a business openly supports nearby businesses. This is good for everyone and the owners of this cafe get it. I live in South Brooklyn, so this cafe is quite far from me. However, if I ever visit Peekskill again, you can be sure that I'll come pay a visit to...

I. LOVE. THIS. COFFEE. HOUSE.

I don’t think you understand the level of love I have for this place I’m so happy to finally have found an awesome place for coffee. Ok so here’s the deal: a flatiron shaped building with the coolest staff ever. The story behind this coffee shop is just amazing: a place where everyone can come, socialize, gather and make memories.

Its artsy, funky, fabulous history draws you in as soon as you walk into those doors. The staff is absolutely amazing and knows their regular customers and treats the new ones like family. Such a fun environment.

Let’s talk about coffee. ITS AMAZING. And the best part is you can take bulk coffee beans home or in small pre packed batches. Choose your style, your roast and take it home as a little souvenir of this place.

Food: two words. BELGIAN WAFFLE. Oh em geeeeeeeee. These waffles are the perfect fluff and you can add on real maple syrup to go with it. Just absolutely amazing. Their menu is quite simple and they have other portions such as crepes and other yummy things. The spinach and feta crepe was phenomenal. Just woooow.

There are also other available pastry goods such as muffins and cookies.

Bottom line: this coffee house in the heart of Peekskill will take your heart. It’s everything you can want in a coffee shop with more!

There’s a nice outside area where you can catch some sun rays and hang out with your pup. Can’t wait to be back in this...