Upper Cup Coffee — Restaurant in Mifflin Township

I met a friend here to get coffee and talk. There's a free public parking garage under it. It wasn't overly busy when I went, with plenty of seating. The aesthetic is a minimalistic kind of industrial chic look that's cheap and popular today. We only bought coffee, and the service was sufficient enough.

As far as the coffee goes, most, if not all, restaurants and coffee shops don't really know how to make coffee, and this place is no different. I don't pretend to be a coffee connoisseur, I'm not really versed with different kinds of coffee, notes, flavors, etc., but I do hand grind my beans every morning and I've learned that's the most important part of any coffee. I'm sure some of it is preference, but I don't know how places that specialize in coffee get it wrong. It's even more confusing when places offer all these different types of beans from local roasters.

When I saw that Upper Cup offers pour over and French press at an extra cost, I was hopeful they'd get it right. I was disappointed when my first sip was met with that familiar acidic taste from a coarse grind. If you only get coffee out or frequent Starbucks, you'll be fine. Maybe you load up your coffee with sugar or creme anyway. But if you enjoy a smooth black coffee in the morning, you already know you'll be making your...

I feel that three stars is a little nice, but I've read other reviews and can see that people love this place. I asked around for any recommendations on local, preferably BIPOC-owned coffee shops which lead me to this place. I was excited to try this location; I always ask recommendations when going to new coffee shops. What I received here was "we have different beans and we can make pour overs." This was my first thumbs down. I inquired about house made syrups for the coffee for which they have none. The coffee I ended up getting (I can't even remember what it was) was lackluster to say the least--something that I could've made at home. I see the love Upper Cup has in the community, so I am willing to try it again. My major take away from my first visit: there's nothing special that entices...

There is a lot this shop has done well. First, they are located in a great spot. There’s free parking and a beautiful walkway along the river to take a stroll. There are a lot of coffee choices (just ask if you have a question, so many choices can sometimes be confusing). The coffee I got was great, and priced right. They also sell sandwiches with Boar’s Head meat for around $6. I plan on coming back to try one. Wi-fi is free and there are enough tables and outlets scattered around to plug in for a bit and get some work done. You may have to plan your seat accordingly because not every seat has easy access to an outlet. The music they played was instrumental/hip-hop, very chill, and not too loud if you wanted to listen to your own music through earbuds. Can’t wait to make...