Java Joy in the Berkshires

Who doesn’t love the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee?

A morning starter, midday pick-me-up, tasty afternoon treat – and always best shared with friends.   Whether you prefer yours hot, light, iced, or blended, there are plentiful places in the Berkshires to find your favorite. 

Cappuccinos, mocha lattes, espresso. All over the Berkshires, small-batch coffee roasteries, chocolatiers, and chef-owned cafes are elevating a simple cup of joe or mug of cocoa by sharing a deep knowledge of the craft, using high-quality ingredients, and providing a welcoming environment where customers can enjoy deliciously blended beverages. Here is our short list for the best coffee places in the Berkshires.

While in Williamstown, stop at the Tea & Boba Lounge for a variety of flavorful beverages. Get a Vietnamese Pour Over coffee, an iced coffee with milk foam, or a whipped coffee, each with your choice of milk and flavored syrups. Sample a hot or cold beverage with house-made boba. Create your own by choosing your base (coffees, teas, milk), your flavor (purees and syrups), and toppings (boba and jellies, james, popping bubbles, and foams). New to bobas? Start with a Lounge favorite – The Signature, with chocolate chai tea, milk, brown sugar molasses and boba, or maybe the Island Matcha Dream, combining matcha, coconut milk, kiwi jam, coconut syrup, and brown sugar boba. The shop also offers over 40 different teas.

Afternoon Tea. Courtesy The Red Lion Inn.

Just down the street, find The Spring Street Market & Cafe. There is a cozy space to sit inside, as well as a Grab N Go menu and online ordering. If time permits, settle in with a sumptuous breakfast of farm-fresh eggs or a black bean burrito and your choice of coffees and teas from the full tea bar. You can also choose a breakfast sammy, yogurt, freshly baked goods, or fruit and granola to go, with a satisfying hot or cold coffee or tea. A wonderful way to start your day or refresh your afternoon.

If you are in travel mode, The Craft Food Barn in North Adams offers delicious options for a hot or cold beverage-to-go with drive-thru ease. You can find freshly brewed hot or iced coffee and tea, as well as hot or iced mocha, matcha, and chai lattes, cappuccinos, frozen frapps, and “dirty” and regular hot chocolate. How about an affogato – your choice of both ice cream and flavor shot. While you are there, check out the fresh and plentiful breakfast, lunch, and snack menu. You can even order ahead online or with a quick call so your order is ready when you swing by!

Meeting friends for a latte and a casual bite? Head for The Marketplace (Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and Sheffield). Each location serves coffees from Berkshire roasteries  – wonderful whether taken black or crafted into an enjoyably creamy, hot drink. The innovative menu includes egg dishes, salads, burgers, and sandwiches (including vegan and gluten-free options). And if you’re at all tempted by scratch-made baked goods, save room for the array of delectable desserts. 

Allow time in your schedule to pop into the iconic Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge for an afternoon tea or cafe au lait. Pull up a rocking chair or sit at a bistro table in the shade of the front porch. Make it a special moment by choosing the Afternoon Tea, where Harbey & Sons loose leaf tea (or a glass of prosecco!) accompanies tea sandwiches, pastries and sweet bites. It’s the perfect respite after a long stroll through one of the many art museums and historic properties or scenic hikes available nearby.

Haven Café & Bakery. Credit Michelle Murphy.

Shopping or on a walkabout near downtown Lenox? Haven Café & Bakery on Franklin Street serves up a creative made-to-order breakfast and lunch menu, baked goods, and coffee that’s smooth, bright, and satisfying. There’s a convivial atmosphere here, and the food is fresh and filling. Order at the counter, then seat yourself inside or on the patio during mild weather. 

Another gem in the Berkshires for a bite to eat and a hearty cup of coffee is the Southfield Store. A welcoming, casual vibe awaits, and inside, cases are brimming with freshly baked cookies, pastries, tarts, and cakes that match perfectly with a hot, fresh cup of coffee. Made-to-order sandwiches are also available, as is brunch on Sundays and dinner options between May and November. 

Chocolate Springs Café in Lenox is home to artisanal European-style chocolates that are truly  exceptional. You should also know that it’s a fabulous place to relax with some of the best hot chocolate you’ve ever tasted. In fact, The Serious Hot Chocolate is transcendent. You can even purchase the mix at the café or online to serve up at home. And don’t forget to take along some of those decadent and delicious chocolates!

Finally, kick up those hot drinks you make at home with Berkshire ingredients. Find what you need for hot toddies, mulled wines, and hot spiced ciders at a local small-batch distillery, wine store, or orchard. Explore the options at Dare Bottleshop and Provisions in Lenox, Balderdash Cellars in Richmond, Spirited on the Pittsfield-Lenox border, and Berkshire Mountain Distillers in Sheffield. Find more places to eat and drink locally in the Berkshires here.

Find more ways to eat, play and stay with our Guide to the Berkshires and other planning tools.

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