New Holland Coffee Co. Review

If you're looking for an intimate coffee-shop experience in the middle of the Amish countryside, it's hard to top the atmosphere and selection at the New Holland Coffee Co., located in New Holland, Lancaster County, PA. While lacking some of the more nuanced coffee choices at Square One or Prince Street Cafe in downtown Lancaster, New Holland Coffee Co. offers good music, good food, ambiance and reasonable prices outside the city.

First things first - how's the java? New Holland Coffee Co.'s coffee is roasted in-house daily, and it's quite good, especially for the price - a 16oz cup of regular coffee is $1.60, about $.40 cheaper after tax than at Square One in downtown Lancaster. The house blend is nicely balanced, but lighter and darker roasts are also available.

A variety of other drinks are also available, including tea, hot cider, chai (especially worthy of mention is their "black-eyed chai," spiked with a shot of espresso), along with iced teas and coffees, smoothies and frappes.

There is a great sandwich selection if you want more than just a cup, including breakfast sandwiches. I wouldn't recommend a wrap if you're wearing something expensive - tasty as my $6.95 spinach-and-feta wrap was, it was also pretty messy, even for this usually tidy eater.

The atmosphere is classic coffeeshop in a town that, frankly, doesn't have a lot of coffee shops: chilled-out indie tunes, lots of hardwood and artwork, and a sense of warmth and intimacy. The staff are friendly and laid-back, even to non-regulars, and they're quick whether preparing a frappe or a sandwich. Thanks to the relatively large size of the shop it never feels cramped, the way smaller coffee shops can when they get crowded, and while it's often busy and Saturday nights at any coffee shop are going to be a bit crazier, you can usually still get a table at New Holland Coffee Co. and can still hear the people you're there with.

Whether you're a long-time Lancastrian or just visiting Amish country, New Holland Coffee Co. is worth a visit. The drinks are great, the food's good, and the ambiance is pitch-perfect.