Peace and a Cup of Joe
Jul 26th, 2009 | By Caryn Coyle | Category: Baltimore Bites
“You can find peace in a cup of coffee,” said Themar Long, who named his coffee shop after a song he heard by Ledisi, the R&B singer and songwriter from New Orleans. Ledisi sang about not being able to find peace in a cup of coffee.
“Some folks do not realize that ‘Joe’ is another word for coffee,” explained Long. “They come in here and ask to meet Joe!”
Opened almost four years ago, Peace and a Cup of Joe serves breakfast pastries, sandwiches and salads at 713 W. Pratt Street in Ridgely’s Delight. It is located one block from the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center.
“The whole idea for this place was comfort and warmth,” said Long. “I wanted my customers to feel like they were at home. This is a place where you come and stay.”
Indeed, there are board games for customers to enjoy. A large television screen and comfortable sofas and pillows surround a fireplace. Customers are encouraged to relax.
I had a white raspberry truffle coffee, served in a ceramic cup and topped with whipped cream for $5. The coffee was mellow, smooth and it had a subtle taste of chocolate. My companion had the iced ginger tea chai for $3.50. I sampled it and could taste cloves. The ginger added a real kick to the chai. Both were very satisfying. Enjoyable.
Peace and a Cup of Joe sells Brazilian, Sumatran, Columbian and Ethiopian blends; $1.54 for a small cup and $1.99 for a large cup of “Joe.”
Open seven days a week from 7 AM to 8 PM Monday through Friday and 8:30 AM to 7 PM on Saturday and Sunday, Peace and a Cup of Joe is housed in a building that dates back to the nineteenth century. Originally a family’s home, “the original commode was still outside,” Long said. He furnished the dwelling with comfortable stylish sofas and pillows in natural colors and painted the walls: rust, light brown and goldenrod. “I had fall foliage in mind,” he added.
The Peace and a Cup of Joe’s sandwiches are original and reasonable. I had a veggie sandwich for $6.00 served on focaccia bread. The mushrooms, red onions, peppers and cucumbers were marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette. Tasting it was like a melody in my mouth, a blending of all the flavors.
My companion had the chicken salad which was also served on focaccia bread for $7.00. Served with lettuce, onion, tomato and salt and pepper, the chicken salad was creamy, not too “mayonnaisey” and not too dry. Very good.
All sandwiches come with a choice of an individual bag of a variety of Utz chips, pretzels, or cheese balls.
Long, who has a background in industrial engineering and information technology, and served in the U.S. Air Force, visited coffee shops all over the world. “Many of them were holes in the wall with old, ratty couches. Or they were too commercial, uncomfortable,” he said.
A native of New York, Long has lived in the Baltimore area since 1986. “I wanted Peace and a Cup of Joe to be the kind of place a lawyer or a doctor could feel just as comfortable as a student or a blue collar worker. Anyone can pull out a stool at one of the tables, play a board game or relax upstairs in the living room,” he added.
 CASSIE VANDEHEY |
Cassie Vandehey’s red hair was tied back in a kerchief when she took my “to go” order, a turkey bacon ranch wrap, for $6.00. I also asked for a Baltimore half and half, lemonade and iced tea for $1.80.
The wrap was tangy with an herbal flavor and the blend of bacon, turkey and ranch was balanced, just right. The Baltimore half and half was ice cold and tart, because I asked for unsweetened iced tea. Next time, I want to try it with sweetened tea.
Peace and a Cup of Joe has an espresso machine that Don Sanchez was working for a customer. I watched him for a few moments, savoring the rich coffee aroma before I turned around to see each table in the shop filled.
Outside, the midday sun was bright. Hot. But the light that filtered inside, illuminating the tables was soft, welcoming. It was a cozy, peaceful scene.
View Peace and a Cup of Joe in a larger map
CARYN COYLE IS AN ADOPTED BALTIMOREAN. ASIDE FROM ANYTHING CHOCOLATE, HER FAVORITE FOODS ARE CHESAPEAKE BAY CRAB, SILVER QUEEN CORN, AND MARYLAND TOMATOES. SHE CAN BE EMAILED HERE.
PHOTOS BY CARYN COYLE
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