Coffee & community

by Stacie Charbonneau-Hess

One of the most lovely parts of winter is finding a cozy café to meet friends or colleagues – a spot with character, a sense of place, and great food.

Yes, there are times when the drive-through is necessary, but when I really want to connect with the people in my life, I go to those spots that feel like someone’s living room, or like those you find in European villages: people outside and inside, talking to one another, reading a newspaper, slowing down in the otherwise frenetic pace that comes with this time of year.

I’ve compiled this admittedly subjective list of wonderful South Coast cafés, arranged from east to west. These cafés ooze character; they are imbued with that feeling that Danish people refer to as hygge – the warmth and comfort you create when the world outside is dark and cold.

I realize, too, that I am grateful these spots exist so close to home. In this afterCovid winter, I am trying my best to patronize the small businesses I so appreciate.

I hope this list inspires you to cozy up with a warm cup and a good friend.

Blue Foot Café

379 Main Street, Wareham

Open 7 days a week: 6:30 to 3 p.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends

Blue Foot Café is home to creative smoothies and smoothie bowls, like “The Galapagos” which is made with a blend of blackberries and mango and glows electric blue. Of course there is açai, but Blue Foot goes well beyond the usual. You can taste the love in the hearty “Savory Oat Bowl” that is topped with a perfect egg, garlicy kraut, and green onion lovingly strewn throughout. Blue Foot is special because the surroundings invite you to settle in and stay a while: sumptuous velvet couches are perfect for cozying up with your love, or sit outside on a sunny day on the patio. This is the perfect spot for a healthy, warm “Dirty Chai Latté” or an entire meal. The vibe is young, welcoming, with an unexpectedly cosmopolitan feeling – an oasis of calm in the bustling area of a Wareham Center.

Peoples’ Pressed

141 Union Street, New Bedford Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Sundays

You probably know that Peoples’ Pressed offers cold-pressed juices and features multi-day cleanses that you can pre-order for those times when your body needs a reboot. What you may not know is that they also have some of the most amazing coffee choices on the South Coast. You can get a regular cup of dark roast, or try something more adventurous like “On Shrooms” which features a mushroom superfood blend. If tea is more your style try the “Community Chai” with activated charcoal and honey. Peoples’ Pressed has light fare like avocado and hemp seed toast and almond butter, banana, and strawberry toast, all on gluten-free bread. The vibe is urban, with succulents descending from every nook and cranny.

Davoll’s General Store

1228 Russells Mills Road, South Dartmouth 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. TuesdaySaturday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday

Now that Davoll’s is here, I cannot imagine a South Coast without it. Davoll’s has gifts, books, local groceries, book readings, poetry openmic nights, jam sessions, Friday night dinners, and even, this past fall, a turnip festival. Davoll’s is quirky and homey and a community hub. The food is ever-changing but expect home-baked breads, soups, and luscious, rustic baked goods. Lunch might be a sweet potato panini or a quinoa salad with local farmer Eva’s greens. For staying a while and chatting, there is no place like Davoll’s, with its antique hardwood floors and its central location in Dartmouth. Coffee and tea here are as singular as Davoll’s itself: try the “Mayan Mocha” with its spicy chocolate blend, or the “High Spirit” which features adaptogenic mushrooms. Oh yeah, and there’s wine, beer, and craft cocktails and mocktails. With the convivial atmosphere and the abundance of good quality delights, you may end up staying into the evening here. If it’s a Thursday, you may even have the good fortune to sit in on a jam session with local fiddlers, banjo players, and musicians of every ilk.

Groundswell Cafe

3883 Main Road, Tiverton Tuesday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (kitchen open until 3 p.m.)

Groundswell’s has a particular kind of lingering in mind with its “laptop free” environment. This is a spot for catching up with old friends and connecting with loved ones over Europeaninspired food like the croque monsieur and quiche lorraine. The menu features creative breakfast items like the poblano tahini breakfast bowl with farro, toasted chickpeas, and a egg on top, and the ricotta & pear toast. Groundswell serves amazing teas and traditional – rather than trendy – coffee options. The café’s Four Corners location makes it extra appealing for a really long lunch hour or a Saturday afternoon with an old friend.