Best Brews: An Island Coffee Tasting
By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
You may remember a recent article from earlier this summer on Ocean City’s best brews. Well, we expanded our testing to include our neighbors a few miles north. Cindy Fertsch and I spent the day tasting house blends and signature drinks from four locally-owned cafes, and those shops did not disappoint. Here are our findings:
Hayday Coffee
Hayday Coffee is on the beach block of New York Avenue, within the Orange Loop section of Atlantic City. They are founded on the idea of helping others. “The Hayday Way is to always be helpful,” said Alex Mazzo, general manager. “We love to help with art projects or giving directions and even introducing people to Atlantic City.”
Their house blend is a dark roast with chocolate accents. It has a light citrus flavor and pops in your mouth. And yet, the drink is smooth, especially with cream. It makes for the perfect breakfast blend.
Their signature drink is the iced French Toast latte, which includes vanilla, hazelnut, and cinnamon. It’s sweet and nutty, perfect for strolling through the city. The cinnamon on top adds to the rich, dessert-like flavor. It’s great for hot summer days when you’re craving something light, sweet, and delicious.
No. 7133
This unique coffee shop displays beautiful baked goods on glass trays and old-fashioned lights above. Customers sat under the awning and sipped iced drinks as they talked casually. The large windows let in a ton of natural light, making the cafe feel open and welcoming.
No. 7133 serves Harry’s beans, which are roasted in Cape May. Their house blend, a Guatemala dark roast, tastes full-bodied and rich. It pairs well with the house-made coffee cake, which adds a hint of sweetness to the strong blend.
Colin Murphy, barista and coffee specialist, served up an iced matcha oat milk latte with vanilla syrup. It tastes earthy and is complemented by the vanilla flavor. Matcha is a green tea powder, Murphy explained. He has been serving coffee for 15 years, and he raves about No. 7311.
“We serve local roasts and fresh flavors,” he said. “Our customers love our plant-based alternatives and house-made drinks.”
Ventnor Coffee
Ventnor Coffee, a well-known local spot that specializes in cool, calm, and caffeinated. Laura Pagano, who co-owns the shop with her mom Christine, said that Ventnor Coffee is all about community. “We love our regulars,” she said. “We even taught some of them to use the espresso machine and they come in and make their drinks.”
Their house blend is called the Zombie Cure, which has double the caffeine and a subtle coconut flavor. “We have customers who loved the blend so much, they bought a flag, and convinced us to raise and lower it depending on whether we have run out of beans or not,” Pagano said.
And the blend is worth it. The flavor is strong and sweet, with hints of nutty coconut. It’s perfect as is – no need for cream or sugar. Sip slowly and enjoy the warm goodness of Zombie Cure, a blend so good that it can bring the dead back to life.
As for their signature drink, Pagano handed us an iced banana bread latte. And it sure does taste like the pastry. It’s fruity and spicy and sweet, perfect for a beach day or just chilling on the couch. I drank every last sip.
Enlightened Cafe
Located in Ventnor, Enlightened Cafe offers wholesome treats for the community, in support of those who may need financial assistance for substance abuse recovery. One hundred percent of their profits support this mission. “The Cafe nourishes both body and mind,” according to their website. Their food and drinks are all organic, free from unnatural chemicals, and rich in “sustainable sustenance.” The cafe also hosts a variety of events, including yoga, recovery meetings, and open mic nights.
Their pour-over house blend is rich and hearty, full of earthy and full-palleted flavors. It’s coffee that tastes like coffee grown on a mountain in full sun. It tastes great black, but with a touch of oat milk, the flavor becomes sweeter and creamier, making for the perfect start to your morning or perk-up for your afternoon.
As for their signature drink, I was served a superfood turmeric latte, a drink bold in color and flavor. I felt nervous sipping the yellow-orange frothy beverage but was immediately satisfied by the bitter-spicy flavor and strong aftertaste. The foamy oat milk on top added luxury and soft sweetness to the drink.
When you visit Enlightened Cafe, make sure to come hungry, because they have a full food menu available. From acai bowls to tacos to beet cupcakes, there’s so much variety to choose from. I recommend the avocado toast (it’s delicious).
When you need some pep in your step, be sure to support local businesses. You won’t regret it. From unique flavors to cool atmospheres and worthy causes, supporting your community through coffee is one way you can be proud to call yourself a Shore Local.
