Somewhere Else

Hands down the best 3rd place in Erie. The owner is wonderful, she makes the bread herself in-store, and she even teaches classes. The rest of the staff are also friendly. But what really sets this place apart is the environment the owner has created. On a given day, you're likely to see customers working remotely, playing cards, chatting over coffee, crocheting, or starting side projects. People will leave you alone if that's what you want, but everyone here is receptive to making new connections. One time I saw a regular exchanging contact information on whatever scraps of paper she could find. But it's not distracting. Somehow, this manages to be a place where deep focus and socialization go side-by-side. And just to praise the owner one more time, she makes everyone feel welcome. I'm comfortable here, and I feel out of place in my own apartment.

A better place for chatting over a coffee than for getting work done, Ember+Forge is the coffee shop where I would be the second most comfortable talking to a stranger (after The Park, of course). Unfortunately, the hours/seating/Wi-Fi limit productivity.

Brew Ha Ha is one of only two coffee shops in Erie that roasts the beans in-house, and it shows. I would say they have the best coffee in town. Add in the excellent Wi-Fi and the kitchen serving breakfast and lunch, and it's easily one of the best places in Erie for remote work. It's also a pretty good place to hang out, although it can get a little loud when it's busy.

The cats are the main draw here, and it's worth a trip just to see them. Other than that, it's a pretty typical coffee shop. Friendly staff, good drinks and pastries, and a generally quiet atmosphere make it a nice place to sit and hang out for a while. Unfortunately, the space is a little cramped, and the layout makes entering customers somewhat intrusive. Go to pet the cats and chat with a friend, but don't expect to stay to long.

Werner Books is a great place. The fast Wi-Fi, plentiful outlets, ample seating, and long hours make it the perfect place to sit and work for a while. But it has more of a bookstore vibe than a cafe vibe, and, in spite of the large floor space, there's always a feeling that someone is hovering around. It's somewhere I would feel a lot less comfortable socializing than working.

Lucky Bean has some of the better coffee in Erie. That, plus the solid Wi-Fi and seating availability make it a good place to get some work done. But the vibe here is almost Starbucks-esque. There's something sort of cold in the ambience; the baristas are very friendly, but seem to exist in their own world; and the music and goings on behind the counter can be distracting at times. I like going here by myself to get some work done, but it's not as inviting as it could be. I wouldn't hang out with friends here.

Pressed is a coffee shop/bookstore combo. It's cute. They absolutely nailed the aesthetics here. Unfortunately, it tends to fill up during the day, and it can get pretty loud. It seems like every time I make plans to meet someone here, we can't get a seat. However, the crowd usually starts to thin out around 3 or 4, and when it quiets down, it's really cozy. I like to go later in the day, get a drink, settle into one of the chairs in the corner, and read for an hour or two.

I'm treating Starbucks as my baseline 3rd place, and for the purposes of this ranking, lumping them all together. You're probably familiar, so I won't get into the details here. I'll just say that it'll do in a pinch, but it's never my first choice.

I really wanted to like this place. The coffee shop record store is an cool concept. And the staff are really nice. But they're totally clueless about coffee in general and about their own menu. Don't order a decaf americano. If you order something they know how to make, it'll be decent, but it'll cost about 30% more than an equivalent drink at any other local cafe. The Wi-Fi is fine, and it's easy to get a seat, but there's always so much buzz in the air it's hard to focus. They're open til 8 (!) Monday-Saturday, which would be a saving grace if I could find a reason to spend time here.