James "the Professor" H.'s Profile

Friendly and helpful staff, though management could stand to add a person or two for the busy closing time on a nice summer day.

My list is usually restricted to places that focus on coffee, so this was a bit different, because my family came here for a light dinner. (Which was delicious, inexpensive, and served promptly.)

I did have a black, iced coffee. It could have been brewed slightly stronger to compensate for the melting ice, but it was quite tasty. And after dinner I had a frozen cappuccino in the ice cream/market section of the shop.

If you are on the Mass Turnpike, this is a great alternative to the nearby Stockbridge rest area -- the first as you come in from New York.

When you are there, ask the staff about the coffee -- they serve only Dean's Beans! It is roasted in Orange (fairly close by) and is fairly traded and organic! Please read my web site to learn why this matters.

This place is terrific -- spacious and cozy at the same time, with free wifi (I'm using it now). It is in a vibrant, walkable downtown area with a lot of other attractions nearby. I walked here easily from the DoubleTree hotel.

Service is very friendly, and local folks young and old really seem to enjoy the place.

Fair trade and organic coffee is on offer, though it is only a few of the dozen or more varieties, and it might be a special order.

If you are in downtown Lowell, this is a great place to try.

So, it looks like 2007 was not the year for Bruegger's on School Street.

I have never been to any Bruegger's before, and I did not read the reviews from last year before I came to this one. I think that management got the message from last year's postings on Yelp. So, you folks who came here in 2007 did a good job!

The walls are freshly painted, the clientele are well dressed -- two pin-stripe suits in here -- and a guy is sweeping what looks like a new floor right now. I was not in the mood to eat, so I cannot comment on the food, but the place has plenty of staff, and they are nice enough.

This close to the center of Boston (a block from Boston Common), this is a place with FREE wi-fi, plenty of seating, and fair-trade coffee. The vast windows provide a glimpse on a little pocket park and the to-ing and fro-ing of people betweeen the financial district and the Common.

All of the coffee is fair-trade, and they have educational materials about why this matters.

I can see that this would not be a great place for a date or a fancy meal, but if you are looking for a clean, comfortable place to get some work done and have some good coffee, give it a try!

This is a very charming cafe in Padanaram Village, a few steps from the harbor. I can only attest to the well-brewed, quality coffee and the baked goods -- fresh and delicious.

I usually list only places that have good service and atmosphere AND serve fair-trade coffee. I make an exception for Cicely's, because fair-trade is available in the small grocery section. Maybe we Yelpers can encourage them to switch the house blend to a fair-trade variety! All the coffee here comes from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, so it is all delicious.

How good can it get? This is a comfortable place near the beach, with cozy indoor seating and outdoor seating that overlooks a coastal nature preserve. It is the first Massachusetts "green" restaurant, whose owners work hard to provide the healthiest food, obtained from the most sustainable practices.

The beverages are quite good -- the beer and wine are produced just a couple miles away, and the coffee is fair-trade and organic.

All of the coffee on offer in this charming store is from Dean's Beans. It is certified organic and fair-trade. When the land and the farmers are respected, the coffee is the best. Buy beans by the pound or enjoy a cup with the fresh baked goods in a very charming dining room. We had delicious sandwiches during our visit.

After a lunch or snack, you can browse the eclectic offerings of wine, beer, gifts, and clothes. The store is in an historic building, and the aim of the store is to support the mission and projects of the Polus Center, a global leader in advocating for persons with disabilities.

Mirasol's has it all -- organic coffee from Jim's, brewed to perfection. Excellent food. Delightful staff. Nice decor. Strong social and environmental ethics. Wi-fi. A sense of humor. An eclectic clientel. If it were closer to my house, I would be there every day. I rarely go to Dartmouth without stopping by.

In the charming town of Gorham, we found this delightful breakfast place with fair-trade coffee from Kaffe Magnum Opus and friendly staff. If tables are full (and they probably are on a weekend), put your name in, and go across the street to the great little independent book shop.

Quotes is great -- right in a busy part of Boston, an inexpensive, quiet retreat with good food, good service, and good thoughts streaming on the walls.

The coffee is fair-trade organic from Equal Exchange. Yum.

For this geographer and his librarian wife, the combination library, Mapparium, and cafe is the perfect date. We went into Boston yesterday for this sole purpose!

If you like Quotes, talk to Gene (at the register) about catering your event!

Annie's is a great shop with plenty of seating, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and great atmosphere. As I recall, it does not serve wine, but it sells bottled wine. The baked goods were yummy, and a nice variety of fair-trade and organic coffee is available. It seems to be a favorite of both locals and tourists.

IMPORTANT: As with many cafes in Western North Carolina, this is closed Sunday and Monday.

Main Street in Sylva, by the way, is one of the best main street walking districts I've seen. The independent music shop down the street has everything from local to global, and smart young people who know the music! After a snack at Annies, walk to the end of the street to climb the courthouse steps -- great view and a little workout!