Tag Archives: coffee shop

Another Stop at the Java Shop

Posted on August 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I treated myself to a late but excellent breakfast at the Java Shop in Herkimer, NY. At least, it was late for me. I had been up since 5:30 (not an unusual time of rising for me), finished my article about the Herkimer Town Board meeting for the Daily Sentinel, and driven out to East Herkimer to take an appropriate picture. This brought me to almost 9 a.m. I decided to treat myself, put a little money into the local economy, and give myself something to blog about later. This is how I multi-task.

I did not take this picture till I left.

I ordered the Drink of the Week, which was Raspberry Cheesecake. I opted to have it as an iced coffee and, alas, forget what the other options were. Fine reporter I am! I had had two cups of regular coffee earlier, as I worked on my article but hoped the ice and extras would fool my stomach into thinking I had not had that much coffee after all. Dylan, the young man getting my drink, opined that you cannot have too much coffee. My brain and my soul agree, my stomach not so much. I also got an Everything Bagel with cream cheese.

As I sat I worked on a letter to a friend, trying to remember if it was The Java Shop or Shoppe. I always set the scene when I write a letter. I checked the sign as I left, also taking the picture, which I have neglected to do the last few times I have been at the Java Shop. My previous picture had some glare on it. I also noticed some outside seating. Nice!

A place to sit another day.

The Java Shop is located at 402 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY. They are open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p. m.

Good Cup of Java

Posted on April 18, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was running down Main Street in Herkimer (or possibly up it; I’m not good with directions) when I saw a sign for The Java Shop by Cucino Berto. Well, I am always on the lookout for a new place to sit, sip, and write. I made up my mind to stop in soon.

I had been to the restaurant Cucino Berto when they were located at the Frankfort Marina. According to their website, after two successful years there, Cucino Berto decided to relocate and rebrand. They now offer Friday dinners at the Herkimer Elks Lodge as well as breakfast and lunch daily at The Java Shop.

The first time I stopped into the Java Shop was a Saturday afternoon, and it seemed to be crowded with people who knew the owner. However, the gentleman behind the counter immediately greeted me and took my order. I enjoy a home town shop supported by family and friends. I hope to become, if not a friend, at least a regular customer.

I later learned that the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer had been there earlier to welcome them to the neighborhood. That explained the balloons I saw hovering by the cash register. I think it’s wonderful to see local businesses supporting each other.

The second time I tried to go to the Shop (the following Monday), it was closed for renovations. The renovation was worth the wait: more seating and a more open feel. I got there just after they opened on a Saturday and had a breakfast sandwich. I chose a roll over a bagel (even though they had Everything Bagels, my favorite!), fried egg (with a broken yolk), ham and provolone. Oh, was that a good sandwich! The ham was sliced thin and the egg was cooked to perfection.

I had regular, fresh brewed coffee on each visit. I tend to be a “regular coffee” kind of person, but they have a variety of coffees available. You can even get a coffee flight and try three different kinds. I’ve had beer flights but never a coffee flight. Perhaps I should expand my horizons.

The Java Shop has a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. I enjoyed to sit by myself and write in my notebook, but I will be happy to bring a friend or two as well. After all, my husband Steven loves his coffee. He shouldn’t always have to brew his own!

The Java Shop is located at 143 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-717-7724. They are open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information you can visit the Cucino Berto website at https://cucinaberto.wordpress.com.

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Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged breakfast sandwich, cafe, coffee, coffee shop, Cucina Berto, Herkimer Elks Lodge, herkimer ny, The Java Shop. Bookmark the permalink.

Mmm… Coffee

Posted on March 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

In lieu of a Mental Meanderings or Middle-aged Musings Monday, I thought I would give a belated shout-out to Utica Roasting Company, where Steven and I enjoyed breakfast during his Fabulous Four Day Birthday Weekend. We had business in New Hartford, NY, and we just don’t like to do these things on an empty stomach. After much debate, I suggested Utica Roasting Company as being right on our way, if we went that way (there are a few ways to get to where we wanted to go).

For the uninitiated, Utica is the city closest to Herkimer, and there are several surrounding communities that all run into each other. I guess you would call it the Greater Utica Area, which I rather like the sound of. I paused just now to Google (an even sillier verb that “blog”) “greater Utica area,” and I only got the magazine of that name, not a listing of the actual communities that comprise said area. But I am no hand at computer searches.

Be that as it may, I drove, being more familiar with the area that Steven. We went straight into Utica on 5S and with a little finagling, got to 92 Genesee St. We easily found a parking space and walked right into the coffee shop. I have been there a few times, and even wrote about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine. I knew Steven would like it, although he may be a little too mellow for a place whose motto is, “Wake the Hell Up!”

We ordered coffee and everything bagels (regular readers may remember that is my favorite), and sat down. There was a tall table I would have liked to sit at, but the stools did not have backs, which Steven really prefers. We sat at a regular table, once again eschewing the comfy-looking couch, as we did at Moose River Coffee in Ilion (perhaps you read my blog post about that fine establishment).

The two coffee places have good coffee, comfy couches, and everything Bagels in common. However, Utica Roasting has a much more urban feel. The walls are unfinished, the tables are metal, and it altogether looks like a hip, happening joint. Oh dear, those are old slang terms. There is some retro decor: an antique scale, an old street map of Utica, so maybe old slang is OK.

We enjoyed our breakfast there, and the coffee did help us wake the hell up. For more information about Utica Coffee Roasting Company, you can visit their website at www.wakethehellup.com. You can also Like them on Facebook.

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Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged coffee, coffee shop, everything bagels, Fabulous Four Day Birthday Weekend, Greater Utica Area, husband Steven, local business, Moose River Coffee Shop, retro decor, urban feel, Utica Coffee Roasting Company, Utica NY, Wake the Hell Up. Bookmark the permalink.

I Could Use a Cup of Coffee Now

Posted on March 8, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been meaning to write blog posts about a couple of places I visited over the weekend (remember, it was Steven’s Fabulous Four Day Birthday Weekend). Instead I have been tired and not writing much at all. However, today I will try to get back on track with a well deserved shout-out to Moose River Coffee in Ilion.

We had originally planned to go to Moose River Coffee Friday morning but ended up hunkered down waiting out the winter storm. I really love that Moose River Coffee, though, so I was happy we went on Saturday. For another reason, I knew they sometimes have bagels and if they don’t, they have sandwiches on Heidelberg Bread. Yum! As it happened, they had Everything Bagels, my favorite! I got mine with cream cheese, while Steven got butter on his.

We found a table to sit down with our coffee and bagels, but we could have lounged on the comfy couch. One table had a “Reserved” sign on it. I watched with interest as a group of young people (at least, they were younger than me; I guess that’s an ever widening range) sat at it and began a game of Jenga. I think it is pretty awesome for a coffee house to promote community like that. Next to the comfy couch is a bookcase with books and a couple other games, so people are apparently always welcome to linger.

In fact, linger is what I like to do at a coffee house. In this case, Steven and I did not, because we had other adventures to pursue. However, I hope to return soon alone with my notebook. I have a lot more writing to do.

Moose River Coffee is located at 70 Otsego St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-895-0490.

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Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged coffee, coffee shop, community, everything bagel, going out to breakfast, Ilion NY, Moose River Coffee Shop. Bookmark the permalink.

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