Meandering downtown on a rainy afternoon to find a spot where I could safely drink coffee without listening to chants about bonded carbon molecules - I fear all things scientific - I had no idea that heaven was just a puddle away. Brewed Awakenings provided me with my caffeine fix and also led me toward what some born-again folks refer to as "the light." And the light is beer.
On top of serving the best foamed latte I've had in a while, Brewed Awakenings' menu also features 20 different brews - from Rhode Island favorites to European imports, a great wine selection and a full bar.
The interior is cozy with sections of plush sofas, but the bistro tables and hardwood chairs are arranged spaciously, too - a rarity for most coffee shops. The café is lit for reading and studying, and the oversized leather chairs provide the perfect place for passing out after one too many Irish coffees.
The menu features every type of caffeinated beverage in every possible permutation, including mild, traditional and dark-roasted coffees, espresso, tea and flavored chai. At affordable prices ($2.95 for a small Americano, latte or cappuccino), and terrific tastes (their spiced chai is the perfect combination of spices, tea and milk), Brewed Awakenings is the ticket to caffeinated bliss. Coffee beans by the pound are available, as well as smoothies for those looking for a non-caffeinated option.
Their pastries, breads and desserts are baked fresh daily, and house-made breakfast sandwiches are a popular and tasty choice for early birds.
If all of these things weren't enough of a reason to try this establishment, the house specialty drinks are in a league of their own. From the Nutty Irishman, an amaretto twist on the classic Irish coffee, to the Brewslide, a sinfully delicious combination of Kahlua, coffee, Absolut and Talea Italian ice cream, these drinks add pizzazz to the average cup of joe.
It's a twist on the traditional coffee house, serving up the best of all beverage worlds and helping each customer find the perfect addictive substance to balance out a stressful day. My cup runneth over.
