Barista Battle: Eastern Market

Coffee keeps me alive. My first cup is usually right around 9:30a.m. with my second cup following close behind. I like it hot...super hot...with a nice big dollop of milk and a bit of sugar. Sounds simple, right? Almost. The challenge: too many options. I live in Eastern Market, and within a half mile I have four viable choices for good-to-great coffee but the only time I can get coffee near home is on Saturday and Sunday. It's exhausting trying to play fair, and for a while I truly attempted to give each of these little shops an equal portion of my hard earned dollars in exchange for a cup of their most powerful Jo....but not anymore....

Pound The Hill is west of 7th street on the south side of Pennsylvania. This place has officially earned its spot as a champion in the Eastern Market Barista Battle. The back patio is like a secret garden, but I must warn you that the mosquitoes have already staked a claim to the property and they fight like hell to keep you away (I have the bites on my arms and legs to prove it!)

Pound is separated into several different spaces. As you walk in, you immediately feel like you are in a bonafide cafe (red walls, the sound of espresso machines, baristas with body art, etc.). The front area is usually a bit crowded but great for socializing. The hallway toward the back is lined with small tables - perfect for more private conversations but also very close to the restrooms (probably not a great spot to study). At the very end of the cafe is a fairly large quiet room with two comfy chairs and several small tables. Seriously adorable.

The truth is I have always known what I want in a cafe - something that resembles the small cafe in my college town (Manhattan, Kansas). Dim lights, strong coffee, and great pastries. Pound The Hill is the closest thing I have found to my college town study spot. That's worth a lot when you live far from home.