When I love something, I want to share it with others. That’s one reason that I started this blog: to share recipes and other things that I love with others. Today, I’m sharing a place that I’ve grown to love in the past year or so. Just Love Coffee Cafe has been open for a few years in Berea, but I made my first visit last summer. Since then, I’ve returned several times both with friends and on my own. It’s become one of my happy places.
First, there’s a warm and welcoming vibe to the place. The staff greets you as soon as you walk in. The service has always been friendly and professional. Berea is a naturally friendly town, and it’s not unusual at all for a stranger to chat with you. I think every time I’ve been in Just Love, I’ve had a pleasant interaction with another customer. It reminds me a lot of Luke’s Diner in Gilmore Girls. I guess I’m not the only one who feels that way since I noticed these mugs on the merchandise shelf today.
Luke’s coffee was the best in Stars Hollow (at least according to Lorelei) and in my opinion, Just Love has the BEST coffee in Berea. I don’t drink a lot of mixed coffee drinks, so I always get a cup of the house drip. And it’s soooo good. It always tastes fresh, and it’s always hot without tasting like it’s been sitting on the burner too long. If you’re dining in, coffee is served in a real mug pulled from a rack of random cups. I hate drinking from a paper cup, so I like that little touch. While I might be a boring coffee drinker, my friends who have dined with me have complimented the mixed drinks.
Just Love has a pretty broad menu of breakfast and lunch items. There’s always a wonderful smell of waffles in the air. I tend to always get avocado toast (hold the cukes, please), but I’ve also enjoyed the Spinach Feta Womelette-an omelet prepared on a waffle iron. I’m planning to stop by to try lunch one day.
The cafe has free wifi, and I’ve taken my laptop there and worked while killing time before an appointment. The tables have little vases of fresh flowers from a local florist, which is a nice touch. The servers bring your food to you, but you deposit your dirty dishes and trash at a station once you’re finished. Salt, pepper, hot sauce, napkins, and silverware are all self-serve. There’s also ice water and glasses available for you. Outside, you’ll find a few tables with umbrellas. The tables are basically in the parking lot, but they have some fake grass under them so it feels more outdoorsy than it is. You also have a great view of the Berea water tower!
There’s plenty of parking, and the bathrooms are quite large and very clean. On Saturdays, the Berea Farmers Market is directly across the street. Breakfast or coffee, then farmers market sounds like a perfect morning to me!
If you haven’t tried Just Love, I highly recommend it. And if you see me at my favorite table, say hello!
From the heart and from the holler,
Minda
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