7 Best Coffee Shops in Lakewood

“Pulled into Milk Crate Coffee off Route 70 in Lakewood the other morning to knock out some work and grab a quick fix. From the outside, the building has a funny setup that looks like an old hotel converted into a business park, with the shop taking over what probably used to be the main lobby and dining hall.

Inside, though, the vibe is totally unique. They have retro light fixture setups, art on the walls, and cushioned curved benches near the front. They even have lightbulbs on the ceiling that spell out the word coffee in massive six foot letters over the main room, which I did not even spot until I looked up directly at the lights. Even the bathroom has a bright pink neon sign on the wall, so they definitely leaned into the quirky decor.

When it comes to the actual coffee, these guys know what they are doing. I love that you can pick your own single origin beans and have them make a custom pour over right then and there. I went with a Honduran light roast, and it hit the spot while I sat at a table with my laptop. The staff was knowledgeable, and happy to chat about the coffee options, if you find one of the employees that knows coffee very well.

To go with the brew, I grabbed a chocolate chip scone. Now, the coffee was pretty solid, but the scone was average at best. It had that boxed, reheated feel to it rather than fresh baked from scratch. That said, plenty of people around me were ordering hot meals that looked really good, so it seems like a popular local hangout for a full breakfast.

All in all, Milk Crate Coffee is a cool, comfortable spot to set up camp for an hour, enjoy a well made pour over, and take in the eccentric surroundings. I would definitely swing back by for the coffee alone.“

“First time trying this place today, love it! Will be back often!“

“The food was very good and service always excellent.

I have come here, many times and have never been disappointed. It's probably the best place to get donuts in the area, and the bagels are much better then I am used to.“

“Fast friendly service. However, I'm really disappointed by the new coffee machines starbucks started using about a year ago, the single cup machines make horrible coffee. These machines that make individual drinks and create a lot of sediment in the cup.“

“First time trying this place today, love it! Will be back often!“

“For my Birthday a Free Large Coffee because I have a Duncan Donuts Perks Card..Got a Large Frozen Caramel Late worth $4.99...Was delicious..Thank You DD...“

“Very convenient walk from work and usually very nice employees. However, as of recent, the mother of a closing employee has been heckling customers and she has been heard telling her son to close the doors 10-20 minutes early. I can't say anything as to the professionalism of the boy but his mother isn't on the payroll, nor is she affiliated with Dunkin. Having her and his family parked out in the parking lot harassing people and dictating closing hours is just not the best look and should be addressed. The business lost from the early close may be minimal but that should be dictated by the store owner/manager.“