Second State Coffee

What used to be known as Black Tap Coffee is now named Second State to indicate that it is a new iteration of the original coffee house that Ross Jett and Jayme Scott opened at this address in 2012. Not a whole lot has changed; and exactly what will make version 2.0 significantly different remains obscure; but I’ll bet money it will be a good thing.

The success of the original enterprise was, of course, primarily due to to good beans and their proper treatment, and one assumes that will continue. Pourover coffee is available made from various different beans, so whatever your taste is, you can request it. Batch brew coffee is easy to drink, cup after cup. Espresso is surprisingly gentle, a reassuring cup that is not the least bit bitter or overwhelming. It, too, calls for seconds and even thirds.

There is more to the appeal of Second State than the drinks it serves. The place itself has a winning personality. While it can get crowded and chatty at the height of morning coffee hour (an occupational hazard), serenity reigns. That’s due to quiet background music, to mellow baristas, and to subdued, tasteful decor that includes tables made from recycled vintage heart pine wood. At off hours — first thing in the morning or after the pre-work caffeination rush — this is a fine place to have a quiet conversation, to read a book or browse the internet, or to zone out and savor a zen moment to the tune of first-rate coffee.