If you know me, there's a good chance we've met over coffee. Every Saturday and Sunday usually starts the same way: an iced vanilla latte. Sometimes I'm editing photos. Sometimes I'm writing one of these blogs. But I am always looking for an excuse to start my day at a familiar or new café.
Over the past few years, I've worked my way through well over twenty coffee shops across NEPA. Some I've visited once, others have become part of my weekly routine. To keep this review as fair as possible, there was one constant almost everywhere I went: an iced vanilla latte. If I can't trust a café with my regular order, chances are I'm probably not coming back.
Disclaimer: This isn't an official ranking of every coffee shop in NEPA. It's simply the places I find myself recommending over and over again.
Downtown Scranton
Since most of my photography work is centered around Scranton, it makes sense to start here. Whether I'm editing a gallery, meeting someone for coffee, or trying to escape the house for a bit these are the places I find myself rotating between most often.
Northern Light Espresso Bar
536 Spruce St., Scranton, PA (Downtown Scranton)
Northern Lights has probably seen me through more deadlines than any other café on this list.
If you went to school anywhere nearby, you've probably ended up upstairs at least once pretending to study while people-watching instead.
The coffee is consistently good, but the upstairs is really what makes this place for me. It feels separated enough from the rush downstairs that you can actually settle in for a while. During college, this was one of my go-to spots whenever I had a paper to write or cram for an exam.
Downtown Deli
300 Biden St., Scranton, PA (Downtown Scranton)
Most people know it for brunch, but if I'm meeting someone to catch up, there's a very good chance we're ending up here.
Their coffee menu is bigger than people expect and the food is consistently good It's just an easy place to recommend because there's usually something everyone wants. You can enjoy the coffee with your meal or they have a separate coffee area for take aways .
Around Scranton
Once you get a little outside of downtown, these are the places I find myself stopping at most often.
Henry's on Clay
545 Clay Ave., Scranton, PA (about 5 minutes from Downtown Scranton)
This is probably my hottest take on the list.
Henry's is traditionally frequented as a spot to sit down for brunch. Me? I usually call ahead, grab an iced vanilla latte, and head out.
Henry's uses La Colombe, which automatically earns some points from me. As a brunch spot, Henry's is great. But I honestly think their coffee is a little overlooked because so many people associate it with a sit down breakfast instead of just grabbing it to go.
Blackwatch Café
1 Nay Aug Ave., Scranton, PA (about 5 minutes from Downtown Scranton)
Blackwatch is one of those places that's just fun.
The coffee is good, but the theme is what keeps me coming back and sending friends to visit. Movie memorabilia, pop culture references, and little pieces of Scranton history are everywhere. It feels like every time I go, I notice something I missed before.
If someone is visiting Scranton and wants coffee without having to navigate downtown, this is usually where I send them.
Zummo's Café
916 Marion St., Scranton, PA (about 5 minutes from Downtown Scranton)
Zummo's has become one of my regular spots.
They're always coming up with fun seasonal drinks without making the menu feel overwhelming. And whoever has control of the music deserves some recognition. Every time I'm there it's Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, or something along those lines, so we're already off to a good start.
The dining room can get a little cramped during busier hours. This is a popular spot to catch up with friends, so it can get noisy too. Call me crazy but I like it as a form as white noise. I'm not the type to throw on noise cancelling headphones and work. I like the atmosphere overall. Between the indoor seating and the patio outside, it feels tucked away from everything else.
PS. I love their garden breakfast sandwich from the case. Everything bagel, egg, cheese, spinach and red pepper. Trust.
Wired & Inspired
1400 Electric St, Dunmore, PA 18509 (about 5 minutes from Downtown Scranton)
I appreciate Wired & Inspired for more than just the coffee.
They've done a really nice job building events around the café. Between poetry nights, community gatherings, and even collaborations like multi-course dinners and beer pairings with Groove Brewing, it feels like they're trying to create a creative space instead of simply serving drinks.
I always like seeing local businesses invest in things that bring people together, and they're doing a great job of that. The latte is good too, of course.
Worth the Drive
Not every coffee shop has to be five minutes from home.
Sometimes the drive is part of the experience, and there are two places that immediately come to mind when I'm having a slow morning.
No. 27 Cafe
100 S. Abington Road, Clarks Green, PA (about 15 minutes from Downtown Scranton)
Surprise, No. 27 is my favorite. I've been here consistently throughout 2026, and yeah usually for a cute instagram story. Busted.
The biggest reason I am always here, is the consistency. Every single latte tastes the way I expect it to. It sounds simple, but after trying as many cafés as I have, consistency is surprisingly hard to come by. The wait can definitely test your patience on a Saturday morning, but I've never thought it wasn't worth it.
The space is another reason I keep coming back. Fresh flowers, fairy lights, plenty of seating, and enough room that you never feel like you're being rushed out the door. I love working from coffee shops, and this is one of the few where I don't feel guilty opening my laptop for a while.
Their food menu deserves some credit too. Whether you're looking for something sweet or something more substantial, there's enough variety that I never leave disappointed. I recommend the lemon pound cake, chocolate chip cookies, and banana bread from their bakery offerings.
It's not the most convenient stop since a lot of my work happens in Scranton, but honestly, I don't mind the extra drive. No. 27 is one of those places where I actually feel like I can breathe for a bit before the weekend starts.
It isn't the closest café. It just happens to be the one I consistently look forward to visiting. And thank you for always ensuring the vanilla syrup is mixed in the latte.
Kay's Daily Grind
1154 PA-307, Covington Township, PA (about 20 minutes from Downtown Scranton)
Kay's is the only place on this list where the drive is part of the experience, especially in the fall.
Pricing is probably the best of any café here, service is quick, and the drive-thru makes it an easy stop when you're short on time. Their bakery case somehow convinces me to leave with more than just coffee every single time, and I have never had something from here that disappointed me.
If you're planning on eating, I always gravitate toward the mac and cheese or the chicken noodle soup. They're both comfort food in the best way possible and exactly what I'm looking for on a cold day.
I've always said Kay's is the destination, not part of the journey. I'm never driving past and deciding to stop. I'm deciding I'm going to Kay's, and everything else comes second.
Overall
One thing I've realized after writing this is that I apparently spend a lot more time in coffee shops than I thought. Hopefully this gives you a few new places to try the next time you're looking for somewhere to work, catch up with a friend, or just grab a really good coffee. And if you have a recommendation, send it my way. I'm always looking for my next Saturday morning spot.