Sick of Corporate Coffee?

By MARY ANN KAUCHAK

For the News & Messenger

If you are looking for a change from the corporate coffee cafes that dot our shopping venues, then take a short ride into historic Occoquan and cozy up at the Coffee House on the corner of Commerce and
Washington Street. Linda Caldwell has run this delightfully different setting for 13 years.

Born and raised in the Washington area, Caldwell is calm and easy going, displaying none of the frenzy this area is famous for. Her attitude is quite simply to take things as they come and make them
work. “It [the Coffee House] just sort of happened,” she says. “The building was available ... needed a lot of repair, and it seemed like a good idea.” Caldwell’s concept of turning this vintage 1854 property
into a neighborhood venue where locals and tourists gather and enjoy light fare has certainly succeeded.

The Coffee House proudly serves gourmet Green Mountain Coffee from Vermont. It doesn’t matter if you’re taste is for a plain “cup of joe” ($1.50-$2.00) or a “double cappuccino” ($2.50-$3.00), this is the
place to go. I prefer my coffee cold and decaffeinated so I sampled the “mocha frappe” for $3.75. Made with espresso, crushed ice and topped with the most decadent whipped topping ever, this yummy
beverage is addictive.

If a steaming cup of tea suits your taste, there is no shortage of variety here. The Coffee House carries Harney, Wagner, Stash, Republic of Tea, Taylor of Harrogate and many more premium teas. Enjoy
a cup in house or take it home.

Other menu items include lattes ($3-$3.50), chai ($3.50), lemonade, cider, and Italian sodas for $2 made with club soda, flavoring and cream or whipped cream if you prefer. Flavorings for soda and coffee
drinks run the gamut from Caribbean rum, amaretto, peach, banana, mint or cinnamon. For a mere $4 you can dine on quiche, or homemade sandwiches of chicken salad, pork barbeque, or ham and
cheese. The Coffee House offers assorted breakfast items that include egg and sausage biscuits for $3 as well as assorted muffins, croissants, English muffins and bagels.

Events such as birthday parties, etiquette teas for children (call for pricing), book club meetings and adult teas occur regularly at The Coffee House. Live entertainment featuring original works by local
musicians like Ken Smith, Jim Canfield and Ron Medina are sponsored every Friday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (check http://www.historicoccoquan.com for schedule). Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to
whenever, there is an “Open Mic [sic] Night” for songwriters. Caldwell invites you to sit around inside or out (weather permitting), enjoy a “frappe”, a gluten-free muffin or a barbecued pork sandwich and
enjoy the merriment!

Formal teas for $15 per person may be arranged anytime at The Coffee House. The cost includes three tea courses, sandwich or scone and a dessert selection. The modest tearoom will accommodate
approximately 26 guests. “Once they come, they come back and tell their friends, that’s what matters,” Caldwell adds.

Gather up your little shoppers and visit The Coffee House of Occoquan for unique and abundant gift items. As you would expect, Caldwell carries a large assortment of teapots, teacups and coffee mugs.
More unusual gift items include miniature one-of-a-kind clocks; I even spotted a gold-tone Volkswagen timepiece. Wine-stoppers, fashion jewelry, caffeinated “java pops” for 99 cents, feather hat bands for
your cowboy hat, silk flowers, vintage note cards and myriads of collectibles also fill the crowded shelves.

A small rack inside the back door features paperback books by local authors and a few documenting the local history of Lorton and Prince William County.

Reserve The Coffee House for your next book club or other gathering, you’ll appreciate the personal service. Call about catering for your next party. Gift baskets are also available within a limited delivery
area. “We are a family place,” Caldwell says, “friends meet friends here.”

Visit the Coffee House at 202 Commerce St. in Occoquan, or call 703-492-8976.

Mary Ann Kauchak lives in Lake Ridge. Her third cookbook, “SHORTCUTS, TOO” is available at Mom’s Apple Pie in Occoquan. She can be reached at .