Blue Harbor Coffee Co. Roastery & Cafe

Josh and Stephanie run Blue Harbor Coffee Co. Roastery & Cafe in Hampton, recently past their six-year anniversary, and the freshly roasted local beans have been called the best locally roasted coffee in New England by people who do not toss that phrase around lightly. The room has unique cozy vibe with a super welcoming feel, big windows looking onto the street, and what one customer described as positive shabby charm. The frequent flyer coffee card gives you a free coffee after ten visits, which is the kind of small loyalty program that works.

Order the sugar shack latte for the New England maple angle, or the blueberry pie latte if you want the seasonal move that defines the program. The oat latte is the reliable everyday pour. For pastry, the cinnamon bun is the move, and the everything bagel with cream cheese covers the bagel side. For taking the coffee home, the Mocha Peaberry whole-bean bag is what to ask for, designed to run well in a French press. If you have your dog with you, ask for a pup cup with whipped cream.

Hampton locals form the daily base. Boston commuters stop in to grab bags on weekends. Dog owners come for the pup cups. Van-life travelers driving the New England coast pull off Route 1. Vegan customers have options. The cafe operates as both a roastery and a sit-down spot, and the big windows make it a pleasant place to spend a slow morning watching the street.

Two small caveats. The thermos coffee has been called slow to change out, so if you're getting drip coffee mid-morning it might not be at its freshest. And only dark roast is available at times, which is worth knowing if you're a light-roast customer hoping to find a single-origin pour. Ask before you commit.

Six years in, Josh and Stephanie have built a small operation that knows its regulars and treats them like family. The Mocha Peaberry bag, the blueberry pie latte, the pup cup, the punch card. Hampton has its cafe.