Firefly Valley Farms

Firefly Valley Farms stocks what one customer calls the largest in-person selection of Monin syrups they have seen, which is the kind of detail that decides where you stop on the way to the lake. The Camdenton shop sits on Business Route 5, runs an organic-based product mix, and grinds beans on the spot for customers who do not own a grinder. Owners Dax and Stephanie are known for opening up early when travelers need it. A sign in front reads Best Coffee at the Lake, which is the kind of claim a small shop only makes if regulars have given it the cover to do so. On Saturdays a farmers market sets up in the parking lot, which turns the place from a stop into an event. The order list is practical and not fussy. The espresso roast is the base. The Chai Latte holds up. Italian sodas are on hand. Cherry syrup is one of the Monin picks worth trying if you have never built a drink around it. The wide Monin lineup means any hot or iced drink can be put together however the customer wants. The fit is Lake of the Ozarks visitors and locals looking for fresh beans, a hands-on conversation with the owners, or syrups the supermarket does not stock. Seating is not part of the proposition, so do not plan a long sit. Plan the visit around grabbing beans, building a syrup drink to walk out with, and timing it for the Saturday farmers market if you can.