With several new coffee shops open in the Blackstone Valley, there are plenty of options to get caffeinated.  However, we chose to visit two long-standing local coffee shops  — Red, White & Brew and Coffee & Cream. Both are in North Smithfield  and are family run businesses with interesting stories

First, Red White & Brew featuring a mom and son team. If you want to know all there is about coffee, this is the coffee shop to visit. The counter where you order your coffee features artwork on the glass with images of coffee cups and descriptions of various types of coffee. For example (use the photo with the descriptions) Latte is milk (on top) Espresso (on bottom) whereas Macchiato is the opposite Espresso (on top) and milk (on bottom). If confused, just ask Michael. He is quite passionate about the coffee they serve. Their specialty is the Frozen Hot Chocolate, but we decided to try the nitro brew with a bagel. Nitro brew is frothy at the top, creamy without the cream.

They have a delightful set up of tables in their adjoining gift shop, The Budding Violet, which features items by local artists with disabilities. While we sipped our nitro and ate our bagel, we browsed with our eyes. When we finished we picked up a few birthday gifts that day.

Next up, Coffee & Cream. This is another family-run coffee shop that had just reopened in their current location at Slatersville Plaza on Victory Highway. Normand Branchaud, family patriarch, opened the original shop in 1990 that was located on route 146 North for 18 years. Then in 2017, the town’s beloved restaurant suffered a major loss in a devastating fire and had to close its doors. Son Jon and his wife Heather started another chapter for the coffee shop and founded the new home.

We stopped by on a beautiful early  morning and had a cup of local brew from Richard Allen coffee roasters out of Johnston, RI, and a hearty breakfast with The Fiesta, featuring two scrambled eggs, salsa, toast and homefries. We also bought one of their favorites for the road the PBJ muffins loaded with peanut butter and raspberry filling. We also had a lovely chat with Heather who told me that they also serve “beans-to-table” in which they grind Arabaica Beans and brew it right into your cup. They use a lot of family recipes, they whip their own pancakes from scratch and Jon likes to experiment in the kitchen as well.

This is a perfect time to get out and explore your local coffee shops.  Though social gatherings are not the same, you can still enjoy a good cup of local brew and meet a friend or two. how does the song go “I’ll be there for you…

There are many more shops to check out throughout the valley.  If you like, start your own Caffeine Crawl by visiting our website for a list of cafes & bakeries.

Written by: Patti McAlpine;
Photo taken at Red, White & Brew by: Patti McAlpine