Everyone gets a sweet tooth once in a while, and if you say you don’t, you’re a liar. Whether the craving hits you after you finally finish that paper you’ve been slaving over for days, a late night snack, or any time really, I have the perfect solution—the Coffee & Ice Cream Bar.
This sweet spot is located at 6 E. Gay St., so it’s right in the middle of town and within walking distance from campus. They opened in December of 2015 and, since opening, I have heard nothing but positive reactions.
So obviously one of the main features of the Coffee & Ice Cream Bar is ice cream! They have a wide variety of flavors to choose from, starting with the basics like chocolate and vanilla and ranging to some more unique flavors like mint cookies and cream, caramel stout and carrot cake.
But there’s something else really cool about the ice cream here—it comes from multiple locations in the area. The Coffee & Ice Cream Bar features flavors from Weckerly’s located in North Philly, Scooped located in Chester Springs and Little Baby’s located in Fishtown. In addition to these places, the Coffee & Ice Cream Bar also features ice cream from Graeter’s located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and they are known for making the “creamiest in the country.”
Thanks to an insider hook up, the owner has a delicious ice cream that is carried right here in West Chester— who knew! These four places always provide the ice cream, but the flavors change seasonally. Something else that makes this place a step up from the typical ice cream joint is that all of their ice cream is organic and gluten-free. There are also vegan options, so literally everyone can satisfy their sweet tooth here.
When I visited the Coffee & Ice Cream Bar, I decided to try a mint cookies and cream milkshake—can’t go wrong with that, right? Yes, absolutely right! The milkshake was amazing. It was super creamy and everything one would want in a milkshake. I inhaled it in about five minutes.
In addition to ice cream, the Coffee & Ice Cream Bar has a menu featuring coffee—bet you didn’t see that one coming. They have a traditional house blend and a seasonal blend coffee, as well as decaf, iced coffee, cappuccino, lattes and espresso.
There are also some small snacks and desserts in case that’s more your speed. They have cupcakes, donuts, granola, oatmeal, a variety of chocolate bars and biscotti. All of these food items are regional so they aren’t your typical big brand name products, which makes this place more authentic and gives it a homey feeling.
Now that your mouth is watering after reading about ice cream and coffee, go check it out for yourself and feel free to check out their Instagram page: @thewestchesterbar.
Melissa Storey is a fourth-year student majoring in communication studies with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at MS803010@wcupa.edu.