Cafe Review - Zummo's

Located in what was once a neighborhood store and shoe repair shop, Zummo's Cafe is now buzzing with an excellent assortment of Electric City Roasting Company's coffee and the aficionados that it attracts. The cafe, which can be quite busy at times is a welcome alternative to the mediocrity of the “Starbucks experience”.

Other than the high quality coffees, what sets Zummo's apart is the food. The talented kitchen staff turns out regular menu items like the egg and sausage biscuit sandwich, a fantastic chicken salad pita, and a variety of sweet baked goods. The rest of the menu can be best described as an ever-changing variation on consistent themes. There is always a quiche of some kind, an interesting assortment of salads, and frequently very creatively composed panini sandwiches. The candy-counter feel of the cash register area is a big hit with kids who can often be seen successfully convincing their parents of their need for that cookie, or bag of “penny candy”.

Once you have your cup of joe in hand, you can find a comfortable spot in the newly expanded seating area. By building a connection to the adjacent building, the owner, Mary Tellie has created a welcoming space to enjoy your coffee, engage in conversation, get a little work done by utilizing their free WiFi access, or sit on the front porch and bask in the glory of a Green Ridge morning. The seating area features some very comfortable antique upholstered pieces and a number of tables. The chairs, wickery types, unfortunately seem to have been chosen exclusively for looks without regard for comfort or durability. A very nice feature of the dining area is the cupping bar, where on Saturday mornings at 10:30am as well as other scheduled times Ms. Tellie shares her considerable knowledge of the venerable bean by hosting free side by side tastings, or cuppings as they are known in the industry, to help nurture the budding discernment of the more dedicated devotees.

While the unadulterated espresso, the world-class coffee produced by the Clover machine, and even the drip house blends are excellent, I would be remiss not to address an issue regarding other coffee concoctions. The key to blended coffee beverages at a great cafe is consistency. Today's double shot latte should taste just like yesterday's, which should have tasted just like the one you enjoyed last week. It is in this area that Zummo's hasn't quite found its legs. Though the majority of the baristas are well-trained and superb java jockeys, there are a few from whom I will never attempt ordering a latte again. If however you are fortunate enough to be served by Rachel, Lisa, Maggie, Tracy Ann or Mary herself, you will be rewarded with a fantastic drink that will make you forget any other cafe around.

So the next time you are craving caffeine and are tempted to hit the Starbucks drive-thru, don't give in to the marketing hype. Go straight to Zummo's for a refreshing and delicious diversion from the usual grind.

Zummo's Cafe
918 Marion St
Scranton, PA 18509-2314
(570) 344-2715