If you should want a quick bite to eat or a bracing cup of joe, either before or after your visit to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, I can recommend only one café just down the street and around the corner from the museum.
Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe is a casual and cozy hangout on North East Street in Frederick Maryland. Established in 1991, this chic café has offered up coffee to the local community for thirty years. Before then, the building took turns serving as a Sinclair Gas Station, Frederick’s first video rental store, and even a southwestern furniture retailer, hence the terra cotta tiling awning that guests still see today. Inside, tables and chairs offer comfortable places to drink coffee, grab a light snack, have a luncheon meeting, or work on personal computers. The corner coffee shop can have a tendency to be crowded, but the quaintness lends to the charm of a hometown java joint. And if the inside is a little too crowded for you, they have abundant outdoor patio seating available when weather allows. And once you’re done, take a stroll down the historic downtown area.
The menu is as eclectic as it is impressive. Breakfast foods are served any time and include a variety of bagels and breakfast sandwiches or wraps like the Oinkin’ Rooster Bagel (scrambled egg, sausage, cheese, and honey mustard) and the Sunrise at the Sinclair (egg patty, Canadian bacon, and cheese on an English muffin). Dishes like the Shab Row Breakfast Sammie offer a little of everything, and internationally inspired items like the Irish Oatmeal and Nova Lox (smoked salmon, onion, tomato, capers, and cream cheese on a Russian bagel) are all worth a try. For those who want something a little heavier for lunch, a laundry-list of deli sandwiches, paninis, wraps, soups, and salads are available. Reubens, burgers, tuna salad, and chicken salad are just a few examples.
Their coffee menus are just as long – if not longer – than their food menu and includes all the coffee connoisseur favorites like espresso, americano, chai tea latte, cold brews, and even smoothies that are available in season. They also offer house special lattes like the Big Sky Mocha (chocolate and caramel) and the Ninja Turtle (hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate). The Dirty Hippie (vanilla chai, cinnamon and espresso) or the Drunk Monkey (amaretto, chocolate, and banana) are sure to intrigue those looking for something a little different from their usual brew.
When we visited just prior to our tour through the museum, I ordered the Big Sky Mocha and was pleasantly surprised – seeing as I’m not a fan of caramel. The flavor was there, but not overpowering and very easy to drink. Some mochas are brewed a little strong and turn my stomach, but this drink was perfect. I had a sip of my husband’s house blend order and it, too, was easy to drink. I had their Turkey Club Panini for breakfast (sacrilege, I know) and it really hit the spot. The only thing I hadn’t expected was the punch that the siracha mayo gave me with each bite, but it was tolerable.
If you want to take a piece of Frederick Coffee Co & Café home with you, the cafe offers an array of options in the way of ground or whole bean bags of coffee. They also have online ordering options through their website and can cater to your next event! I highly recommend this lovely little coffee joint if you plan to visit Frederick Maryland.
Parking is limited, so if you plan to visit the museum or Wag’s Restaurant, the Carroll Creek Parking Garage stands as my best parking suggestion. It just doesn’t make sense to drive to all three of these locations and hazard not finding a good spot when you can pay for a few hours and simply walk to the locations. If you do want to park closer, there may be spots available behind the Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream shop – coincidentally owned by the same people as Frederick Coffee Co & Café – or a few spots directly in front of the café.
Address: 100 North East Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: 301-698-0039
Website: http://fredcoffeeco.com
Hours: Sunday – Saturday, 6am – 6pm
Belle on the Battlefield 
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