Uptown Espresso Bar

Cyclist and associated cleats friendly, this not-​near-​as-​small-​as-​it-​looks university town coffee bar is a favorite stopover mid-​ride. Reasonable selection of coffee, great selection of baked goods (all are fresh), decent menu of sandwiches and unusual stuff (they’re willing to make most anything are only detracted by the occasional ‘uptown attitude’ of the stray barrista. Outdoor table service is a big plus when you’re in cleats, and if you’re lucky, Bear — a huge hairy white mob of friendliness — will be hanging around outside while you soak up the college atmosphere.

My first review, it had to be a coffee shop. My reviews of eating establishments are prioritized this way 1. The food– taste, presentation, and freshnessness. 2. The people: I am your customer, right? So pleasing me is your most important job, right? Do these folks like what they are doing? 3. The place: comfort, décor, and cleanliness 4. Other: Who knows what.
Ok, here goes:
1. The coffee– Uptown brews one of the the best cups of coffee in the county. Italian roasted beans and barristas that knew their way around steamed milk make a HOT, smooth latte and don’t fill the cup with tons-​o-​foam, when asked. Americanos are hot and easy to nurse through the sports page.
2.The Food– The soups rule. Richard «Tweet» Angstadt creates soups that are beyond compare. Although he doesn’t hit a homerun with every recipe, he remains «king of soup.» Tweet combines fresh, often locally grown produce with tantalizing spices to create soups that range from hearty blackbean to delicate miso. Served with a toasted half bagel, this can be a very satisfying lunch. If you need to add a few calories, try the tuna and other fresh, homemade salads. Check out the free-​range, locally raised eggs in various pastel colors sitting in the refrigerated display case. Yum! Other menu favorites include various flavored cream cheeses, fresh baked oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies and biscotti, plus fresh squeezed OJ and lemonade. I’ve eaten the perfect lunch here more than once.
3. The people. Kutztown is a college town. The employees are a mix of locals and college imports. Peter Johnson owns the place and is the lovable first cousin of the soup nazi– get your coffee and abuse by the cupful. Peter defiantly resists serving low fat cream cheese to fitness conscious diners. ‘Low fat means less,” Peter declares. The crew is eclectic and sometimes they even write down your order. If they are super busy, you may want to bring a book. Customers are a mix of professionals from the college, students, and local yokels like me. Note: I wasn’t born here so I can’t legally claim that tag.
4. The place. A typical college town coffee shop. Rustic but comfortable Charlie Rose style tables and chairs are cozy and Sirius radio, when well tuned, makes for good listening. Art is shown and sold on a regular basis. Smoking is not permitted — amen! Too bad this place didn’t exist in the seventies. There are a few, not quite level but quaint sidewalk tables and this is a favorite haunt of road and Mt Bikers. They make it a routine stop after finishing training rides or touring the amazing roads of Berks County. Leave that gas guzzler at home because street parking is limited and THIS TOWN TICKETS. If you’ve got a bike, bring it; there’s lots of lycra here, or walk on over and get fit.
Mike’s likes:
— Beautiful people.
–Great soups.
— Bike friendly.
— Crafted coffee and fresh food.
— Music and art.
— Excellent views on nice days. «Hey Tweet, it’s a beautiful day.»
–Close to home.
— WIFI
–Progressive politics
Mikes dislikes:
–No Splenda or low fat cream cheese.
–Eagles fans
— Music selections can be «Sirius-​ly «off the map ***sometimes ***and when it is, it becomes apparent that it is too loud.
— Not open late.
5÷23÷14, tried opening Sundays but changed their mind, huh… this place can close due to weather, slow trade, or other whims so don’t count on the published hours.
UPDATE: ⁶⁄₀₉ Tweet is gone. Our beloved friend and King of Soups passed away suddenly. Uptown is still a wonderful place but it will never be the same without. Tweet. We miss you, buddy. Your Flyers still rule.

This past semester, Uptown Expresso became one of my weekly lunch spots. The chicken salad on a croissant is my go to option, which is really good. If I’m feeling indulgent, I’ll also grab one of the chocolate and cream muffins.
The location of Uptown is both a vice and a virtue. Its location next to campus makes it ideal for an off-​campus lunch. Unsurprisingly, however, this also means the place will be full of KU faculty and students, with several of them setting up near permanent residence. Most times, we end up huddled together at the bar stools by the window because one person is taking up one of the five tables with his or her laptop and papers.
The only real complaint is that Uptown seems a bit more expensive than Global Libations or Wholesome Foods further down Main Street. I suppose, however, that’s the price of convenience.

This is walking distance from KU which is convenient! The place is small, but cozy. they serve up all those fancy coffee drinks, regular coffee, what looked like loose tea, pantries, and more foodstuff than you’d expect in a joint like this. The coffee is yummy and I love the mugs! I tried the pizza bagel which was way better than I anticipated! My company had the chicken salad and thought it was delish! Bonus: they have outdoor seating!

Great atmosphere and great coffee. This place is great for just chilling and reading while sipping on a beverage of choice. They also often have yummy treats like soups or salads or a sandwich of some choice.

Uptown Espresso serves great coffee, good food and offers free wifi.
Located right off of campus in a building with a lot of funky charm, this *could* be a four-​star establishment *if* they would just CLEAN the place regularly. Dust, dirt and cobwebs have built-​up in all of the corners and on the windows, there’s an ever-​present smell of mold and last summer there were plenty of flies. I’m not a clean-​freak by any means, but this place can be a bit unpleasant.
If you’re stopping by, do yourself a favor and take your beverage, soup and pastry to one of the wrought-​iron tables on the sidewalk. You can watch the parade of bicycles and coeds and sip your delicious beverage sans the smell.

Its a kutztown establishment. Perched just on the edge of campus & main street, it has become an extension of many professor’s offices.
I tend to avoid going here, if I am trying to «not to be at work», as you will see everyone from university faculty and most of your students… especially if you are in KUVA.
However…they make a wonderful «hammer head» (double shot of Espresso in a black coffee) that will get you up and going any-​day with gusto… even if you’ve had no sleep the night before.
cash only, or bear bucks.