Erie coffee shops go cup-to-cup at Erie's Best Coffee competition

Yahoo

24-02-2025

Everyone has a different preference when it comes to coffee, and on Sunday local coffee shops competed for the title of the best cup of joe in Erie.
Millions of people drink coffee every day, and on Sunday some coffee drinkers got a chance to support their favorite cup of coffee in the erie area.
For many people, coffee is just the beverage you drink in the morning… But for others, the rich, dark caffeinated drink is a way of life…
Sunday at the Zem Zem Shrine Club on West 38th Street, eight local coffee shops went head-to-head to prove they have the best cup of coffee in erie.
'There's just so much variety depending on where the coffee is from, so I don't think it's something that will go out of style, but you don't get tired of it,' said David Gonzalez, the event organizer.
Attendees tasted all sorts of coffee from cold brews to cappuccinos and then voted which business had the best.
A panel of celebrity judges also picked a 'Judges Choice' winner.
This year crowning a new coffee shop, legenderie, as the victor.
'The reason we have the best cup of coffee is probably because of the atmosphere we're in. I think that it's filled with love and we're a community and I think that makes the drinks better,' said Milla Trohoske, a barista at Legenderie.
Legenderie opened on Peach Street back in September, doubling as both a record store and coffee shop.
But other local coffee shops also came to play at sunday's competition.
We were there with Norman and Ryan, co-owners from Lucky Bean Coffee. They were voted the Best Cup of Coffee last year. I don't drink coffee too much, but I'm going to try it here to see what we think. That's good. What's in that?'
'It's got flavor notes of strawberry, honey and dark chocolate. It's a medium roast, very good for cold brew, espresso shots,' said Norman Stark, co-owner of Lucky Bean.
That blend of coffee ended up being voted as Erie's best, and the Lucky Bean coffee shop on West 26th Street will hold onto the crown for another year.
Stark said their coffee is ethically grown from volcanic soil in Columbia, but it's the people who work there that separates their coffee from the rest.
'I think what makes us unique is all our employees, baristas, managers, they're fully invested into our vision and long-term growth, and it makes them more willing to put more work in because they want to see that brand succeed,' Stark went on to say.
One employee said Lucky Bean isn't just a coffee, but rather a family. The money raised during today's event will benefit the Saint Martin Center on Parade Street.
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