I made the final drive of the school year down to VT to collect my daughter, Mia, and her belongings. Her little Honda was not nearly large enough to bring everything back, so she needed 2 cars. It is the end of her sophomore year and I had been getting the impression in our phone calls that Mia was feeling sad knowing the good times were coming to an end, at least for awhile. She and her roommates got along well, and surprisingly still did after a full year of living together, but they had all decided on different arrangements for next year making the end of this school year that much more final.
At home in NOVA the girls and I enjoy finding new coffee shops and critiquing and then ranking them. The 3 of us have our particular favorites around town. The last time we had visited the Tech campus, Ken and I found a winner in Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea, my new favorite coffee shop in Blacksburg.
My plan to cheer Mia up on moving out day was to take her to the coffee shop on Main Street for breakfast and, without question, we would take her roommate Liv along with us. Liv was heading off to Greece in just a few days and this fact was surely one of the reasons my daughter was down. Mia was heading back home and not to Greece or anywhere overseas. 
We stopped in about 10:30 on a Sunday morning and there was that guy playing backgammon again. Hmmm. I wonder what his story is…
It was not nearly as crowded as the last time but this was not a surprise as most students were studying or packing in preparation for the final days of the semester. The girls got blueberry muffins and chai tea and I got the Mill Mountain blend. The muffins were your typical large bakery item commonly seen in supermarkets. Nothing special. The egg sandwiches we had on our previous occasion were good but not great. The food at Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea is not what makes it a favorite.
My New Favorite Cafe
The atmosphere and energy inside this artsy eclectic shop is what makes you want to go back again. I fell in love with the beautiful glossy wood bar at the center of the shop. On our first visit the bar was packed with students. They were talking animatedly with friends or typing away on their laptops, and one guy at the end of the bar was drawing a portrait. The place was lively! The customers were chatting with the baristas and it all felt so comfortable. I knew that I would go back and I wanted to take Mia when I did.
The first time I visited Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea I appreciated the ambience of the shop. I enjoyed the spirited atmosphere and felt nostalgia for my old college days. What I thought was really impressive along with the cozy aspect of the experience was the vibrant blue coffee roaster at the front window surrounded by jute bags full of coffee beans ready for roasting. This piece adds a sense of authenticity to the coffee shop that makes it feel homey
Gotta Give the Hokie Blend a Try
In addition to the inviting atmosphere, I think the long of line of customers proves the obvious fact that the original Mill Mountain blend is really quite good, and with that I do agree. Next time I stop in I have to try the Hokie blend!
