I'm a coffee snob, let's just get that out of the way. This is on par with Stumptown in Seattle or Blue Bottle in San Fran. High quality single origin beans being pulled carefully with craft and poise, sometimes with a slight grin. (almost like they love what they do). The staff was amiable, informative and offered up suggestions on which pour over coffee I might like. Opted for the Kenya Gatura which was excellent through a V60. Big and round, slightly sweet. Cool atmosphere, wood floors and tables, music playing at a nice volume and free wifi. Check, check and check. If you like Starbucks, don't come here. I'll shoot myself if I see another person order a cappuccino and then continue to pour honey and sugar over a perfectly executed rosetta or tulip, which happened while I was here. Seriously lady... don't do that! I'll literally shoot myself... All things coffee and espresso here are scrumptious. Order something, then put it in your mouth... slowly. I approve! read more

Nate from Square One Coffee came to Chelsea, MI. to our store Back to the Roots. He helped us set up our coffee program and now we sell Square One coffee for our shop. We and our customers say "This is the Best Coffee I have ever had!" Thank you to Square One for wonderful service and wonderful coffee!!!! Jason Bendinelli www.BackToTheRoots.org read more

Absolute best coffee in Lancaster. Roasted in house, it's the only coffee I brew at home. Guatemala Concepcion Huista is my absolute favorite, and the proceeds go back to the female-owned farms in Guatemala which it is sourced from! Iced coffee is always on point in the summer, i love it even more with a little drizzle of their caramel syrup! In the winter, you must catch their ancho chile mocha or hot chocolate. I have been known to walk for blocks in a blizzard to procure a cup! read more

Well I want to write a deep long review about how aromatic the beans are, describe the earthy notes of cherry and chocolate in my Guatemalan brew or paint a picture of chic urban haven for socialites in a rather run of the mill American city But I only had a glass of water so can't give you any goodies sorry :( oh and bathroom is reall tiny read more

Square One is a Lancaster main stay. It's been my go to place for a cup of joe since high school. A funky space to relax and get some work done. The current baristas are great and welcoming. With a wide array of patrons Square One often represents the heart of Lancaster. read more

Ahh I do not frequent Lancaster often, but I Love "legit" coffee and I Love Yelp. I used yelp to find this place and I was not let down. It was a lazy sunday, I cannot attest to the environment when its busy but there was great art and what seemed like a cool place to meet with friends. I spent sometime studying in Rome and after that I was very snobish about my expresso. I simply ordered a latte and it was truly delicious; full flavored, smooth and not watered down like typical coffee shops can seem. It seemed like a really nice local shop and I would def. recommend it or visit if I'm ever there again. read more

I heard about this place from my road bike friends from Lancaster and they were dead on with the high quality brewing. The place is located in downtown and near the main area of downtown. When you walk in, there is a rustic, yet modern feel. If I could compare a DC coffee shop to this Lancaster gem, it's like a clean version of Chinatown Coffee. Anyhow, the baristas and cashiers are very friendly and helpful. I ended up ordering a cappucino and I must say the barista knows how to brew and is great at making art on the milk froth. The only negative is that the Falafel sandwich I ordered was far from being a tasty falafel. Instead it was a bland falafel that crumbled. Despite the subpar Falafel sandwich, the coffee is top notch and would definitely return!!! read more

So easy to order online and pick up at the counter! The only thing is I wish I could buy more swag to pick up at the counter! Their cold brew is so good and so convenient to buy in jugs. So glad they have a Lancaster location, because I remember going and working in their cafe when I lived there. I love having so many good coffee shops in the area, and this is definitely at the top of the list! read more

Found this gem and it's THAT coffee place with the attention to detail a coffee snob like me wants. The Kenya and Ethiopian pour overs are explosively flavorful. Cool vibe to the place too with lounge for working or social media browsing. read more

I like coming here, and things have changed a lot since moving to the area about a year ago. It used to be that that the rear of the shop had coffee roasting equipment with limited seating. That's all gone now, and it's full of nice tables and chairs. And the outside area in the back is really nice too. I would guess that the amount of seating here has more than doubled. I don't like sitting down all the time, so I wish there was a better mix of seats, tables, a high table, and perhaps another couch or two. But a good coffee shop overall. read more

Square One Coffee is a cool little coffee house in Downtown Lancaster. Square One brews up some really good coffee that's roasted very well. On my recent visit I had a cup of their Guatemalan coffee. The flavor was spot on and very delicious. Overall a great place to grab a quality cup of coffee in downtown Lancaster. read more

This place is what I usually look for in a coffee shop. Decent music, decor with art other then stereotypical hotel art. Prob closest I can get to the northwest coffee shops I'm used to when I'm in Lancaster. The coffee isn't the most impressive, but it's bearable, all things considered. I tend to stay away from here in the summer time when annoying teens seem to flood the outdoor seating, but this place was my winter haven in lancaster read more

By far the best place in town for craft coffee drinks! The latte is second to none and is prepared perfect each and every time I go there. There batch roasted coffees are also excellent and a good substitute for my hone roasted coffee in a pinch. The bagels there are also pretty damn good, The vibe is always nice with a comfortable space and seating. None of the coffee house attitude you sometimes see at the places in NYC or SF. All and all highly recommended! read more

Popped in here (upon Yelp's recommendation) on my way home. Ordered a blueberry scone and an espresso that started with a G (that's all my ailing memory is offering at the moment). Expedient service by a knowledgeable barista provided a very pleasant experience and produced a delicious hot beverage to keep me company in this hateful, bitter cold. Great job, will stop in again if I'm in town. Thanks! Cheers, Brandon read more

Pros: Nice presentation of drinks Decent espresso Adequate and open seating inside Cons: Mediocre Dirty bathroom Bland employees Not sure how this is rated so high on Yelp read more

After spending two hours in the Lancaster Science Museum, I was in need of a cup of coffee. Finding Square One only a couple blocks away, I went in search of a caffiene pick me up. The quality of this coffee was incredible! I wish Square One was closer to my house. I would love to have their in-house roast. Great place overall. I love the atmosphere and the roaster in the back. I will definitely be back the next time I am in Lancaster. My only heartbreak about this place is that I didnt buy any coffee beans to take home :/ read more

Great coffee - Very Friendly Staff. The outdoor seating is phenomenal. Feels like you're in a jungle int he middle of the city! read more

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Square One is a small painfully hip coffee shop in Lancaster, PA. That is to say it is exactly my cup of joe. My partner and I visited this past weekend on Sunday morning while we were visiting my family in town. Being from DC now there are plenty of things I can compare Square One to and they certainly hold there own. The menu is deliciously restrictive offering only up to maybe a dozen beverages. The space is small but surprisingly spacious and effectively minimal/rustic-ish in style. The coffee is good, I opted for a Gibraltar which was beautiful (see picture). The two baristas running the bar were good, though I only interacted with the guy as he was on register, the girl was busy on bar and tending to other things in the shop. Only thing I'm knocking off a star for is the breakfast pastries they did have were a little on the stale side. Overall great place and I def will visit again when I am in town. read more

Square One Coffee - A well done Gibraltar. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Enjoyed our visit to Square One! The cafe ambiance is welcoming, the baristas were friendly and pulled great shots! We ordered a Gibraltar and Sweet Lavendar, as well as a scone, and all was delicious! Will definitely be back! read more

This place is simply a Lancaster staple at this point! If you enjoy great coffee, cool staff and not being crowded by tons of ppl, as well as an option to to relax in the back courtyard/garden area this is the perfect stop for you. Square One may not be the swankiest but it is very well-established and their service (and fair pricing) honestly speaks for itself. read more

This is my usually my coffee shop of choice. Its open late, and has a great place to sit and talk. The courtyard is the biggest reason why I choose this coffee shop over the others of Lancaster city. It is a really nice place to sit and have a conversation. The atmosphere inside is also nice, though seating can be limited. The plain coffee here is not my favorite, mainly because I find it to be a little too bitter for my liking. (Though that may be just my "unrefined" palate.) I do like their lattes and other hot drinks. The only downside of Square One is that the crowd can sometimes be a little rough. One big thing is that if you don't like smoke than you should avoid the courtyard because they do allow smoking. Overall, decent coffee, and a great place for a chat. Check it out next time your in Lancaster. read more

I get my pound of coffee for the week every Sunday and then spend an hour or so reading and relaxing with a cup of their great coffee. fantastic coffee and coffeeshop read more

Best place in Lancaster for coffee. Probably the best place in PA. It can get a little crowded on weekends but it's not unbearable. The baked goods are also great. read more

This coffee shop is found a little secluded from most shops in Lancaster. It's tiny and charming, with two rooms of seating (mostly small tables and half booths) and a small outdoor patio. The outdoor patio was smaller than I was expecting and was mostly surrounded by walls, so it didn't have a lot of sunlight. I ordered a small drip coffee, which they gave to me in a paper cup (I'm assuming that since I didn't specify that I was staying to have my coffee, they gave me a paper cup to be safe). The coffee was good but nothing special, and also costed be over $3 (because I wanted soy milk instead of creamer), which I feel is overpriced for just a standard cup of coffee. However, the staff was very personable and friendly; they were chatting with some of the regulars and were very helpful. They even lent me a pen to use when mine dried out. read more

Delicious coffee! Beautiful latte art. My husband had one of his favorite pour overs ever. Fun atmosphere with lots of seating. read more

Square One Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

A neat little cafe, the ambience inside is reminiscent of a waiting room, which isn't the worst thing, just a little sombre. I used to like sitting in the yard until the outside AC unit had other ideas. I did enjoy the interesting yard renovations and funky carpentry, but while the AC unit continues to screech like a dying animal I won't be there to enjoy them, or the cups of joe. read more

great find by the wife and such a cool looking spot for a roaster and the coffee wasn't bad either. their drip and pour over was super smooth (black) with no bitter burnt after taste on a sip. it also didn't hurt that their muzak station was set to 90s alternative. read more

Square One Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Everytime I come in I am welcomed to a pleasant calm atmosphere. This is a place I hope to become a regular at.

We moved back to central PA from Chicago, having been royally spoiled by living a few blocks from an amazing coffee house & roaster. I'd resigned myself to having to drink mediocre Starbucks coffee once we moved here, but then a Twitter friend pointed me to Square One. Square One is, hands down, the best coffee we have ever had. Every bag, even the varietals we normally wouldn't go for, is roasted perfectly & sings with nuance & flavor. You know how coffee places list things like "notes of blackberry, peanut & grapefruit" & you roll your eyes? Open a bag of Square One beans & IT SMELLS LIKE BLACKBERRIES. Even brewed in our 10-year-old drip machine, the flavor & body are light years beyond anything else we've tried. We've been monthly customers now for several years, & am never disappointed with the warm, professional service we get at the shop. Yes, drinks are a little slow being made. That's because each barista takes the time to make it properly. No shortcuts. No just cranking it out to get you away from the counter. Compare the time & care taken in preparing your drink at Square One versus the assembly-line frenzy at Starbucks... it's night & day. If you are expecting a walk-in, walk-out, grab-&-go coffee shop that serves over-sweetened blender drinks, you'll be disappointed. If you want the absolute best cup of coffee this side of the Mississippi River, take the time to go to Square One. Get a Gibraltar. Sit down, sip it slowly. Fall in love. I know we have. read more

The quality of the coffee served at Square One is very high...it is full bodied. They offer many wonderful options for coffee drinks, hot and cold. They sell some homemade cookies by the register that are delicious. The prices are very reasonable. read more

Amazing coffee! At home we have an espresso machine and get beans shipped from San Francisco and this was just as good if not better! The hot coffee is great but the iced lattes are even better. Thaddeus espresso for the people is delicious. I plan on ordering a 5lb bag sometime soon. Careful of the meters out front. Even if raining the cops are giving tickets read more

I'm not just partial because I am a neighboring business. I am partial because whatever I'm in the mood for, be it an iced caramel latte, cold brew or a spicy iced tea; they always aim to please. Beverages are always a perfect temperature. One of the first coffee spots to pop up in Lancaster, not to mention they roast their own beans, do their own packaging, etc. great spot! read more

Their bathrooms are very dirty and they have a small amount of food choices. Also, the seats are uncomfortable. But, the prices are fair and the employees are very kind. read more

I stopped here after a recommendation from a Lancaster local while doing an exploratory road trip of PA. It was totally worth it. I got a straight latte and my husband, who normally won't drink coffee unless it's absolutely wonderful, got a peanut butter mocha freeze. Most of the time I'm disappointed by lattes while on road trips, but both were amazingly delicious. I fear this PB mocha freeze may have spoiled my husband for life. He said, and this is a direct quote "This is the best coffee I've ever had." This coffee is worth driving an extra hour out of the way for, if you are into that sort of adventure. The atmosphere wasn't that impressive and the staff was nothing memorable, but the flavors were great. I probably would grab my coffee and go, it's not the sort of place worth sitting around in. read more

Best coffee in Lancaster by far! Amazing owners n staff they all love what they do they are dedicated ;) n it shows in the product the coffee is delicious I recently realized I couldn't have caffeine being a huge coffee lover I was devastated :( I thought decaf was gonna be like decaf usually is horrible from what I had before I thought I wouldn't be able to have my delicious drink anymore..... I try decaf at square one a decaf caramel latte it was just as good I've been goin there on daily basis for a while now n will continue togo there everyday.... I'm in love with Square One!!! read more

Nice chill place with all the usual coffee house stuff. But what gives them the edge over most all other place in the area is that they roast their own beans right there on the spot; if you are a coffee geek, as I am, then the fact that they roast their beans fresh on the premises is huge. I would also reccommend the nice outdoor seating area, it can get crowded, but is a nice place to sit and chat with friends. read more

Good coffee. Nice crew. Sometimes if you get the right waiter.. u get a cute little design on the top your coffee. Coffee is expensive and the container small. Parking is terrible. It would do great in New York City where everybody walks there......here in Lancaster..... everybody drives and kills each other for a parking spot. it's just a misplaced coffee house. If you're walking, if your not in a rush, and if you have some extra money ........check it out otherwise keep on going........, otherwise pass it by. read more

I've had coffee at almost all the good shops in NYC and I have to say the coffee here is on par with them. The latte here has the same creamy, velvety mouth feel to it and the coffee is brewed and served at the right temperature. And a 12 oz latte is under 4 bucks. Very good! read more

Love this place! The alfahors cookies are the best. You must go. The crowd is a bit different, FYI.

My table mates at Maison assured me that I'd find the best espresso in Lancaster here. I haven't tried the other places but after a couple of espressos I'm sold. You can tell when a place is serious about coffee: like when they weigh the ground coffee before making a cup. Order, settle in, and experience Lancaster's answer to Blue Bottle and Stumptown. I've been to those places and, yes, Square One is that good. read more