Finding a good cup of coffee is an insurmountable feat sometimes. The options run the gamut from weak (let’s be honest, cheap) gas station brews to your more elevated and expensive coffee concoctions with names so convoluted that you’re not even sure what you’ve just ordered. At the end of the day, what we really want is a strong cup of coffee served in a relaxed atmosphere and paired with some sinfully delicious baked goods. Asking too much? Not if you’re at The Point Coffee House & Bake Shoppe in Rehoboth. We stopped by the Southern Delaware coffee shop recently and discovered an expansive selection of coffee beans, an eclectic breakfast and lunch menu, and the sweet and welcoming aroma of pies, pastries and freshly baked breads. It’s no wonder the rapidly expanding coffee hub is catching on in popularity, with summertime lines running right out the door. We had to find out more…
Daily breads, breakfast, lunch, wedding cakes, pies, baked goods, coffee beans and freshly roasted coffee are what the lineup at The Point is comprised of, but we’ll start with the coffee. “I was actually not a big coffee drinker before [opening The Point],” admitted owner Jennifer Zerby, “but now I LOVE coffee.” Like many of us, Zerby had never been exposed to really good coffee for most of her life, but once she was, she was hooked. Of course, her newfound love for coffee spurred her and husband Jeff to ensure that their new venture (you might also know the Zerbys from the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel) sold only the best coffee beans. The Point roasts 25 pounds of beans at a time, five days a week, after hours, with 15 varieties of coffee to choose from daily, including 8 single source coffees, 4 blends, 2 decafs and 1 flavored brew. Espresso, latte, cappuccino, and frappe are all made to order. For retail, we were swimming in options, with single source bean offerings from all over the world, including Haitian Blue Caturra, Rawandan Coopac, Organic Mexican Hybrid, and Colombian Supremo, to name a few. “It’s been a win-win for us really, with coffee brewed at The Point and served at the hotel,” explained Zerby. In addition, the The Point coffee is popping up in other local restaurants and coffee shops (i.e. The Coffee House in downtown Rehoboth). “Our coffee is really going places, we do blends for other restaurants too,” said Zerby. Zerby went on to give the majority of the credit to head roaster Sean Hixon, who has been with The Point Coffee House since it’s doors opened five years ago. “There is a real science to roasting, and he is very, very involved,” said Zerby.
Coffee isn’t the only thing on the menu, in addition to freshly roasted coffee and a variety of cafe drinks, there is breakfast and lunch to consider. The menu is varied, ranging from Belgian waffles, oatmeal, and croissants sandwiches at breakfast to soups, salads, and quiches at lunch. “The salads are really popular,” said Zerby. “Everyone loves the Belgian waffles of course and the sticky buns are just incredible.” We got a glimpse at the famous sticky buns (pictured below) and we can attest to just how irresistible the massive delights are. In fact, all of the baked goods were mouthwatering. Chocolate croissants, fruit tarts, cannoli, biscotti, eclairs, brownies, cookies…we were grateful we hadn’t yet embarked on any New Year’s resolutions to curb our sugar intake…
On the savory end of the spectrum, look for their breads, which are baked daily and ranging from classic Italian white to focaccia. Pies are also baked daily and available for pre-order, along with cookie orders and wedding cakes. What really sold us however was the ambiance. With free WiFi, Zerby noted that its common for business meetings to take place at The Point. It’s also a popular spot for locals to spend time, as we quickly observed from the friendly staff that seemed to know everyone that came in the door.
Armed with freshly baked bread, a massive sticky bun, a bag of coffee beans, and a caffeine rush from a large, piping-hot Americano, we left feeling full, happy, and eager to return for another visit. Headed to Rehoboth? Stop in The Point Coffee House and Bake Shoppe!
