The fairly new Cricket’s Coffee Company on Main Street is a cozy, indie paradise. The outside of the cafe has a welcoming glow, especially on a typical overcast Western New York day which takes over in November and stays until April.
When I first walked in, the smell of roasted coffee and delicious baked goods was overwhelming. Looking around, I noticed the atmosphere was like a combination of Central Perk Café from “Friends” and a café from the hipster capital of Portland—in the best way possible. Cricket’s has antique pieces that give a vintage and rustic feel with a mix of modern aspects like steel panels. These two combine to give the small shop a fantastic aesthetic balance.
As I walked up the steps to order, the warm ambiance with the friendly staff felt like my own personal welcome. Looking up at the large black boards that cover the wall behind the counter, it’s understandable that the friendly staff is accustomed to the ever-so-common indecisive customer. Nevertheless, within minutes of ordering one’s drink or bite to eat, it is prepared and ready to be consumed.
I ordered the orange raspberry scone and it proved to be a delicious choice. A couple other recommendations are Cricket’s steamers, which are unique, latte-like drinks that are available in a wide variety of flavors. For a chocolate lover, I would recommend trying their scrumptious mochas—because you can never go wrong with coffee and chocolate. If these don’t sound appealing to you, you could always go for a sweeter treat like I did and try the café’s scones or baked goods.
Finding an open seat in the lounge may be tough—the café is generally crowded with students busy with homework—but the chairs are all comfortable and worthy of a long stay. It’s a great place to eat and stay focused, especially with the added benefit of free Wi-Fi. With the end of the semester rapidly approaching, I propose Cricket’s as an ideal place to try to study. The café has a sense of serenity for both students and locals.
And if you need a break from all that studying or working on assignments, there are several board games for customers to enjoy on a bookshelf. Cricket’s is also a place for the occasional night outing—listening to local musicians at open mic night could be a blast.
Cricket’s took over from the beloved Muddy Waters Café within the past year. Local high school student Sahara Hühn explained how she had been a longtime customer of Muddy Waters, but the coffee shop’s renovation was a nice surprise.
“When I heard Muddy’s closed down, I was so disappointed. I loved going there after class and hanging with my friends,” Hühn said. “But when Cricket’s opened up in its place, I was happily relieved—it’s an adorable coffee shop for the town.”
Despite the transformed vibe of Cricket’s, Muddy’s character still remains apparent in the new cafe, with a similar menu perfect for breakfast, lunch or a quick snack. Cricket’s even kept a few favorite pieces on the menu.
Cricket’s offers a contemporary-style cafe experience. Moreover, it seems to be involved in the community by supporting local events such as the famous Geneseo Sidewalk Sales and the Holiday Cookie Walk.
Cricket’s turned out to be a great place to grab a warm drink with the cold weather coming and it will continue to be a great place to look forward to when it warms up next semester for a cool drink.
With a diversified menu that is accommodating to tea drinkers, coffee lovers, smoothie junkies and all those in between, I think it’s a place where anyone can find their niche.
