I am always on the hunt for new coffee places around me, and I recently discovered Cardinal Coffee, which just opened in the summer of 2024. Located on the road travelling from Martinsburg to Shepherdstown (Route 45), it is a permanent coffee trailer located in the parking lot of a local home décor store. I didn’t get a chance to check out the home décor store, but it may be a good activity to do on a colder day while you enjoy your coffee, since there is no indoor seating. Overall, I had a great experience on my visit and really enjoyed my coffee!
Price 💲💲 out of 5
The pricing at Cardinal Coffee is standard for the industry. Drinks range from $3 to $6, depending on type and size. Also, I prefer almond or oat milk substitutes in my lattes, and the upcharge for that was $.75, which is less than other coffee shops. For the quality of the coffee here, I am happy to pay the standard prices and would prefer to support a local shop when possible.
Ambience 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 out of 5
The coffee trailer itself is very nice! The cardinal logo is proudly displayed on the front, so you can’t miss it. The trailer is clean and sleek, and they had flowers decorating the order window. The menu is displayed right next to the order window, along with straws and napkins. Another thing I really loved about Cardinal Coffee is that there are a few picnic tables, where you could sit and enjoy your coffee on a nice day. I just opted to take my coffee to go, but it would be a great spot to meet up with a friend or take a date since there are seating options. The tables were clean and although it is in a parking lot, it seemed like it would be a relaxing place to enjoy your drink. There is no indoor seating available, though, so to take advantage of the picnic tables, the weather would have to cooperate. I enjoyed the overall ambience, though.
Drink ☕☕☕☕☕ out of 5
Although there were several drinks I wanted to try, on this first trip, I opted for the iced honeybee latte with almond milk. This drink consisted of honey, vanilla, and cinnamon powder. I am a big fan of honey and cinnamon in coffee and much prefer cinnamon powder to cinnamon syrup, so that was one reason I enjoyed my latte so much. Also, the espresso was smooth and had a great taste. They also have a simply divine latte, which consists of vanilla and caramel, and the rams head latte, which consists of caramel and pistachio. These are both drinks I’d like to try on return visits! Along with their specials, Cardinal Coffee offers a wide selection of flavors from butter pecan to blueberry to toasted marshmallow to lavender, and many more. They also offer seasonal specials as well as non-coffee drinks.
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
My experience with Cardinal Coffee couldn’t have been better. The staff was incredibly friendly and personable, the service was quick, and the drinks were delightful. Although the cardinal is the state bird of our state, West Virginia, cardinals can also represent passed loved ones; something many of us can unfortunately relate to. Whether a cardinal reminds you of a loved one or not, it is one of the reasons the owner chose this special name, to honor a deceased loved one. I don’t want to share too much because it is the owner’s story to tell, but learning the many reasons behind the name makes this place even more special to me. These are the types of unique encounters you will only be able to share with owners when you support local businesses. I’m looking forward to seeing Cardinal Coffee grow!