Amiee H.
Yelp
J Atkinson & Co is a Lancaster institution and a place you shouldn't miss! They've been supplying coffee to the area since 1837 and have been in this location since 1901. I can't think of many places in Lancaster that serve coffee (hotels, restaurants, etc.) that don't get it from here, and the whole town smells fantastic on the days they roast the beans.
The inside of the shop is very tiny and with incredible ambience. It has many of the original features, including awesome metal canisters to hold the different beans, an old roaster and fantastic metal scales. Even if you don't like coffee, it's worth peeking in just to see the place.
The coffee is as good as you'd expect for a company that's been in the business for nearly 200 years. They also do a range of teas, including a nice local Lancaster blend that I usually buy as a gift for my family back in Chicago when I go visit.
The one thing I would mention is that in my mind, Atkinson's is a place to go buy coffee beans, not hot coffee in a cup. It's not the kind of place that sells a paper cup to go! Also, they say on their website that there's a place inside to sit and drink a cuppa, but as many times as I've been in there, I've never noticed one. There is a little table near the door that I guess you could sit at, but you'd be right next to the entrance and constantly interrupted by the flow of people in and out of the tiny shop (not to mention cold, most likely!) You'd be better to buy it and do it at home. If you're visiting, chances are your hotel already serves coffee from here.