Eric M.
Yelp
I lost my "soft opening" virginity with this one (lingered on the first day of operation), and what a place for the deflowering!
Having passed by this smart little establishment on 3rd Street numerous times, I was thrilled that Lit Coffee Roastery and Bakeshop finally opened, before I bid my farewells to the Lehigh Valley. Lit brings a much-needed higher-end coffee alternative to South Bethlehem, hereby vanquishing the convenient but mediocre Saxby's nearby. The narrow, deep storefront lives up to its "Lit" name, feeling much brighter than it actually probably is, and thus more inviting. And the Bound for Glory brew (from Monocacy Roasters) is as good as or better than anything at The Joint, north of the river. High-end though it feels, the prices seem quite reasonable, including the "bakes", which are sweet and savory. Bagels include homemade jellies, with interesting offerings like blackberry basil or Meyer lemon. Cookies like the chocolate chip sea salt offer a nice salty twang to offset the saccharine.
One particular novelty is that Lit offers an Aeropress option, which essentially delivers Espresso-style in an Americano serving. I haven't encountered Aeropress at too many coffeeshops, except to purchase the entire contraption. It's refreshing to see small businesses who are comfortable introducing this process to a bigger demographic, along with the more familiar French Press and Chemex. They also make the roasting process fully visible to their customers...neat!
I hope the owners at Lit aren't underselling themselves with these prices! And, much as I love the space, the seating is a bit sparse. Plug access is average, wifi is just fine, but there's relatively little seating considering the size. If Lit gets as popular as it deserves to be, this could prove a problem, and while it won't hurt their product, it will probably force a lot more people to purchase the to-go option (in cardboard or plastic cups), which is a shame. I hope they furnish it a bit further, which might make it more crowded but also more bustling...far more suitable for the sort of urban sophistication South Bethlehem needs, and Lit Coffee Roastery confidently fulfills.