The Big Bean

Perfect small town chain! I love walking to this place every weekend (sometimes twice!) as they have great hours and a good menu selection. I have had their espresso just on its own and it is divine, which I say as a member of the Atlas coffee club and retired barista =D The smoothies are great with a great choice of mix-ins. They also offer bulletproof coffee which is tasty and keto friendly. I also love their seasonal drinks like the maple chaider. My mum loved the Mexican hot chocolate, and my partner loves the dirty chai. They also have coconut milk as a non-dairy milk which is not that common but my go to for espresso drinks. The menu is honestly huge and I haven’t had a drink yet that I disliked- my personal preference is less sweet drinks than the standard, and they happily accommodate my requests for less syrup in drinks such as the aforementioned maple chaider. I love a place with a loyalty card and their program is a very rewarding one! Their service is efficient, however the space is a bit narrow so it can back up quickly on busy days and complicated drinks. They introduced me to my favorite local brand of gluten free pastries, s/o Gluten Free Girl! They also have some savory pastries like ham and cheese croissants, and probably others that I haven’t seen because they’re probably sold out by the time I get there. Overall a solid, consistent, and quirky spot that has won my heart, which is quite particular.

Super friendly neighborhood coffee spot. The location on the Balt/Annap trail makes it pleasantly buzzing most of the time, but I’ve never had to wait long for my drink. I like to relax with a coffee on my way to or from the family-owned bookstore across the street. Love that they have wrapped gluten-free goodies, too!

I've been coming to the Big Bean since I took "Walking Wellness' in 9th grade over a decade ago. They have a great variety of coffee and plenty of caffeine free options as well like smoothies! They also have a variety of dairy free alternatives. There is also a ton of gluten free baked goods which is awesome. I only wish they had half caff options and more decaf coffee flavors since I am very caffeine sensitive. The location is great-- you can access it from the front side facing the road or the back if you are walking or biking the trail. Unfortunately that strip mall has horrible parking, so you may need to wait to find a spot. The baristas are always friendly. My favorite items are the green smoothie, banana yogurt smoothie, and Mexican hot chocolate!