St. Thomas Roasters

Ok… listen…I hate to take a star off of my favorite coffee/​tea shop… but I need to update with some notes based on the last three visits.
This place remains my favorite, little small town coffee shop. I love it here. I regularly get a panini, any of their teas, I like the spinach quiche and the scones are tasty, especially if warmed up.
That being said, it seems they are starting to develop a problem with their young staff and customer service. I’m at this restaurant as I write this review, so today will be an example:
When I arrived at 4pm, there was a father/​daughter standing at the register, a mother/​child waiting for their smoothies… and multiple customers in the room. There were two young wait staff, with another, seemingly annoyed woman around that was clearly an employee, although whether she was actively on shift or not is questionable. I think she may have just been monitoring the roasting machine (?)
The panini machine was clearly set too high, as the room was filling with smoke and windows had to be opened and machine had to be turned off. The two girls behind the counter were overwhelmed, and it took about 15 minutes for me to have my order taken at the register. None of the young ladies acknowledged myself or the father/​daughter waiting in front of me. There were a total of 6 seated customers in the room, with 5 of us standing and waiting.
It was clear the mother and child had been waiting for their smoothies/​frozen drinks for a few minutes even before I arrived.
I am not in any way insinuating that these staff were slacking. They were doing their best, but were pretty clearly overwhelmed. Order tickets are not written up here, so it seems the staff has difficulty keeping track of multiple orders, and which order came first. Both baristas behind the counter work on orders at the same time, leaving new customers standing, unacknowledged.
4 pm is a bit early for a «dinner rush», or prime time. If this type of «overwhelmed and scattered» service from the young staff happened only today, or during an event or prime meal time, I wouldn’t be updating my review with a removal of a star… but this has happened on multiple occasions lately.
My suggestion to management: A revision of the system of order taking. Either have someone writing and hanging tickets so customers are served in order, or work out some other system of organization. Also: It would be very good for staff to get into a habit of speaking to incoming customers, even if busy and it is just «Hello» or «Be right with you!» One of the young ladies did apologize to another customer about the wait, so that was good… but I really think more training is in order. I understand this could be difficult, as I assume some of these staff are students, or part timers, but as customer service has been an issue repeatedly now (abrupt, confused, overwhelmed staff) something should be changed.
That being said, I will absolutely continue to frequent this location. I am definitely a fan. Service issues aside, I’d still choose this small business coffee shop than any chain location. The products (coffee, tea, sandwiches, soup, baked goods) are quality and worth coming back.

This place is hella cute. This is exactly the kind of spot every small town needs. Me & the hubby came here for lunch, and this place was hoppin’ with locals/​regulars. The inside is warm, comfy, and welcoming. The women who made our coffees/​panini were super friendly and very accommodating to our special requests for the sandwich that my husband and I split. We both agreed that the panini (Grammy) and our coffees (cinnamon roll latte & gingersnap latte) were so good, we could eat/​drink them everyday. Oh how I wish downtown Harrisburg had a coffee shop like St Thomas Roasters. I would be there everyday.

Excellent coffee, the staff is very helpful and friendly, and the small town feel is AMAZING. Why go to Starbucks when you can frequent a little gem like this place?! This is what you want in a coffee shop. It’s cozy, full of character, and peaceful. Nothing but love for St. Thomas.

A sweet little café and my favorite place to study or work my latest assignment. I really like the antique feel of the place and the fact that Geoff roasts his own beans.
There are a variety of loose leaf teas, smoothies and of course all your possible espresso beverages available. If you’re hungry there’s always a selection of baked goods, soup of the day and sandwiches.
They have ample outdoor seating during the warmer months but when the weather turns cold u might have to fight for a table or take your coffee to go — especially on a Friday or Saturday morning.

I was here for the first time yesterday for lunch. I ordered a cappuccino and a panini. Both were excellent! Staff was friendly. Would highly recommend to anyone that wants a great cup of joe and a relaxing environment. Definitely will be back!

THE SLOWEST SERVICE ON EARTH! Forget about swinging by to get a quick cup of joe for the road… this place is SSSSSSLOW. The staff is too busy chatting with each other or visiting with friends to take your order and when they do it is rarely correct. I waited 17 minutes for a non-​fat flavored latte because they made it wrong TWICE! Ugh. I have other things to do then hang out in s coffee shop all day ready USA today. It’s moments from work, but do not go there anymore. I have given them multiple chances and over several years, but that’s it… never again! Coffee isn’t great either

Adds great small town feel to Lingelstown. Fresh beans and new ideas make this a must try for anyone who likes to drink coffee, tea or hot chocolate!

I love this place! Geoff hand roasts the beans and it provides a great atmosphere for family and friends.

Overview:
A wonderful little coffee shop in the center of Linglestown offering a variety of coffee beverages, lunch items, and pastries.
Food:
I came here with my boyfriend for lunch. We both ordered panini, him «The Barista» and I had «The Grammy.» They were both very good. The bread was crisp and not oily. There were plenty of fillings. The panini came with Snyder’s chips and I was glad to see them supporting a PA company.
As to the coffee, I ordered a vanilla soy latte and the boy got a regular latte. I absolutely loved my latte. It was full bodied, not overly sweet, and utterly wonderful. I enjoyed every last sip.
For dessert, I got one of their stuffed cookies, the raspberry shortbread. It. Was. Great. It was also the last one, which is probably good because I’m likely to have bought them all! I also got a chocolate chip scone, which was very good. Moist and flavorful!
We also got a ½ pound of freshly ground coffee to go (sticky bun flavored). We gave it away to a couple who told us they loved it.
Recommend:
Any of the coffee drinks and the pastries, particularly the raspberry stuffed cookie.
Atmosphere:
Inside is pretty small, with half the space devoted to the counter and bean roasting areas. But they have ample seating outside on the porch, in the front of the house, and along the side. We sat outside and it was wonderful to relax at lunch and watch the cars go by.
Service: Everyone was really friendly when we visited. They seemed to truly enjoy their job and were proud of their product.

The landscaping here is beautiful, especially their outdoor seating that is off to the side of the building. The inside is very eclectic, and looks like it would be a place that the TV show ‘Friends’ could have hung out at. Truffle filled cookies are delicious. Watermelon mojito is bizarre.

I made a 35 minute drive to try this place out and I couldn’t be more disappointed. The small iced coffee I bought (for around $ 2.50) was extremely tiny. It looked like one of those free cups that Panera gives you to get water in. The coffee was extremely bitter and completely undrinkable. I had to throw it away — which is really disappointing for a place that brews their own coffee. The atmosphere was very home-​spun crafty and there was ample seating on the porch and outside the building. If you live in this area, I’m sure this is a cool place to hang out but I certainly wouldn’t recommend making a special trip here.

Big fan of this place. Great coffee selections. And I love dropping in here for lunch because their paninis are delicious! I have also gotten one of their daily soups on special and that was also great. Their pastries look awesome but I am normally there for lunch so I always resist the temptation to get one. Oh and their quiche is on point!

Paid $ 5 for a medium latte and was the worst cup of coffee I have ever had. Had to throw it away after only drinking a ¹⁄₃ of it.

Pretty good coffee.
Every one there is nice.
Plenty of parking in the back.
It’s always been packed when I’ve stopped by (as a heads up)

Awesome atmosphere. Smelled good. My mocha was a little weak. I was truly hoping for something with more body. The espresso was good and had a fluid taste but it was missing something. I would definitely go back again but would Chang cup my order hoping it was different.

This is a great little coffee shop with unique drinks and fabulous soup!
If you are looking for a place to sit a spell, St Thomas Roasters offers a unique setting with free WiFi and tasty treats. Its a great little café to do some reading, catch up with friends, or even do some work of your own. We tried some sandwiches and drinks which were all good, but the thing that stood out the most was the soup! A chicken and kale soup that was flawlessly prepared.
Stop by on the regular and see whats brewing. You can always take a cup to go.

What a totally lovely place. Worth a detour off 81. It’s a very do-​able distance from the highway, maybe a 5 minute detour and the coffee is fabulous.
We were driving down from Rhode Island to North Carolina for a funeral and we’d reached the end of our tolerance for Starbucks and D&D coffee. The residue was coating our teeth, it was awful. So we Unilocaled a real coffee shop and found this place and MAN was it worth it.
Delicious (and cheap!) coffee, delightful staff, excellent sausage eggs and cheese croissants and a cinnamon bun.

Freshly roasted coffee, friendly owner and staff, always a delight to swing by. They roast the coffee beans in-​house, so the aroma is all around you the minute you step inside. They’ve got street and lot parking, too. It’s a bit cramped during peak hours. When the weather is nice, you can sit on their front porch. This place is always a must for our trips to Harrisburg.

I’m unsure where to start… My boyfriend and I found this place while searching for a great cup of coffee on a road trip from NY to VA. I read reviews for about 30 minutes and we were excited about trying this place out.
I am a hardcore Americano lover, but due to a review that raved about the Chai Latte I decided to try it; I have had a pretty good chai latte a time or two, but this one was as though I got it from the ⁷⁄₁₁ cappuccino machine (no offense to ⁷⁄₁₁) — no foam, way too sugary, powder poured from a bag. Pretty disappointing. I took several sips and got rid of it and opted for a small Americano. The Americano was so watered down, it wasn’t strong enough to be a drip coffee. I doubt it had espresso in it. If you can’t master a few shots of espresso and hot water you prob can’t make much else correctly. My boyfriend ordered a medium Americano and it was decent, much better than mine.
We had a few homemade chocolate truffle cookies that were ok, nothing to rave about, the other pastries and dishes looked good and potentially homemade. The service was slow, but decent.
I would recommend not venturing off the path if you’re on a road trip or on a tight timeline, it just isn’t worth your time.
I am a true supporter of mom and pop/​hometown businesses (I truly wanted to love this place) and am not a Starbucks fan, but I prob would’ve been happier with an Americano or Chai latte from there.
Good luck!

Smooth, Hot, and Fresh! Espresso, Drip, and Lattes!
Does anyone else hate road trip coffee? I’m talking the acidic «convenient 24 hour big box shops» coffee. Yuck! I may be a coffee snob but if I am going to pay $ 3 + for a cup of coffee it better be good!
This mom and pop shop has just the opposite. Fresh, reasonably priced, and roasted on site. Yum!!! If your traveling west on I-​81 W this is only 4 minutes of track. It’s worth every second.
We took ours to go but the café offers simple meals all which looked very yummy. It’s a cozy vintage atmosphere with sofas, chairs, and a Victorian rug.
When passing through, I will definitely come back! Thank you St Thomas’ Roasters!