ThreeBirds Coffee soars to second place in USA’s best brew battle

EASTON, Pa. — Congratulations are in order for ThreeBirds Coffee House.

Following judgment from a panel of experts and a month of community voting, ThreeBirds Coffee, 226 Bushkill St., has been tapped as the nation's second-best independent coffee shop, according to USA Today.

It fell short only of Monomyth Coffee in Lubbock, Texas.

Though bringing home the gold can be a bummer, ThreeBirds co-owner Joseph Langdon said he feels nothing but gratitude and happiness for the recognition.

"It's just testament to how amazing the Lehigh Valley community is," he said. "I had people coming up to me saying they were voting every day."

After buying the property in 2018 and going through a year's worth of renovations, Langdon and his wife, Jennifer Murray, opened ThreeBirds Coffee in 2019.

Described by USA Today as a "19th-century work of art," the shop offers a variety of yummy beverages and snacks with local ties.

'Striven to be an institution'

According to its website , ThreeBirds' pastries are baked fresh at The Modern Crumb bakery down the street. Its coffee beans, too, are locally based, ground two hours away in Lancaster.

The coffee shop even has two avian friends, hence the name.

There's Beetle, a Senegal parrot, and Dorian, an African Grey parrot, there to keep you company while you sip on your coffee or tea.

Upon hearing the news Wednesday morning, Langdon said "Dorian was very excited" and "Beetle didn't care."

Entries were judged based on coffee shops' atmospheres, baristas and menu offerings.

ThreeBirds was the only nominee from Pennsylvania; others were from as far north as Fargo, North Dakota, and as far west as Los Angeles, California.

"From the moment we opened our doors, we've striven to be an institution in the Lehigh Valley," Langdon said. "To be well-known.

"To have been embraced like this, we could not be more grateful."