By Stefanie Gans and Lynn Norusis
Stay caffeinated at these coffee shops in Fredericksburg:
25 30 Espresso is where to grab a cup of joe, a treat or lunch. There are tables for working and chairs for lounging filled with students, professionals and commuters (the shop is right across from the VRE station). But this shop is all about the coffee, and baristas train in the latest coffee trends—Chemex, beehouse and siphon brews along with the traditional espresso drinks. –LN Wi-Fi: free; Beans: Counter Culture Coffee (Durham, North Carolina) // 400 Princess Anne St., Fredericksburg
Walking the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, make sure to take a trip down Caroline Street a little past all the shops to Agora Downtown Coffee Shop. In this old house you’ll find a quaint hub placing emphasis on hanging out. The front room pairs a coffee bar with a small shopping section of locally made goods and a shelf filled with books by local authors. As you make your way toward the back, there are nooks for studying, reading and conversing, all with stacked bookshelves throughout. Out back take in the sun under the pergola and relax with your pup. –LN Wi-Fi: free; Beans: Ricks Roasters Coffee Company (Fredericksburg), for sale // 520 Caroline St., Fredericksburg
About a 10-minute drive from downtown Fredericksburg, Blackstone is built for studying students with plenty of workspaces, jobs marketed to incoming freshmen and seasonal drinks, like the frozen Nutella hot chocolate dubbed First Day. –SG Wi-Fi: free; Beans: private label, for sale // 1113 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg
Situated in the middle of downtown Fredericksburg, this two-room, two-level shop with abundant outside seating is always filled with a mix of students, laptoppers and that random dude sipping on a black coffee, smoking a cigarette, sitting outside with his dog, staring into the sun. –SG Wi-Fi: free; Beans: Batdorf & Bronson (Atlanta) // 301 William St., Fredericksburg
