All Points North - Dinner at the Den

A Different Blend

Coffee and Candy offered at new cafe downtown

Story and photos by Tats Kasama

store front A Different Blend opened in June 2006.

"A Different Blend? What’s that? Where is it?"

People who enjoy chug-a-mug Monday night at Peabody’s will recognize the name of the new coffee shop located on the same block as Peabody’s.

A Different Blend opened in June 2006. Stepping inside, one will see many forms of artwork, mostly photos and paintings, hung on the red and yellow walls. Those bright colors and the artwork grab your attention. The shop has five tables, that are made and painted yellow by the staff, for about 12 people, and a sofa. The counter seats about five people.

A Different Blend offers 24 kinds of coffee and 14 kinds of tea, and also sells those coffee beans and tea leaves. The menu includes soda, shakes, espresso, soups, salads and sandwiches. A candy counter offers nearly 50 kinds of candies, too.

A Different Blend’s menu is budget-pleasing for students compared to other coffee shops such as Starbucks. Coffee and tea start from $1.20, and all drinks are less than $3.00. A bagel is 65 cents, and a 'Stuff Your Puff' starts from $3.75.

Candy Bar A Different Blend offers nearly 50 kinds of candies, starting from $2.50 per half pound.

Most of the artwork hanging inside A Different Blend is created by local artists, one of who is a high school student. They are all available for sale and price tags have the artists’ contact information. The prices range from $5 for a small photo to several hundred dollars for a big canvas painting. Tea pots, on the shelf near the ceiling, are also for sale.

After looking at the artwork, I ordered a cup of spiced chai tea and a turkey sandwich. I watched as the worker took wheat bread from a Ziplock bag and began to make my sandwich.

The sandwich was ordinary. The chai tea was just as ordinary. Nothing seemed to be special. I wondered if I would have tasted a difference, if I had ordered something different.

An impromptu visit to the coffee shop might be good when you are tired and hungry, but I would not go there on purpose.

Recalling that a friend of mine was addicted to gummy candy, I purchased half a pound of Gummy Alligators for two dollars. I probably would eventually give it to another friend.

Store Paintings Most pieces of the artwork in A Different Blend were created by local artists.

The artistic atmosphere of A Different Blend is good, though there is no unity in the different kinds of artwork. This place is not for studying, unlike other cafes, because the tables are too small to open books and work on laptops, unstable. The noise from the radio makes it hard to concentrate. Selected background music, not the radio programs, would provide a better atmosphere.

Brenna Miller, the owner of A Different Blend, said they once had live music performances. If they had regularly scheduled events, especially on weekends, more people would be likely to come.

What do you expect from a coffee shop?

A Different Blend
19 Clinton Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

518-563-5975

Open Hours
Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cardinal Cash accepted