Chocolate, Spice & Everything Nice

Sanctuary, Haven, Cozy, Comfortable. These were the names that owner Shannon Wylie considered when opening The Nook Coffee House in East Greenwich four years ago. “I wanted it to be a sanctuary, a safe spot for people,” she says. And with an assortment of locally produced goods – bagels from Providence Bagel, donuts from KNEAD, croissants from Iggy’s Breads, and even their own brand of coffee produced by New Harvest – The Nook has everything you would want when holing up in the middle of winter to stay warm.

The Mexican Hot Chocolate is one drink that’s perfect on a day when you want an extra bit of heat. “When we first put it on the menu, Jess [one of our regulars] said something was missing,” Wylie explains. “Instead of just adding cayenne, we began playing around with cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg until we had the perfect recipe.” The result is a delicious blend of sweetness and spice.

Victoria, a local sitting across the way, recommends the Red Chili Tea Latte if you’re looking for a tea alternative. “With a shot of vanilla,” she adds, because it opens up the flavor.

It’s unusual to find a room full of strangers-turned-friends, but that’s the type of community Wylie has cultivated here. “My personal mission is for each person to leave in a better mood than when they came in,” Wylie says. So, when you need to escape the winter, you can look to The Nook for warmth, both in atmosphere and in drinks.