Happy Creek Coffee and Tea in the quiet hamlet of The Plains, VA is a gather center for coffee and pedal bike enthusiasts – as the shop shares quarters with Haymarket Bicycles. Known for their high quality coffee beans and gluten free goodies, Happy Creek recently added Trickling Springs ice cream into the mix. So, now they can make affogatos too.

The shop has high white ceilings with colorful bicycle rimmed chandeliers layered with coffee mugs. Milk chocolate walls, espresso colored flooring, and iron and wood tables and chairs give off a warm glow with the light streaming in from the outside. And of course, there are plenty of bicycles in for service.

As The Plains, VA is a convenient and pretty location off of Route 66, I have visited Happy Creek Coffee a number of times over the years for a caffeine pick-me-up and to enjoy the excellent backroads surrounding the community.

On a visit in the spring, I ordered their vegetable soup – potatoes, leeks, bean, celery, onions – and a latte. The soup arrived piping hot with decent chunks of vegetables in a water based stock. While under seasoned and in need of more depth, the vegetables were soft in the mouth and nourishing. As the temperatures were still chilly outside, the soup did a good job warming me up. The hot latte was a complete success, with properly frothed milk and very good espresso flavors delivered in a white porcelain cup and saucer. Happy Creek roasts their own beans, achieving a medium roast house blend, and sources beans from high quality growers.

On a recent visit in late August, while reviewing the Moto Guzzi V7 iii Racer, I ordered a hot mocha and a single scoop of coffee ice cream. The mocha arrived table side with some lovely heart shaped artwork, deeply frothed milk, and solid chocolate flavors reaching down through the cup. The Trickling Springs coffee ice cream was creamy, with good coffee flavors and balance. Both were a solid combination for this rider with a strong sweet tooth.

So, if you find yourself in the hamlet of The Plains, VA while out and about, I would certainly recommend a stop at Happy Creek Coffee & Tea (with ice cream).

Happy Creek Coffee & Tea
6485 Main Street
The Plains, VA 20198
(540) 253-2084
www.happycreekcoffee.com
https://goo.gl/maps/tsiLrhEw99RcZsC29

Notes:
-They have other locations listed on their website.