MULLICA HILL, N.J. – I walked into Crescent Moon Coffee and Tea Oct. 2 on a Sunday at 3:30 p.m. curious to try their coffee and food for the first time and was met with the smell of grounded coffee beans and fresh baked goods.
The place was fairly busy with college students on laptops using free Wi-Fi, friends hanging out on couches, and people reading while sipping coffee.
I ordered a grilled chicken panini ($8.95) and a small 12 oz. peppermint patty latte ($4.05). They were out of ciabatta bread, so they replaced it with whole grain bread. Along with ciabatta bread, they were out of toasted almond tea and mac and cheese.
I originally wanted mac and cheese, but decided to come back later.
The grilled chicken panini is described as “real grilled chicken topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, homemade grilled mixed vegetables, finished with dijon mustard served on ciabatta bread” on the menu.
However, the majority of the sandwich felt cold. I was disappointed because when I think of a grilled sandwich, I imagine a hot sandwich fresh off a grill. Some of the chicken felt warm, but everything else tasted cold.
The only redeeming quality of the panini was the bread. It tasted fresh and seasoned to perfection. In the future, I will order toast.
While the panini was disappointing, I enjoyed my experience with their coffee. The peppermint patty latte is a specialty latte containing chocolate and mint flavors. The coffee tasted similar—and maybe better—to Starbuck’s peppermint mocha, a current favorite of mine. No sugar or cream was needed.
The employees seem knowledgeable about the coffee and teas. I sat in a corner sipping a hot latte while listening to an employee explain different flavors and beans of coffee to a customer.
On the Crescent Moon website it said, “We are known for our homemade from scratch quiche and baked mac and cheese.” If the mac and cheese is so well known, it is no wonder they ran out on Sunday.
As a lover of all things cheesy, I knew I had to come back to try their mac and cheese ($7.60).
I visited again on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. This time their mac and cheese was available, and it did not disappoint.
The mac and cheese was burning hot with cheesy gooey goodness. I could taste a variety of melted cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan, and sharp American cheese.
I also ordered a small Reese’s latte ($4.05). Like the peppermint patty latte, the Reese’s latte was rich in flavor and no sugar or creamer was needed. I preferred the peppermint patty latte over the Reese’s but both were satisfying.
According to their website, “We are one of the area’s few Coffee Roasters that believes in roasting our beans light to bring out specific flavors based on the origin it comes. We’re also a proud purveyor of 45 plus types of fine loose leaf teas.”
There is a variety of coffee and teas to choose from. If you love coffee or tea, you have to visit.
On my second visit, I noticed the owner of Crescent Moon, Sharon Vaccarello, was working along with her employees.
“I’m going to teach you how to make iced coffee and hot chocolate,” said Vaccarello to an employee in training.
I met Vaccarello a few years ago for a job interview, and though I wasn’t hired, I left with the impression that Vaccarello truly cares about her employees, customers, and coffee. She treats her employees like a family and her customers with respect.
While being interviewed she talked a lot about coffee and how Crescent Moon is different from other coffee places. Earlier this year Crescent Moon was voted as the best coffee shop in Gloucester County.
“Crescent Moon Coffee and Tea is a socially responsible organic coffee roaster and purveyor of fine loose leaf teas that believes farmers deserve a fair wage,” is printed on the coffee cups.
The coffee is definitely a hit while the food can be a hit or miss. Overall, I recommend this place. Crescent Moon Coffee and Tea is the perfect place to study and relax while sipping coffee or tea.
Hours according to their Facebook page: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
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