Brew With a View

Inspired by the roasting revolution that started in the Pacific Northwest, indie coffeemakers have been sprouting up all over the country and bettering their brews with high-quality beans for years. Thankfully, for those of us living in Baltimore, coffeehouses are becoming as ubiquitous as crabhouses. There are plenty of spots to get our fix in the morning, but Annapolis-based bean-pusher Ceremony Coffee might be the king of the craft coffee scene. 

Step into any of Ceremony’s five locations, including its latest, located beneath the behemoth Exelon building in Harbor Point, and you’re bound to be impressed. Denim-clad baristas exercise extreme levels of care while crafting your coffee, which is sourced from four continents and finished at Ceremony’s own Anne Arundel County roastery. Cappuccinos arrive with elaborate floral designs. Daily selections of pour-over coffees filter through Chemex beakers. Nitro cold brews settle beneath stainless steel taps. But don’t be intimidated: The staff at Ceremony delights in dazzling visitors. (Meanwhile, prepare for full lift-off, as you’ll likely leave feeling rocket fuel-infused.)

Compared to its Zen-like older sister in Mt. Vernon, with its white interior and zinc surfaces, the Harbor Point location is a bit more rustic, with deep blues, warm woods, and stone accents that complement its sweeping waterfront view. Roomy and luminous, it’s reminiscent of a shared workspace, catering to both residents and the commuting crowd. 

Ceremony’s mission states that coffee “is, above all, the heart of our craft,” so it’s not surprising that the seasonal food menu, while pretty, feels like somewhat of an afterthought. Still, we appreciate the expanded offerings, including small plates such as house-made hummus and charcuterie boards, an assortment of sandwiches, and more ambitious dishes such as baked falafel with HEX Ferments beets. But the basic toasts and bowls are still Ceremony’s strong suit. At breakfast, we savored the smoked salmon with Greek yogurt, red onion, and herbs artfully arranged on Cunningham’s bread. Another afternoon, we treated ourselves to the summery raspberry-mint toast with puffy pillows of ricotta. Bowl-wise, we enjoyed the spring macro salad, loaded with avocado, sweet potato, and goat cheese on a bed of arugula and quinoa. The granola bowls were beauties, too, with citrus-vanilla yogurt flecked with fresh fruit. 

Open until 9 p.m., the coffeehouse cafe also features our other favorite beverage: booze. Harbor Point has a full liquor license, with its mini bar stocked full of local beer, wine, cocktails, and adult frozen drinks. We welcomed the brain freeze of a Vinho Verde slushie, made with white wine and yellow Chartreuse, followed by a shot of espresso to help sober us up.

›› CEREMONY COFFEE 1312 Point St. 410-601-3561, Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.