• Courtesy of Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co.
• Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co.

Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co. — Order an espresso or a drip coffee to go at the roaster’s Waterbury Center coffee bar, and you’ll start your day satisfied and energized, no question. But to have your caffeine-lovin’ mind blown, and to buy more time to chat with the café’s affable baristas, opt for one of the artisanal specials. The Iced Maple Mazza, for example, is made from espresso, maple syrup, lemon and mint, shaken with ice and poured over sparkling water in a Belgian beer glass. Thirsty for more? Peek through the windows into the roastery, tour the facilities or enroll in a course at the School of Coffee. Alternatively, should you prefer DIY coffee, grab a bag of beans in store or online. Blends range from Artisan Dark to Mayan Decaf to a Colombian variety aged in WhistlePig whiskey barrels, for the daring.

Other Finalists

• Big Gear Coffee Roasters
• Brio Coffeeworks
• Kestrel Coffee Roasters
• Vivid Coffee Roasters