Fancy a Cuppa, USA? : 110 Coffee Shops and Tea Rooms in 53 Towns and Cities Across 27 States East of Mississippi

Fancy a Cuppa, USA? began as an American follow-up to our UK guide to 50 great places for coffee and tea, all with a story to tell.

But as we toured the 27 states east of the Mississippi, this became something more than a guide to independent coffee shops and tea rooms in the USA.

It is as much about the people we met as it is about coffee and tea.

We were staggered by the diversity of people who run the coffee shops and tea rooms: young and old; Native American to 5th generation European; coffee experts and those who just have a passion for what they're doing.

It's also about Main Street America today. Fancy a Cuppa, USA? looks in brief at how the 53 towns visited were given their British or European names; how they developed from the initial settlements; and how they are working to maintain their identity in the face of the out-of-town malls.

For many, the independent coffee shop and tea room is the hub of the local community.

You may not know all the towns and venues reviewed here, but if you're inspired by some of the stories we tell maybe these communities will continue to thrive in the future.