Originally a standalone shop in Mechanicsburg, The Cracked Pot is a new coffee spot that recently opened its second location on 34 N Hanover Street in Carlisle. What makes The Cracked Pot interesting isn’t only its great coffee, but also its driving purpose.

The mission statement reads, “Providing youth, who are aging out of foster care, new opportunities through Christ-centered community.” The store is a 501c3 non-profit, meaning that for religious and charitable reasons it is tax-exempt. Employees are young people leaving the foster care system, and therefore profits (according to their website) are directed towards providing housing, budgeting, transportation and mental wellness towards said employees. 

The shop itself is quite welcoming, yet surprisingly large. The entrance feels very on theme, where one can see behind the counter and experience the process of coffee being made. Past the counter is where the space opens up to numerous tables scattered in the back, even including a play area for children. The employees were extremely nice, even though I arrived ten minutes before closing.

Now for the coffee. A latte, cold or iced, is $4.80, a chai is $4.85, hot chocolate $2.50, espresso $3.00 – and regular, oat, and almond milk are all offered. 

For the sake of experiment, I tried a hot London fog, iced vanilla latte, iced lavender and honey latte, and a frosted coffee. 

The London fog (Earl Grey tea, vanilla flavoring, and milk) was one of the better ones I’ve had, a perfect comforting sip for non-coffee-drinkers. The frosted coffee was like an icy milkshake with a bland but pleasant coffee flavor; not sure if I recommend, but worth trying on a hot day. The iced vanilla latte rivals Denim Coffee’s; the vanilla came through strongly and there was a good coffee-to-milk ratio. 

And, last but not least, the lavender and honey latte by far stood out the most. In my experience, any coffee shop that sells lavender-flavored coffee knows what they’re doing, and this assumption was again proven right. I’d go back weekly for that coffee – it was full of flavor and exactly what I hoped for. 

The center of Carlisle now has two solid coffee shops: Denim Coffee and The Cracked Pot. There really isn’t any reason to choose one over the other; the decision should only be based on whether you’re heading north or south on a given day. One takeaway, though, is The Cracked Pot’s important efforts at maintaining stable lives for children aging out of foster care.