A beekeeper named John once shared his craft with a Pennsylvania woman, and now a whole coffee shop carries his name. That’s the kind of thank-you note most of us would never think to write.
The honey in your latte here can come straight from the owners’ own apiary. Matcha gets sweetened with raw honey, and nearby shelves hold honey jars, loose teas, and handmade soaps.
I like how the place feels personal before you even learn the full story. The friendship sits right there on the sign, on the menu, and in the cheerful bee decor.
I believe the best small businesses start with a person, not a business plan. That friendship eventually grew into a coffee shop where the honey, the name, and the story behind both are all connected.
The Friendship Behind The Name Will Tug At Your Heart
Most coffee shops get named after a street, a pun, or the owner. Old Man John’s Coffee and Honey House in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, went a sweeter route and named itself after a friend.
The friendship began during the pandemic, when beekeeper John Baronitis struck up a conversation with Lakota Maglioli’s husband, Mark, about a car. The couple later helped John as he battled cancer, and he offered them his beehives in return.
After John passed away in February 2024, they honored their friend by naming the coffee shop after him.
What began as lessons around the hives grew into a real bond, the kind that changes the direction of a life.
That friendship eventually became the heart of a business. The couple kept the bees, harvested the honey, and later built a coffee house where that honey could shine.
The shop’s website shares more of John’s story, and it’s worth reading before a visit. Knowing the backstory makes every jar on the shelf feel a little more meaningful.
Honestly, how many people get a cafe named after them for sharing a hobby? Most of us would be thrilled with a nice card or a plate of cookies.
The shop is also proudly Indigenous-owned and women-owned. That adds another layer of pride to a place already built on generosity and passing knowledge forward.
So when you order, remember the name on your cup belongs to a real person. Somewhere in that latte is a lesson John once taught about patience, care, and bees.
Your Latte Might Be Sweetened By The Shop’s Own Bees
Plenty of cafes offer honey in a squeeze bottle. Here, the honey comes from the owners’ own apiary, and it shows up right inside the drinks.
Local raw honey is a signature ingredient across the menu. It turns ordinary coffee orders into something you really can’t copy at a chain down the highway.
The house honey cinnamon iced latte is the obvious place to start. It blends espresso, milk, cinnamon, and that house honey into one very convincing argument for a second visit.
Raw honey has a flavor that changes with flowers and seasons. That means each batch carries a little snapshot of where the bees spent their time buzzing around northeastern Pennsylvania.
Fun fact: one honeybee makes only a tiny fraction of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime. Suddenly that drizzle in your cup feels like a group project worth respecting.
Using their own honey also connects the cafe straight back to John. The beekeeping lessons he shared now live on in the honey-sweetened drinks served across the counter.
A quick tip for first-timers: ask the barista which drinks feature the house honey that day. The staff knows the menu well and can steer you toward a honey-forward pick that fits your mood.
Matcha Fans, Clear Your Morning Schedule
Green drinks rule here in a big way. Matcha ranks among the most talked-about orders at Old Man John’s Coffee and Honey House, and it’s easy to see why.
The cafe pairs matcha with raw honey for a soft, natural sweetness. Instead of a sugary syrup blast, you get an earthy tea flavor with a gentle golden finish.
Matcha comes from green tea leaves ground into a fine powder. Since you drink the whole leaf, the flavor runs bolder than a regular cup of steeped green tea.
Coffee drinkers who want a calmer caffeine boost often like matcha for that reason. It still wakes you up, just with a little less of that jittery espresso rush.
Here’s a clever bonus: the shop also sells matcha raw honey in its retail section. That means you can recreate a bit of the magic in your own kitchen on lazy Sunday mornings.
Stir it into hot tea, drizzle it on toast, or spoon it over yogurt. It’s a small jar with plenty of ways to stretch your trip long after you leave Luzerne.
Order your matcha hot or iced, then pick your milk. Oat, coconut, and 2 percent are all on the table, so nobody gets left out of the green-drink club.
Banana Lattes Are Weirdly Hard To Stop Thinking About
A drink called the Bruised Banana sounds like a fruit bowl having a rough week. Somehow, it’s one of the most charming orders on the menu.
Banana flavor shows up in several creative ways at this shop. The banana latte stays popular, and some folks even add banana and chocolate shots to an Americano.
That combo sounds bold, but think of it like a frozen chocolate banana in coffee form. Sweet, nutty, and rich, it hits a sweet spot many cafes never bother trying.
The creativity doesn’t stop with bananas, either. A raspberry danish latte brings bakery-case vibes straight into your cup, which feels a bit like dessert sneaking into breakfast.
Feeling adventurous? Try one fruity drink and one classic so you can compare.
Worst case, you leave with a new favorite and a good story about ordering something called the Bruised Banana.
Save Room For A Blue Corn Scone, Seriously
Blue corn in a scone? It’s an unexpected twist, and the blue corn scone has become a quiet star of the pastry case.
Blue corn has deep roots in Indigenous cooking across North America. Seeing it in a bakery treat at an Indigenous-owned shop feels thoughtful, not just trendy.
The pastry lineup goes beyond scones, too. A lobster tail pastry, mini chocolate croissants, and raspberry cookies have all made appearances on the counter.
Quick explainer: a lobster tail pastry has nothing to do with seafood. It’s a crisp, layered shell shaped like a tail and filled with sweet cream, so relax.
Many desserts are baked for the cafe just down the street. The shop also highlights a featured baker, which keeps the case fresh and supports other local talent.
That rotating setup means the selection can change from visit to visit. If you spot something you love, grab it, because it might not be waiting for you next week.
A smart move is pairing a pastry with a honey drink. The blue corn scone next to a honey cinnamon latte makes a combo that feels almost too cozy for a weekday morning.
The Honey House Side Is A Shopping Trip Of Its Own
Walk past the coffee bar and the second half of the name finally makes sense. The honey house side of Old Man John’s Coffee and Honey House is packed with goodies worth browsing.
Jars of the shop’s own honey take center stage. Flavored options like cinnamon honey and matcha raw honey give you fun ways to sweeten breakfast at home.
Cinnamon honey on warm toast is a simple upgrade that feels fancy. Matcha honey works beautifully in tea, and both make thoughtful gifts for anyone who likes cozy kitchen projects.
Then there’s the beef tallow facial soap, which surprises a lot of first-time shoppers. Tallow soap is an old-fashioned recipe making a comeback for people who want simple skincare ingredients.
The shelves also hold teas, jewelry, and shop merch. It’s a curated mix, so you won’t find random clutter, just items that fit the bee-loving spirit of the place.
Holiday shopping gets easier here, honestly. Honey, soap, and a cute necklace could knock out half your gift list before your latte even cools.
Plan an extra ten minutes for browsing. It’s easy to come in for coffee and leave holding a little bag of honey treats you didn’t know you needed.
Seasonal Drinks Keep Regular Visits Feeling Brand New
Some menus never change, and that’s fine for diners. This coffee house likes to shake things up with seasonal specials that keep curious sippers guessing.
The London Fog Nog is a great example of that playful spirit. It blends the cozy tea style of a London Fog with holiday eggnog energy, sweetened with local raw honey.
Matcha raw honey drinks also show up in the seasonal rotation. Honey keeps popping up because, well, the owners literally keep bees, so it would be strange if it didn’t.
The shop has even run a cheeky winter menu built around beating the gloomy-weather blues. Clever names and comforting flavors make cold Pennsylvania months a little easier to handle.
Good news for caffeine-sensitive folks, too. Decaf espresso joined the lineup after customers asked, which shows the team actually listens and adjusts.
Lower-caffeine choices like tea drinks also help balance things out. Afternoon visits don’t have to mean staring at your ceiling at midnight.
Milk options include oat, coconut, and 2 percent, so most diets fit in easily. Ask about the current specials when you order, because the seasonal board might hold your next obsession.
Small Space, Big Personality, And Bees Everywhere
Tiny shops have to be clever, and this one nails it. The layout splits neatly, with coffee and pastries on the left and the retail shop on the right.
That simple setup makes a small room feel organized instead of cramped. You can grab a drink and browse honey without bumping elbows with anyone.
Bee decor adds a big dose of charm throughout the space. It’s cute without going overboard, and it ties every corner back to John and his hives.
Music plays in the background while drinks get made. The mood leans calm and cozy, which makes it a nice stop for a quiet book or an easy chat.
Seating comes in both indoor and outdoor options. On pleasant days, an outdoor seat with an iced honey latte sounds like a pretty solid plan.
The space works for solo visits, catch-ups with friends, or a quick family treat after a weekend outing. It feels personal, like someone designed it for neighbors rather than crowds.
Bring a notebook or a paperback if you’d like to linger. A small table, a warm mug, and a little bee-themed scenery can turn a coffee break into a real reset.
Finding It On Main Street Is The Easiest Part
Planning a visit is easy with the shop’s Main Street location. Check its latest opening hours before heading out, since online listings don’t all agree on the weekly schedule.
That steady schedule takes the guesswork out of planning. Whether it’s a Tuesday commute or a lazy Sunday, the door should be open.
You’ll find Old Man John’s Coffee and Honey House at 63 Main St, Luzerne, PA 18709. The small borough sits in the Wyoming Valley of northeastern Pennsylvania, close to Wilkes-Barre.
Its Main Street spot makes it a handy stop on local errands. Grab a drink, pick up a jar of honey, and still get home before your ice melts.
Travelers passing through NEPA can easily work it into a road trip. A quick detour for a honey latte beats another forgettable gas station cup any day.
Supporting a place like this also keeps a great story going. Every visit helps an Indigenous-owned, women-owned business keep honoring the beekeeper who started it all.
So next time you’re near Luzerne, make the stop. John shared his bees with a friend, and now the whole valley gets a sweeter cup of coffee because of it.
