Back in the winter of 2015, I was in search of an intern from one of the local colleges who could, fingers crossed, take some nice looking professional photos for the lifestyle site and related social media — including Instagram which at the time I’d mistakenly thought of as only tangentially important (oh how foolish I was) — I’d recently launched.

It was she who first introduced me to Empire Tea & Coffee in Newport. (Thanks, Ashley!)

As I later learned, Empire had been making a name for themselves, dating back to 2004, by roasting their own beans and brewing up some of the freshest, best tasting cups of joe (both hot and iced) on the island.

Up until then, I had been getting my NPT County coffee by way of a popular chain known for its mermaid logo and Seattle origins (wink, wink).

Well, no more!

Going forward, my go-to’s in that neck of the woods would be Empire’s William Street and Broadway locations respectively. (In fact, we were just at the light filled, buzz-y William Street one for Sunday morning coffee and muffins a week or so before the shutdown.)

If you’re looking to get out this week (lotsa sunshine and mild-ish temps in the forecast) and maybe stroll around Newport, the news is that both of those spots, situated in the heart of city, have reopened their doors for takeout.

The key is ordering in advance, though. Simply download their FREE app or go to their site: EmpireTeaAndCoffee.com to preview their menu and place your order and happy cawfee-ing!