Tucked in the parking lot of Fisher’s Florist on King Street in Shippensburg, there is a cozy looking camper with a flag reading OPEN waving in the breeze. With a service window allowing for a full view of an array of syrups and the menu listing all the items available to order, customers are in for a treat. Opening back in March 2024, Railside Coffee is the place to go for a sip of coffee during the week.

On the outside of the camper, the menu is on full display with pricing listed very clearly. Railside serves an assortment of drinks such as frappes, lattes, breves, chai teas, lemonades, cream soda, lotus and cold brew. With it being such a tiny camper, it is impressive that the owners can fit all the equipment and ingredients inside, but they make it work.

The specials are listed too, as well as their fall menu. They also have the options to add cold foam to any cold drink and offer whole milk or oat milk. Other than drinks they also had chocolate chip pumpkin muffins and homemade granola. They were also selling bags of the coffee they brew, which is from Fresh Cup Roasters.

When it comes to small coffee shops, pricing can get a little out of hand. However, Railside Coffee seems reasonably priced. The most expensive drink is a latte, which is priced at $5 or $5.50 depending on the size.

Ordering was extremely easy as you just walk up to the window and you are greeted by the baristas behind the counter. From the fall menu, the pumpkin spice latte had an option of either 16 or 20 ounces, hot or iced. The iced pumpkin spice latte was delicious, and it was not overly pumpkin flavored. Hot or iced, the pumpkin-spiced latte was still the perfect drink for a September morning.

The iced brown sugar and cinnamon latte, also from the fall menu, was delightful as well, being very reminiscent of Starbucks’ popular brown sugar shaken expresso. Compared to Starbucks, Railside’s brown sugar cinnamon latte was not as overpowering and was the perfect amount of spice and sweetness. The homemade chocolate chip pumpkin muffin, topped with some sugar, was delectable. It was moist and rich; the chocolate chips complemented the pumpkin muffin extremely well and made it the perfect morning treat to get the day started. With the muffin being the only other food item besides the homemade granola, Railside Coffee’s menu is mainly focused on drinks.

At first it did not seem like there was much seating, however to one side of the camper there are a few assorted patio chairs, a picnic table, as well a basket with picnic blankets, and directly behind the camper is a porch swing attached to the branch of a tree. Parking should not ever be an issue, since one can either park at Fisher’s Florist or on a gravel lot to the left of Fisher’s.

The road signage listing the shop’s regular days and hours is on the smaller side, but it is still visible when you drive past on Walnut Bottom Road. While it was not busy on a Thursday morning, it was still a delightful experience on a cool fall day. Railside Coffee does have an Instagram, and even though its social media presence is small, the owners do post when they have new baked goods, drinks and if they will be open on Saturdays.

The cozy camper is the perfect addition to charming downtown Shippensburg. With wonderful staff, delicious menu and seating on the side of the camper, Railside Coffee is the perfect place to sit and chat with friends over a cup of coffee.

Railside Coffee Instagram: @rail.sidecoffee

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