Henry’s in Lawrence

The key to pulling an all-nighter is to find the right balance of caffeine and relaxation. This can be achieved through a bit of alchemy — a shot of espresso and a beer every three hours.

Those without an espresso machine would be hard-pressed (that’s a coffee pun — they’re hard to make, so enjoy it) to do better than the laid-back Henry’s on Eighth (11 E. 8th St.) in Lawrence. The first floor feels like a well-lived-in coffee shop, its exposed brick walls covered with local art. Even at 5 p.m., people are hunched over laptops taking advantage of the free wireless Internet.

A massive chalkboard wall lists the menu. When it comes to iced drinks, the coffee bar uses cold-pressed espresso to avoid bitterness. The iced mocha is a proper blend of chocolate and beans, but the Honey Nut Latte shines: hazelnut espresso, honey and milk (your choice of whole, skim or soy). Baristas are deliberate but friendly. And while I thought Z’s Espresso had the cheapest espresso shot in town at 50 cents, I was wrong. An extra espresso shot at Henry’s is only a quarter.

Baked goods are wrapped in cellophane ready to go. The lemon bar is a square hunk of shortbread topped with a tangy lemon filling, while cinnamon rolls’ icing smells sweet even through the plastic. When the barista asked if I wanted my cinnamon roll heated, I knew I was in good hands. To paraphrase Red in Shawshank Redemption, it’s fair to say I liked Henry’s right away.