The March reader poll was a bit of a back and forth, especially in the last week, before a winner finally emerged and held on in the final hours.

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The monthly reader poll is sponsored by RahwayIsHappening.com, the Rahway Special Improvement District (SID). For March, the SID presented five coffee drinks featured at local java joints.

What’s your favorite featured coffee in Rahway?

1. Sugar Cinnamon Charcoal Latte, Melao Coffee and Creamery — 43 percent (104/244 votes)
2. Caramel Latte, The Coffee Box, 39 percent (94/244)
3. White Mocha Latte, Copacabana Coffee and Bagels — 14 percent (35/244)
4. Vietnamese Coffee, Tasa Teahouse — 2.46 percent (6/244)
5. French Vanilla Swirl Latte, Dunkin’ — 2.05 percent (5/244)

Melao Cafe and Creamery‘s Sugar Cinnamon Charcoal Latte jumped out to an early lead in the first weeks of March but the Caramel Latte at The Coffee Box kept nipping at its heels all month and actually took over the lead within a week of the polls closing. Melao, however, ended up regaining the lead and ultimately taking the crown again by just 10 votes, garnering 43 percent of the overall 244 votes. The Coffee Box, at Irving and East Cherry streets, was a close second, with 39 percent of the vote.

Melao, located on Irving Street in the ground floor retail of Carriage City Plaza, also is the two-time defending champion — both in 2022 and 2021 — of the “What’s Favorite Coffee in Rahway?” poll.

Coming in third among the group of five was the White Mocha Latte at Copacabana Coffee on East Milton Avenue, with 14 percent of the vote, grabbing 35 of the 244 votes. The new kid on the block, Tasa Teahouse, which recently celebrated its grand opening at the corner of Lewis and Irving streets, finished fourth. Its Vietnamese Coffee edged out Dunkin‘s French Vanilla Swirl Latte by just a single vote, collecting 6 votes (2.46 percent) compared to Dunkin’s 5 votes (2.05 percent).

Thanks to everyone who provided a vote. Be on the lookout for a new poll for the month of April. In the meantime, enjoy the start of spring!

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For RahwayRising.com’s 15th anniversary, consider a $15 contribution via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee – or support local news all year round by becoming a monthly Patron.