in the Boston Area. He describes his coffee as "down the middle…dark enough for a hearty brew but not so dark that every bean tastes burnt". Also, depending on the store, J.P. Licks also offers breakfast goods such as croissants, muffins, cookies, cupcakes, scones, and bagels. These are also all made in the J.P. Licks headquarters. Community service J.P. Licks is known to donate to local charities, organizations, and schools. Not only does it give its food for various events and donates gift cards to non-profits for auctions, but it also sets up in-store charitable incentives. It supported the Starlight foundation by giving a “J.P. Licks” dollar to anyone who donated one dollar to Starlight. It has also set up a one-day special for Veterans Day where all proceeds from one-dollar coffees went to the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans. In 2011, it had a long-term partnership with the Home for Little Wanderers and are encouraging donations through once again offering “J.P. Licks dollars” in all their stores. In 2019, J.P. Licks started holding an annual Sock Drive every February to benefit the guests of Rosie's Place. J.P. Licks also has a robust artist program, displaying the work of local artists in 16 of their 17 stores. The artists display their work free of charge, with no commission taken from sales. Some of their most notable artists include Sharif Muhammad, Ekua Holmes, who recently displayed her work at the MFA in Boston, and Robin Abrahams, otherwise known as "Miss Conduct," an advice columnist for The Boston Globe, who turned to art during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. J.P. Licks partners with several Boston area arts organizations to elevate the visibility of arts in Boston as the company knows that a thriving arts community means a thriving restaurant community. Some recent partners include The Boch Center, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, and Boston Bookfest. In 2021, the only free Chess Club in Boston started using the Jamaica Plain J.P. Licks location as their Thursday evening home. It's a place where anyone of any skill level can play a match - outside in the summer, and inside in colder months - over a cup of ice cream or coffee. Awards J.P. Licks has received over 400 awards, ranging from major honors to small magazine recognitions. Past awards include “Best of Boston” by Boston magazine, “Best Location - Jamaica Plain” by Boston