I got my first Java Love buzz a couple of months ago, and I haven’t stopped jonesing for another fix.
Luckily for me, and every other coffee connoisseur in Baristaville, the Java Love Coffee Roasting Co. just opened a charming cafe at 244 Bellevue Avenue in Upper Monclair.
Java Love owners Jodie Dawson and Kristine Petrik, Montclair locals, have been hand roasting organic, fair trade, and rainforest alliance certified coffee beans in 25 pound batches at their shop in the Catskills for a couple of years, waiting for the right time to establish a shop in our area.
“We love Montclair, and have been wanting to open a cafe to create a gathering place that supports the community and local artisans,” says Dawson. Java Love accomplishes that through agreements with area businesses to carry each others products. The shop has such arrangements with Montclair Bread Company, Little Daisy Bake Shop, Yogic Chai, The Chocolate Path, Donna & Company chocolates, and Five Acre Farms. They also sell mugs by local potter Carla Horowitz, and tees, coffee cozies, and aprons with the fun and funky Java Love logo, created by local graphic designer Tracey Diamond.
The café, located in the former Crookhorns space, is decorated with a sparkling chandelier at the entrance and reclaimed wood of varying hues fixed to the walls. “I like the contrast of elegant with rustic,” says Dawson. Java Love coffee beans also come in strikingly different styles and flavors. Judging from their Facebook page, Bad Ass blend is a favorite among customers, along with Rwanda and Premium House Blend. I love the rich Espresso Blend and the smooth Cold Brew, which is crafted specifically for iced coffee drinks.
Dawson and Petrik believe that when it comes to quality coffee, freshness is everything. That’s why they personally drop in on their coffee brokers to inspect and select beans–practically right off the boat. Not many roasters select their inventory so directly.
The partners even visited Hacienda La Minita in Costa Rica last fall to witness the coffee bean growing and harvesting process. Here’s a video of their coffee journey:
If their beans are good, well roasted, and close to reasonably priced,I can only say Hallelujah–it’s about time.
So, so happy to see this opening, we desperately needed a good coffee house like this uptown! Had the coffee today and it was killer. I’ll be an absolute regular for sure.
This made my day. I can’t wait to try some Bad Ass Blend coffee.
This place is great! I wish them well. I hope everyone stops to get some coffee on the way to the train in the morning! It’s also a nice pairing with Olive That next door. I hope they all do well.
Sweet, made my day as well. The bean roulette at WF for my Miss Silvia may finally be ovah.
This is a great addition to Montclair. Their regular drip coffee is extremely good, but their cold brew is even better (it is actually brewed at room temperature). Personally I think the cold brew method is one of the best way to make coffee, heat contaminates the flavor of coffee. Hence it is a joy to have a place in town where one can get a cold brew espresso.
I’ve stopped by twice now in the evening, most recently last Saturday at 8pm. They were closed. They are next door to a movie theater. Definitely disappointing, especially given that I live much closer to Trend. I won’t be trying a third time; they obviously have no interest in filling the evening niche in any way.
Based on all the comments I went to Java Love today for my daily Ice Coffee.
Thoughts:
Lovely place, however the ice coffee was average at best and is expensive! $3.50 for a large that is about 12 ounces. When I asked why it was so costly the girl said because we are the best so we can charge that price. Lets just stay i will stick to my coffee from whole foods!