{"id":29733,"date":"2020-09-23T08:02:35","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T13:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/?p=29733"},"modified":"2023-01-13T16:59:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T22:59:04","slug":"cafe-crawl-providence-rhode-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/cafe-crawl-providence-rhode-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Caf\u00e9 Crawl: A Guide to Providence, Rhode Island’s Coffee Shops and Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo by Tom Henell<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Coffee Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Providence, Rhode Island, sits about 50 miles south of Boston and 185 miles north of New York City. From summer strolls at WaterFire to fine Italian dining on Federal Hill, this New England city has much to offer visitors and residents alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee may not be the first thing one tends to associate with Providence. Nevertheless, there are numerous places tucked all throughout the city where one can find a quality cup of coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This piece highlights three coffee shops: Bolt Coffee Company, Borealis Coffee Company, and The Shop. I spoke with the owners of each business about their origins, caf\u00e9 environments and coffee products, and relationships to Providence. While each location has a distinct feel and approach to coffee, what they all have in common is a commitment to cultivating community with those who enter their spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Dee Walls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bolt Coffee Company<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

boltcoffeecompany.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Bolt Coffee Company originated in 2012 as a cart and catering company, Providence was not home to any third-wave coffee shops that were putting cup quality first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was less focus on the science of extraction,\u201d says coffee director and lead roaster Justin Enis, who became involved early on with Bolt, seeing it as a real opportunity to grow a local coffee fan base. In 2014, Bolt opened their first physical location in downtown\u2019s Dean Hotel. Shortly after, Enis developed a multi-roaster program, which involved working with a variety of roasters on short-term contracts to bring different coffees to the Providence community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bolt Coffee Company photo by Dee Walls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The company soon launched additional locations, including at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum in 2016, a new roastery space in 2017, and another caf\u00e9 within the Jewelry District in 2019. In 2020, Bolt opened their first stand-alone space on Washington Street in downtown Providence, one week before COVID-19 disrupted the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a period of significant expansion, says Enis, \u201cit has really been a chance to start anew.\u201d Bolt has used this time to give staff opportunities to grow and focus on providing spaces where customers feel welcome, safe, and supported\u2014feelings that the Providence community reciprocates, particularly in this time of COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a real safety net within the community for businesses that are intentional about facilitating that community,\u201d says Enis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
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Borealis Coffee Company photo by Dee Walls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Borealis Coffee Company<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

borealiscoffee.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, Brian Dwiggins opened Borealis Coffee in Riverside, Rhode Island, as \u201ca way to connect with as many people as possible over a cup of coffee.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After roasting and selling at farmers markets for a few years, while balancing work on movie sets, Dwiggins came across what is now the current Borealis location, situated conveniently along the East Bay Bike Path. At the time, there were not many specialty coffee options available outside of Providence; opening a caf\u00e9 presented a more sustainable approach to operating a coffee business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A roaster first, Dwiggins says, \u201cI don\u2019t claim to have the best coffee, but I want to be a local coffee shop people are excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Borealis Coffee Company photo by Dee Walls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a third-wave caf\u00e9, initially those passing by in their cars, on the sidewalk, or along the bike path might misread the space as \u201ctoo fancy\u201d or at an unreasonable price point, but Borealis strives to cultivate an approachable atmosphere where customers are able to transform their relationship to coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is exciting when people can\u2019t drink what they used to drink after having your product,\u201d says Dwiggins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Borealis has fondly evolved into the \u201cEast Bay roaster,\u201d providing a specialty coffee option for commuters during the week and users of the bike path on the weekends. Though not located in the city, Borealis has maintained close ties to the coffee community in Providence, which Dwiggins characterizes as tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t necessarily see that in other cities, which are way more competitive,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The Shop photo by Dee Walls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Shop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

theshopfoxpoint.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For JP and Diana Murton, The Shop was created keeping in mind the ability for them to have a family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP Murton describes the space, located in the Fox Point neighborhood, as \u201ca small coffee shop on purpose, a way to enter into people\u2019s daily lives and participate in real ways.\u201d He hopes that those interacting with The Shop feel welcome to ask questions, rather than feel dictated to about what the space is and who it is intended for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Shop photo by Dee Walls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When The Shop first opened in 2014, the goal was to consistently provide quality espresso drinks to members of the community. Over time, the team has developed its skill set in various ways, expanding into single-origin drip coffee and espresso. This has been made possible through partnerships with various roasters such as Stumptown Coffee and Parlor Coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not intending to be everything to everyone, the team at The Shop is committed to ensuring the customers who enter the space are seen as people first, much like family. Trust, says Murton, is at the center of The Shop\u2019s ethos, from their relationships with those who stop by for a coffee to those who make decisions about sourcing on their behalf. Ultimately, for the Murtons, coffee provides a means of expressing core values such as responsibility, sustainability, and community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Which Providence Coffee Shop Will You Visit Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether through hospitality, accessibility, or family, each of these businesses illustrates how retailers in Providence are using coffee to cultivate community. Bolt, Borealis, and The Shop all rigorously consider what good coffee can taste like and how it can be experienced. It was exciting to talk with the owners and learn more about how each company has been able to make a home for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself in Providence and are searching for a welcoming place to make yourself at home, consider stopping by one of these caf\u00e9s for a beverage. Take a walk through downtown or the RISD Museum and visit Bolt, hop on the East Bay Bike Path and re-energize at Borealis, or check out The Shop before you head over to India Point Park. No matter what adventure you choose, both your palate and your spirit will be left satisfied.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coffee may not be the first thing one tends to associate with Providence. 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