Business is Brewing

THERE’S A ROOM for every mood and a true brew to meet the moment at hand: Comfy couches lighten the load, intimate cafe tables are conducive for brewing romance, and communal seating for meet and greets decorate the room. The whimsical, retro-leaning decor includes a bicycle and coffee cart complete the vibe.

The ever-present waft of fresh-roasted beans and a solid indies playlist further serve as a warm embrace.

This is Boonton Coffee Co., where coffee, creativity, and community intersect right in the heart of Main Street. A staple for almost 10 years, the popular stomping ground is the brainchild of husband and wife team Frank and Nicola McDonald.

Frank is often onsite greeting customers as if they were close friends or family, which is exactly what he had in mind when exiting stage left from the rat race of the corporate world.

The couple made their way to Boonton by way of their native Scotland in 2002, settling first in Morristown and then in Lake Hopatcong. Always the hobby home-roaster, Frank has definitely been there and done that regarding all things coffee.

“I’ve always been a coffee enthusiast,” he says. “I began roasting at home and started selling to family and friends.”

The McDonald family doubled down on Boonton for its community-minded feel and set up shop initially where Ombra now stands. After several years, they outgrew the space and relocated to what was the former home of Bob’s Men’s Department Store. The site was completely gutted right down to a lack of indoor plumbing.

“There was nothing here,” Frank says. “It was just an open space.”

FROM THE GROUND UP

But McDonald had a vision, and in six months’ time he was able to rebuild from the ground up—coffee pun intended. This included securing all the furnishings and artwork, many of which pays homage to dogs and regional entertainment.

The coffee is just as robust as the environment, and there is no bean left unturned.

Frank sources from around the globe—the latest places being El Salvador and Guatemala—and he roasts on site, fine-tuning flavor profiles through small batch production.

“What people don’t realize is that coffee is a crop and has an actual season,” Frank says.

A giant cement wall emblazoned with the company logo adds an industrial aura, which is further validated by the presence of a commercial-sized roaster and accompanying sacks of beans, their country of origins front and center—proof of freshness. More often than not, the roaster is being manned by an employee who is trained in all things beans. There’s even a trial period, which involves roasting multiple batches to test flavor profiles and strength.

Patrons can customize their own purchases from the rotating selection of whole beans up for sale, and there’s plenty of merch to go around.

The coffee company is the unofficial destination for business meetings, mom group gatherings, and even a study hall of sorts for high school and college students. The shop even brewed up its own running club—the Boonton Coffee Road Roasters.

Four-legged friends are equally as welcome and are often found wagging their tails at passersby or stretched out comfortably next to their coffee-sipping, avocado-toast-munching humans. Canines are further celebrated as per the wall decor and yes, McDonald is just as crazed about canines as he is about coffee.

TAKE A SIP

A self-declared coffee purist, Frank leaves the blended concoctions to his seasoned employees who take ownership of their drinks, which are displayed on a colorful chalkboard.

For the caffeine-free, a.k.a. “non coffee” there’s always a decaf on tap, as well as hot cocoa, and refreshers such as coco melon, which is part of their new and limited Alchemy Menu. Stop here for a cereal and milk latte or a Korean banana milk shaken espresso. To complement the pours, a munchies menu offers up cheese boards, toasts, yogurt bowls, and pastries to satisfy the best of sweet tooths in the house.

A small but mighty stage complete with a piano comes to life on the weekends, which at Boonton Coffee Co. kicks off Thursday evenings, courtesy of themed open-mic nights. The coffee shop is also home to its homegrown regional artist series, Boonton Coffee Presents, which will feature Jonathan Van Halen, who hails from “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon on Sept. 20 and singer songwriter Dean Johnon on Sept. 26.

For the solitude-seekers, a doorway near the stage gives way to a library-like setting complete with more couches, a bookshelf, and even a working turn table complete with records to spin.

There’s also an old-school cork board that serves as a promotional stomping ground for businesses, social groups, fundraising events, and even dog yoga, to name a few.

As Frank continues to caffeinate and entertain the community at large, he pours equal amounts of his success into paying it forward through partnerships. Boonton Coffee provides a boost to Boonton High School students through their work-based learning program, has brewed up many a signature blend for the four-legged residents at the North Star Pet Rescue, and even adopted an orangutan through The Orangutan Project.

So, what’s next on the menu? Maybe, and just maybe, a second location, but it has to be just right and in a community as terrific as ours.

Find Boonton Coffee Co. at 602 Main St., Boonton. For more information, visit www.boontoncoffee.com

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE