Story and Soil, the newest storefront to open on an emerging Hartford city block, is positioning itself to be more than just a stop for caffeine.
The specialty coffee shop, which opened for business Thursday at 387 Capitol Ave., is a partnership between a Hartford married couple and a passionate coffee expert that aims to be a community meeting place as well as a destination for high-quality java.
“We want it to be a place that offers sort of a transformative experience … a place where people connect,” said co-owner and operator Michael McCoy. “I would love it to be a hub of people gathering, organizing, hashing out important things that are going on in the city.”
Last summer, McCoy, a teacher in the city, and his wife, Sarah, a freelance photographer, were considering career changes. In August, they looked at the building for a potential new business, and decided “there’s nowhere in the city we’d rather be than this block right here,” Sarah said. “We were slow to make a decision, and finally sat down and said this isn’t going to happen [with just] the two of us.”
By October, they had found their third partner in Michael Acosta. The Trinity College graduate and genetic research associate had transformed his enthusiasm for coffee into N2, a mobile specialty coffee company with presence at farmers’ markets and other special events. Sarah McCoy connected with Acosta at the West End Farmers’ Market, and a week after the three first met at Little River Restoratives to discuss their potential venture, they put down a deposit on the space.
“I loved this block before I considered doing anything with this [company],” Acosta said. “When we met, the location made sense, the timing made sense, in terms of creating a larger community outpost. This location was it.”
Thursday morning, well-wishers, neighbors and the curious stepped in for a peek at the coffee shop. A few visitors, carrying cups of coffee from a Dunkin’ Donuts on the next block, took a look at the menu board.
Story and Soil’s owners say they will be able to compete effectively because they are offering something that is completely different. But they said it is just as much about the coffee as it is fostering a community gathering space.
“This gives a ‘homey’ feel, something different than Dunkin’ Donuts,” said Michael Mitchell, owner of the Red Carpet Barber Salon, also located on Story and Soil’s block. “There’s nothing wrong with Dunkin’ Donuts, this just has a different vibe.”
The cozy, 484-square-foot space has nine seats, with planned patio seating, and features lavender paint and a wallpapered accent wall, exposed brick and hanging potted plants. The coffee shop’s name takes its inspiration in part from an album by the musical group Bright Eyes, but is also “incredibly literal,” said Acosta, “in that we’re speaking to the origin of the coffee, the story of every hand that touches the coffee, as well as that coffee shops are historical places where you’re sharing your stories.”
Story and Soil will offer traditional coffee-shop favorites like espresso, lattes, mochas, cappuccinos and cortados, along with creative caffeine presentations. A Spanish latte features evaporated milk, whole milk, honey and cinnamon, and Acosta has created a cascara “dark and stormy,” using the “tea” brewed from the dried skins of coffee cherries with Fever Tree ginger beer and lime juice. The shop sources its beans from three roasters at this time: Giv Coffee of Canton, NEAT Coffee of Darien and Virginia-based Red Rooster.
Inbetween serving up espressos and cappuccinos Thursday, Acosta also found time to spin some Jimi Hendrix and Velvet Underground vinyl on a turntable hooked up to a sound system.
Beverages are $2.50 to $5. The shop will also serve light fare, like pastries, yogurt bowls with fruit and granola, and assorted toasts with toppings like smashed avocado, cookie butter and goat cheese from Granby’s Sweet Pea farm. Food items are $3.50 to $7.
The partners say they’re excited to be part of the burgeoning block, which has seen a flurry of recent activity. Tenants have streamed into the Capitol Lofts apartment building across the street since its opening in January, and casual burger joint GoldBurgers on Capitol opened its doors in June next door to cocktail bar Little River Restoratives. Capital Ice Cream is slated to open next door to the coffee shop later this year, and Red Rock Cafe has plans for facade renovation and expansion.
“In a place like Hartford, we have so much growth happening from the bottom up; so many creative, passionate people here that if they choose this place to convene to talk, to just sit down and cool off, if it’s anyone’s transition point or respite … I think we can be all of that and more,” Acosta said.
Story and Soil Coffee is at 387 Capitol Ave. in Hartford. Soft opening hours will be Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. storyandsoilcoffee.com; facebook.com/storyandsoil.
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