Washingtonians love a great cup of coffee. We are kind of snobs about it. Even visitors notice the plethora of coffee shops and the elevated quality they provide compared to large chains. The Park Side Café services up locally roasted, organic coffee in Olympia that is hard to beat. Pair it with one of their delicious vegan menu offerings, many of which are also gluten free, for a lovely break from whatever the day has planned for you. After all, it’s the simple things in life that give the most pleasure and when you dine local, you’re making a small business owner’s day as well as your own!
Find Covabrelli Coffee and Claddagh Coldbrew at The Park Side Café
Roasted in Tumwater, Covabrelli Coffee is 100% organic. “We love the owner, Lou!” shares The Park Side Café manager Victoria Kantargis. “He roasts all the coffee and delivers it fresh to us every week. The amount of care he puts into the details is apparent in the final cup. He also commits to promote sustainability at every level. He’s been roasting for over 18 years and slowly has expanded to provide his beans to the Olympia Co-ops, local grocery stores, and more!”
“He generously shares his sourcing and production methods with us and always keeps us up to date with any seasonal roast offerings,” adds The Park Side Cafe Manager Kelly Green.
The Park Side Café’s mission focuses on organic and sustainable practices and collaborating with local businesses, making Covabrelli the perfect cup to pair with menu items such as a pumpkin gingerbread muffin, full of warm spices or an apple cinnamon jam oat bar. “Both delights are gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free, making them perfect for everyone to enjoy!” notes Kelly.
And while visiting the roaster, they met Scott Ensign, owner of Claddagh Coldbrew, an Olympia coffee brewing company that uses Covabrelli beans to make smooth cold brew. “Scott grew up in in a coffee country in central Africa, so coffee has always been a part of his life,” shares Victoria. “His passion for cold brew started in 2012, and now he personally brews his beans slowly over many hours to draw out the wonderful flavors that are locked in the beans. The slow process has significantly less acid, leaving your palate free to enjoy the rich flavors unclouded by bitterness.”
After learning about Scott’s passion and his delicious product, The Park Side Café was happy to support another local small business, adding Claddagh Coldbrew to their menu.
Try Unique Seasonal Coffee and Cold Brew Flavors Hot or Cold at Olympia Vegan Restaurant
The Park Side Café’s cozy interior is perfect for a date, lunch with friends, business meeting or just to settle in with a good book and great food. They handcraft each of their incredible drinks, starting with the locally roasted, organic coffee. Add in house-made vegan nog, syrups and sauces, along with other flavors., and you have comforting drinks you won’t find anywhere else!
A new trend is to try cold brew hot and Kelly urges people to do so. “Cold brew coffee can definitely be enjoyed hot,” she says. “The way it works is pretty cool: Coffee is brewed with cold water over a longer time, usually between 12 to 24 hours. This slow extraction makes the coffee taste smoother and less acidic than your usual hot brew. When you serve cold brew hot, it brings out different flavor notes from the beans, giving you a unique taste experience! It’s a fantastic way to enjoy all the delicious benefits of cold brew while still having a warm drink. Plus, since cold brew tends to be lower in acidity, it’s often easier on the stomach, making it a great option for those who might be sensitive to acidic coffees.”
Every two months The Park Side Café rotates their food and drink offerings, based on the season and to give you something new to try each time you visit! Customer favorites are the Evergreen & Orange Latte, the Matcha Grandmas Nog, which includes their house-made coconut nog and vanilla syrup. They have decaf espresso too!
Maybe your friend isn’t big into coffee? That’s okay, they can still warm up or cool down at The Park Side with hot chocolate, like The Cherry Cocoa Bomb with cherry syrup and house-made white chocolate sauce (Those who are vegan know how hard it is to find diary-free white chocolate and The Park Side Café nails it!), hot and iced teas, and Italian sodas.
Kelly’s personal favorite drink is the Defense Against the Dark Arts. “We whip up a delicious concentrate using Vita-Blend Tea from Mountain Rose Herbs, which features a delightful mix of hibiscus flowers, peppermint leaf, lemongrass, red clover, nettle, alfalfa leaf, oat straw, and horsetail,” she shares. “We then add in some of our homemade ginger lemon syrup. It’s super uplifting and energizing! You’ve got to try it!”
Victoria suggests the Macadamia Spice Cold brew, which comes with cinnamon and cardamom infused plant milk, macadamia syrup and the rich cold brew concentrate. “Try it hot!” she says.
All of these pair amazing with their tasty seasonal treats from coconut lemon cream pie – seriously the best pie I have ever had – to cakes, cookies and muffins. If you need something savory, they have breakfast sandwiches and burritos, soups, hand pies and more.
Supporting local businesses keeps your hard-earned dollars within the community and helps your neighbors earn a living. You can support three local businesses with a visit to The Park Side Café.
And if you have a special occasion coming up, contact them via email Hello@theparksidecafe.com about ordering whole pies and cakes for your next event. They make an assortment of flavors of cream pies or cashew cheesecakes in both 6- and 9-inch sizes.
For more information and to order online, visit The Park Side Café website.
The Park Side Café
1909 Harrison Avenue NW, Olympia
Daily, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
360.352.8344
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