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Small Town Coffee not just about coffee
by Dennis Fujimoto
the garden island
KAPA‘A — There is an old model of a coffee shop that Anni Caporuscio has been searching for.
“People come and share politics, talk real estate and network,” Caporuscio said. “We’re trying to invigorate that feeling here.”
Caporuscio was named the 2006 Hawai‘i Champion at the Hawai‘i Barista Jam & Competition that wrapped up at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort last week.
“This is the first time I’ve been in a competition,” she said. “I went there to learn and at the last minute, was able to bargain my way into the competition.”
A barista for 15 years, Caporuscio said “I’ve been making coffee for 15 years, but I’ve never made better coffee than since I’ve been at Small Town Coffee.”
She said the partnership with Jeremy and Julie Hartshorn resulted in their purchase of the coffee shop from Melody Harwell earlier this year.
Since that time, Caporuscio has learned how to do “latte art,” one of the facets at the Barista Jam & Competition.
“I learned by doing,” Caporuscio said. “It takes a lot of training and you really need to pay attention to the products you’re using and you need to pull good milk.”
This type of experience is what Caporuscio credits for her championship.
“It’s not just about coffee,” she said. “It’s 60 percent coffee and 40 percent atmosphere. Even our employees work here because they love coffee.”
Jeremy Hartshorn agrees.
“We don’t try to just serve the best coffee in Hawai‘i,” he said. “We try to offer our customers a place where they can spread out.”
Customers are part of the quaint coffee shop located next to the Kapa‘a canal and Caporuscio said they’re all part of the shop.
“When the electricity blew, a customer fixed the problem. When the computer went down, a customer helped fix the problem. Customers help cut the grass and flowers. When an order comes in, customers help to unload,” she said. “You have to be nice to people because they’re your neighbors and they’re nice customers.”
Additionally, Jeremy Hartshorn is excited about another facet of the coffee shop — the opening of their upstairs area which he said will be an expansion of what they already do.
He said the upstairs area will feature vintage clothing and an eBay trading post where people can come in and work with them.
“At the end of a certain period of time, they come back and either pick up the item, or a check,” he said.
Small Town Coffee Co. is open seven days a week and features organic Fair Traded coffee and teas.
Additionally, they offer free wireless Internet and entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays.
“We do a lot of charitable events,” Caporuscio said. “We also do music all the time.”
Shop hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Friday and Saturday hours are 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. due to the entertainment and Sunday hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
KAPA‘A — There is an old model of a coffee shop that Anni Caporuscio has been searching for.
“People come and share politics, talk real estate and network,” Caporuscio said. “We’re trying to invigorate that feeling here.”
Caporuscio was named the 2006 Hawai‘i Champion at the Hawai‘i Barista Jam & Competition that wrapped up at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort last week.
“This is the first time I’ve been in a competition,” she said. “I went there to learn and at the last minute, was able to bargain my way into the competition.”
A barista for 15 years, Caporuscio said “I’ve been making coffee for 15 years, but I’ve never made better coffee than since I’ve been at Small Town Coffee.”
She said the partnership with Jeremy and Julie Hartshorn resulted in their purchase of the coffee shop from Melody Harwell earlier this year.
Since that time, Caporuscio has learned how to do “latte art,” one of the facets at the Barista Jam & Competition.
“I learned by doing,” Caporuscio said. “It takes a lot of training and you really need to pay attention to the products you’re using and you need to pull good milk.”
This type of experience is what Caporuscio credits for her championship.
“It’s not just about coffee,” she said. “It’s 60 percent coffee and 40 percent atmosphere. Even our employees work here because they love coffee.”
Jeremy Hartshorn agrees.
“We don’t try to just serve the best coffee in Hawai‘i,” he said. “We try to offer our customers a place where they can spread out.”
Customers are part of the quaint coffee shop located next to the Kapa‘a canal and Caporuscio said they’re all part of the shop.
“When the electricity blew, a customer fixed the problem. When the computer went down, a customer helped fix the problem. Customers help cut the grass and flowers. When an order comes in, customers help to unload,” she said. “You have to be nice to people because they’re your neighbors and they’re nice customers.”
Additionally, Jeremy Hartshorn is excited about another facet of the coffee shop — the opening of their upstairs area which he said will be an expansion of what they already do.
He said the upstairs area will feature vintage clothing and an eBay trading post where people can come in and work with them.
“At the end of a certain period of time, they come back and either pick up the item, or a check,” he said.
Small Town Coffee Co. is open seven days a week and features organic Fair Traded coffee and teas.
Additionally, they offer free wireless Internet and entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays.
“We do a lot of charitable events,” Caporuscio said. “We also do music all the time.”
Shop hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Friday and Saturday hours are 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. due to the entertainment and Sunday hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
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