Solid State Newsletter // October 2023
Stories and news from our cafe in the heart of the Upper West Side
Three Years of Solid State Coffee
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been at it for three years, and this last one was big! We’ve come a long way since we opened in 2020, with the greatest improvement coming this year, as we were finally able to open up that back seating area. This year we also expanded our food offerings, brought on amazing new talent, and made some promising, new connections to coffee producers around the world. Most importantly, we’ve been able to continue building community! Seeing people from all walks of life come together in our space and build meaningful relationships is a beautiful thing. Our mission is to nurture those connections in a warm and welcoming environment, while also serving the best possible coffee and food with intention and care.
We’ve grown a ton, but there is still so much more we’d like to do. Stay tuned for more improvements and please let us know if there is anything specific you’d like to see from us in the future.
As always, it’s an honor to serve our community and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
James Veltri and the Solid State Team
NEWS AND UPDATES
Spooky Season Online Sale 👻
Stay alert and get caffeinated this Spooky Season. For a limited time, use the code SPOOKYSTATE and get 20% off your online order.
Third Anniversary Saturday Sale 💸
In celebration of our anniversary this Saturday, every cold brew and batch brew will be $3 for the day. Make sure to come on in, grab a coffee, and celebrate with us!
PSL is Here 🎃
That chill is in the air. Leaves are beginning to turn, and the time of the pumpkin is upon us. Our homemade pumpkin syrup is available in the shop for the season! Come and get a PSL, hot or iced, take a walk in the park, and enjoy the magic of the city in the Fall!
Handmade Ceramics Available Online 🍵
For months, we've offered handmade ceramics made by our very own multi-talented barista, Yasmin Elephant. These ceramics are now available to purchase online. The cups are approximately 5.5 ounces, which makes them perfect for espresso, short cappuccinos, or a small cup of coffee. Buy one today!
Coffee Releases ☕️
This month, we're releasing two new coffees.
The first is Laboyano from Colombia. If you've been paying attention, you know we've had this one before. This lot is a long-term partnership for us, and we're so excited about this year's crop. The Laboyano represents the very best offerings from the producers at the Pitalito washing station in Colombia, and it features a significant portion of the illustrious Pink Bourbon coffee variety. You can read more about Pink Bourbon in our education section below!
Next is a coffee from the Giathugu Cooperative in Kenya. This lot borders Wajee Nature Park, a bird conservancy with over 10 hectares of unspoiled natural forest. Coffee is planted along the borders of the conservancy as a buffer, and also because of the healthy relationship between the birds and coffee trees.
Around the Web
Pink Bourbon: The Wrong Name for the Right Coffee
In 2014, a coffee buyer in Colombia discovered a coffee tree, unlike anything he had seen before, with distinct pink cherries. The resulting cup of coffee? Absolutely incredible. The buyer tracked down the farm where the tree originated and found it nestled among red and yellow bourbon coffee plants. The natural assumption? This “pink bourbon” must be a hybrid of the two. Ever since, the pink bourbon has been wildly popular in the coffee community, known for its delicate flavor and rarity. Though it seems that we have been calling it by the wrong name all this time...
How Does America Want Their Coffee?
Would you give up social media over coffee? Over a third of Americans say yes! Ahead of National Coffee Day, Bunn commissioned a survey to find out exactly how Americans feel about their coffee. Do we want it hot or iced? Do we want to make it ourselves or get it from a cafe? Exactly how important is coffee to our daily lives?