Specialty Coffee Retailer is a publication for owners, managers and employees of retail outlets that sell specialty coffee. Its scope includes best sales practices, supplies, business trends and anything else to assist the small coffee retailer.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/55324
QUILLS COFFEE Louisville, n the bustling town of Louisville, there is an eclectic, artsy I lle, Ky. t area called the Highlands. Right in the middle of this area is Quills Coff ee Shop. Quills is just a skip from Bardstown Road, cozied up at 930 Baxter Ave., a mere block from the Outlook Inn and adjacent to Molly Malone's Pub. Everything about Quills speaks of upscale coff ee with a suburban fl air. Th e elegant gold lettering on the front door invites visitors to enter the shop, which is fi lled with deep, rich, calming colors. General manager Ginger Goss says it has "the vibe of a minimalist loſt in the woods." Th e interior will seat about 35 coff ee drinkers at a time. Quills has a second location just across the Ohio River in downtown New Albany, Ind. Both locations feature the colors grey-green and brown. Th e Baxter Avenue shop also showcases local artists' work on the walls. A chalk mural graces one wall, explaining the importance of slow-brewing coff ee. Th e minimalist, earthy interior isn't the only reason the Baxter Avenue store draws what owner Nathan Quillo estimates at about 7,000 visitors each year. Coff ee lovers appreciate blends from places like like Costa Rica, El Salvador and Rwanda. Th e shop also off ers a variety of teas and baked goods. Coff ee is brewed using the Chemex pour-over method. "Our Blacksmith espresso is really one of Quills' crowning achievements," Goss says. "A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into its development and logo! It was well worth it, though. Th e result is a brilliantly complex espresso that is perfect by itself while holding its own when combined with steamed milk." Nathan and his brother Gabe are the founders of Quills Coff ee. Th ey have trained their employees in what it takes to make great coff ee and serve it up with a friendly smile. Ask any of the employees what makes the coff ee so great, and they will explain the brewing process and happily recommend their favorite blends. "We love to talk about coff ee." Goss says. "So when people come in for their fi rst time, it's such an exciting opportunity to introduce 50 | February 2012 • www.specialty-coffee.com BY LORI SOARD oursellves and what we're allll about. I think those types of conversations help customers realize that we're more down to earth than is sometimes assumed." BY hi Emily Sills, the New Albany store manager, agrees that it is a mix of things that make Quills a success. "Some ways that we encourage people to come to our New Albany location is providing great hospitality to each customer we meet," Sills says. "We want them to know that we appreciate and care that they are spending their time and money at our shop. Not only do we want to create a welcoming environment, but we are driven to make each product we serve excellent. We also try to reach out and be part of the community by providing and participating in local events in our area." As I sit chatting with a friend, I enjoy a cup of Cafe Miele, a latte with a slight hint of honey and cinnamon. Th e taste is light, but earthy and deep, and even better is the latte art. Who wouldn't love a fl eur de lis design in their coff ee cup? My friend, a complete caff eine addict, enjoyed the bottomless red mug of black coff ee for around $3. Since she can down more coff ee than most people, and because we talked for quite a while, this was an excellent deal for her. My friend also was excited by the vegan baked goods. Although it is still early and fairly quiet for a weekend night, Quills sports an eclectic mix of students, bookworms and businesspeople. Th ere is a student working furiously on an overdue paper, using the free Wi-Fi. "Th e typical Quills customer is truly a little bit of everyone," Goss says. "We serve surgeons and pizza guys, students and stay-at- home parents, artists and writers, you name it!" Quills Coff ee 930 Baxter Ave., Louisville, Ky. OWNER: Nathan Quillo EQUIPMENT: Diedrich Coffee roaster Chemex brewing method 137 East Market St., New Albany, Ind. Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat 8 a.m.-10 p.m. / Sun 8 a.m.-6 p.m. www.quillscoff ee.com