Java Coffee & Cafe Brings 'Bowls Of Soul' To Westport

WESTPORT, Conn. — Coffee enthusiasts will soon have a new place to sit down and enjoy a cup of Joe as Java Coffee & Cafe, a popular Idaho-based coffeehouse, opens its first East Coast location in downtown Westport.

One of the most popular drinks at Java Coffee & Cafe, an Idaho-based coffeehouse opening in Westport, is the Bowl of Soul.
Photo Credit: *Vanessa Inzitari*

Java Coffee & Cafe is opening its first East Coast location at 44 Church Lane in Westport.
Photo Credit: *Vanessa Inzitari*

Staples High School seniors Greg Weiner and Maya Mandell are among the friendly staff at Java Coffee & Cafe in Westport.
Photo Credit: *Vanessa Inzitari*

by Vanessa Inzitari

01/23/2014 5:00 a.m.

Located at 44 Church Lane, Java features a variety of signature drinks made from direct trade coffee, and boasts a full breakfast and lunch menu.

“I consider us to be a boutique alternative to the big-box coffee shops,” said San Diego native Todd Rippo, who founded Java in 1991. He co-owns the Westport cafe with residents Brad Berk and developer David Waldman. "We're a fun, rock-and-roll kind of coffeehouse."

When it comes to coffee, Rippo said Java’s most sought after drink is the Bowl of Soul— a mixture of coffee, Mexican hot chocolate and espresso topped with homemade whipped cream and ground cinnamon. The concoction is served in ceramic bowls designed especially for Java.

Manager Breanna Brandon— who comes straight from one of Java’s five Idaho locations— said the Mexican hot chocolate is made from imported Ibarra chocolate, which is ground on site.

Java also offers a variety of classic coffee beverages, such as cappuccinos and lattes, as well as loose leaf teas, chai tea, smoothies, juices and more.

Rippo said Java also has a beer and wine license, and will likely have a limited liquor license.

Customers looking to fuel up on more than just coffee can enjoy breakfast or lunch, anytime. Breakfast options include a variety of egg dishes, burritos, oatmeal, bagels and more. The lunch menu features sandwiches, salads, hummus and tortilla soup.

For customers with a sweet tooth, Java also sells a variety of pastries, which are made daily on site and from scratch.

"We're proud of everything we make here," Brandon said of the menu.

Rounding out the Java experience is the warm, welcoming and laid-back environment.

“This is not a rush-in and rush-out type of place,” Brandon said. “We want to get to know you by name. We want this to be a place you can come and hang out for a while.”

Java plans to officially open by Monday. Hours will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit the Java website.

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