DARTMOUTH — There’s a new coffee shop in town that aims to bring the energy and high quality food found in the region’s biggest metropolitan areas to North Dartmouth.
With an array of breakfast and lunch options, plus an expansive drink menu, this newcomer aims to become a Dartmouth hot spot.
Located on Faunce Corner Road, the Java Shack is both upscale and cozy. There are leather couches in one corner, and a scattering of small tables perfect for friends catching up, plus one long table made of dark wood with plenty of outlets for guests wanting to get some work done.
With its marble-looking counter tops and cool grey tiles, the place is chic, but thanks to its warm walls and friendly faces behind the counter, it’s also comfortable.
The Java Shack opened last May after its owners — Carol Mansfield, CEO of Stat-Southcoast EMS and Andrew Pappas, its chief operating officer — noticed something was missing in the area. When they realized it was a coffee shop, they decided to give it a shot right next door to their office. “My background isn’t in coffee, but I love coffee,” Pappas said.
From medium roast coffee blends and espresso shots to cappuccinos, lattes and a variety of iced drinks, coffee is king at the Java Shack.
With beans coming locally from DownEast Coffee Roasters in Pawtucket, Pappas shared the premium coffee he serves is fair trade and certified organic.
“I wanted to make sure that the coffee we’re serving is tasty, and the best you can get in town,” said Pappas. “People can get ‘OK’ coffee anywhere, so when they’re here, they deserve good coffee.”
The coffee prices are similar to what consumers might spend at large chains, but according to Pappas, at the Java Shack they are sure to get fresh coffee, as it’s constantly being made, and is never held for more than an hour. Plus, the menu has more features as nitro cold brew and kombucha, or fermented tea, is kept on tap.
Another feature on the menu is the “Java Blast,” a silky smooth iced coffee drink.
As for the food, the menu is packed with healthy choices and trendy foods like avocado toast and acai bowls, and Pappas credits Pinterest, and keeping up with “what’s the next big thing” for some of their ideas.
“One of the best ways to stay ahead is to offer a good menu with things people want to see, plus introduce new things all the time,” he said.
The acai bowls are a popular item, and feature house-made gluten-free granola.
From the breakfast burrito to the harvest salad or the gyro sandwich or popular pulled pork quesadilla special, everything is fresh and made in house.
“There’s no microwave in the place,” Pappas said.
When it came to things like finding the right blend and deciding what the shop should offer, Pappas and Mansfield did lots of research. He explained that a trip to New York last year became something of a coffee tour, where he checked out what popular coffee joints were serving. The photos of coffee beans and berries on the shop’s walls were even taken by Pappas during a trip to Panama.“I wanted to bring that city feel to Dartmouth,” said Pappas, emphasizing how few coffee shops there are in the area. “Plus, it’s a whole experience. You have to have good food and tasty coffee, and you also have to make the place comfortable enough for people to spend a lot of time here.”
Thousands of cars go up and down Faunce Corner Road each day, and for many of the business professionals working in the medical offices nearby, the Java Shack is now the closest place to get a cup of coffee.
Though Pappas is hoping to see more action with the warmer weather, he said the shop already has its regulars, and is glad to see some guests coming in twice a day.
“We’re making a name of ourselves, and it’s great to see people who like what we are doing,” he said.
Open seven days a week, the shop is open as early as 6:30 a.m. on the weekdays, and 7:30 a.m. on the weekends, and is open until 5 p.m. each day besides Sundays, when it closes at 1p.m. According to Pappas, the busiest times of the day include the lunch hours and the morning rush before work.
“There’s not many places around offering what we do,” said Pappas, stating that before his shop, people would have to travel all the way to Boston or Providence for a similar experience. “In the eight months we’ve been open, we know who we are more and more each day, and we’re excited for what’s to come.”