Calabria Coffee in New Hartford, New York Celebrates Two Years of Brewing Up Success with Support from Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) July 22, 2023 -- New Hartford’s Calabria Coffee recently celebrated two years of serving the finest coffee and pastries to Oneida County residents and visitors.
Opening the shop at 52 Genesee Street in May 2021 was the culmination of a six-year dream for Owners Bryce and Erika Lamberto, who were inspired to create a community-centric coffee shop after several years working in the Las Vegas hospitality industry.
“Building our own coffee shop was a big passion project for us!” said Erika Lamberto.
The couple began planning Calabria Coffee within months of moving to Bryce’s hometown in New Hartford. The shop takes its name from Italy’s Calabria region, the ancestral home of the Lamberto family.
“Growing up here, there wasn’t a place where people could hang out,” Bryce recalled. “So, we created one!”
“Other than making high-quality beverages and providing excellent customer service, supporting our community is a top priority. Our goal is to be more than just another coffee shop; we want to have a positive impact on people and our community.”
To learn how to open and run a coffee shop, the couple turned to award-winning coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea.
Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, renowned for empowering entrepreneurs to launch successful coffee shops, supports over 400 coffee shops and other coffee businesses in more than 30 states.
The Lambertos discovered the Ohio roaster through Coffee Chaos in Erika’s hometown of Midland, Michigan, which has grown with Crimson Cup’s support since opening in 2004.
Erika said working with Crimson Cup helped put Calabria Coffee on the path to growth. “The amount of support and guidance we received was so instrumental in the initial success of our business.”
“Not only is the coffee amazing, but so are the people. I don't know that we would be here two years later without their guidance and support.”
The Lambertos attract repeat customers with a focus on efficiently delivering first-class beverages in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Customers can choose from espresso-based drinks served hot, iced or blended into a frozen beverage, as well as cold-brewed coffee, hot and iced tea and blended fruit smoothies. The shop also features local treats like baked goods from Caruso's Pastry Shoppe.
"At Calabria Coffee, we make it our mission to serve not only high-quality beverages but also a welcoming experience with genuine warmth and a clean, safe environment," said Bryce Lamberto. “Every single person who walks into our shop is greeted by a smiling face! We really strive to make each customer's day a little brighter with kindness and good service.”
Customers say they love the quality and consistency of espresso-based drinks made with award-winning Crimson Cup coffee.
“We have people that come back from vacation and tell us how much they missed our coffee and shop - saying they haven't found another place that compares to our drinks and service,” Erika said.
Dozens of five-star online reviews testify to the shop’s quality drinks, friendly customer service and friendly atmosphere.
“What a great coffee shop!” wrote one Google Local Guide. “My daughter and I popped in on a lark as we had some time to kill, and I am glad we did! The coffee was amazing! We sat and enjoyed our beverages in the very nicely renovated dining area and watched as others enjoyed theirs as well. Although we did not have any pastries, they were supplied by our absolute favorite bakery: Caruso! We will be sure to have some when we go back...and we will!!!"
The Lambertos said their friends and neighbors in the New Hartford community have been key to growing their small business.
“We are so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community,” Bryce said. “We took a huge risk, but having such a welcoming community and supportive customers has made all of the hard work and sacrifice worth it.”
“We work with the New Hartford Chamber of Commerce and participate in various events that help to support other local small businesses, as well as our community,” he added. “We also host pop-up events at our coffee shop that feature local small businesses.”
For aspiring coffee shop owners, Calabria Coffee’s success story is an inspiration. Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success program provides a structured approach to starting a coffee shop, helping entrepreneurs transform their passion for coffee into a thriving business.
From finding a winning location and writing a solid coffee shop business plan to designing the coffee bar, choosing equipment and hiring and training baristas, the roaster’s 7 Steps coffee shop startup consulting team guides new coffee shop owners through every step.
The program grew out of a book written by Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert. Now in its second printing, Seven Steps to Success: a Commonsense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee lays out a road map for independent coffee shop success.
“A big part of our mission is to help entrepreneurs like Bryce and Erika achieve their dreams of opening independent coffee shops serving their local communities,” Ubert said.
The Lambertos advise aspiring coffee shop owners to consider Crimson Cup as a coffee partner. “The first decision we made was to partner with Crimson Cup, and it was the best decision we made,” Erika said. “We are truly thankful to work with such a wonderful company.”
The couple invite everyone in New Hartford, Utica and Oneida County to visit Cambria Coffee. The shop is open seven days a week at 52 Genesee Street in New Hartford.
For news and menu updates, follow the shop’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other significant recognitions, the company has earned 2023 Double Gold awards at the Aurora International Taste Challenge, 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazine’s 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.
Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup – driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities.
Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs how to open and run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into coffee shop startup costs.
Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 400 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across more than 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new CRIMSON retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.
Cheryl Claypoole, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea, https://www.crimsoncup.com, 614-361-5023, [email protected]
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