Sit back, relax and enjoy some locally roasted coffee and espresso, ice cream and homemade treats at Annie’s Coffee and Creamery.
Annie’s Coffee and Creamery opened its doors in early December, and is owned by Patrick and Peter Padula, alongside General Manager Kevin Hinderliter.
The shop believes in supporting other small businesses and is proud to offer coffee beans that are locally roasted by Stone Tower Joe in Fairmont and loose-leaf teas from The Tea Shoppe at the Seneca Center.
Annie’s Coffee and Creamery does not have any automated coffee machines, so each drink is handcrafted by employees who are trained to use espresso machines. The baristas can make just about any coffee and espresso drink the customer can think of.
“If you’re not sure what you want, the employees will ask a few questions and make what best fits what you want,” said Hinderliter. “We call it ‘Surprise Me’ — it’s one of our favorite things to do.”
All of the baked goods that come into Annie’s Coffee and Creamery come freshly baked every day from Apple Annie’s.
The business also carries various flavors of hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream. “We have the best soft-serve ice cream in town,” said Hinderliter.
The ice cream comes from Dean’s Dairy, which was recently purchased by the United States Dairy Association, and the soft-serve ice cream comes locally from United Dairy. “We wanted to get something that was different and not what everyone else has,” Hinderliter said.
Annie’s Coffee and Creamery offers gluten-free and allergy-friendly options as well.
Customers can also grab fresh coffee and a treat to go in the shop’s convenient drive-through.
The shop provides an intimate and cozy space, complete with a fireplace that is the perfect spot to enjoy a steaming latte and sweet treats. “My daughter helped us create the interior design,” said Hinderliter.
Hinderliter said Annie’s Coffee and Creamery plans to update and expand its menu to include breakfast sandwiches and wraps in the future. “We wanted to start out slow and as we grow, we will be able to expand the menu,” he said.
The Padulas also own Apple Annie’s, 6120 Mid Atlantic Drive, and had an idea to open an ice cream shop. Although ice cream shops are typically seasonal, they decided to expand their original idea to a coffee and ice cream shop to keep it open all year. They wanted to carry over the name “Annie’s” as recognition and represent where the baked goods come from.
The Padulas own San Marzano Italian Market as well, which sits next door to Annie’s Coffee and Creamery.
Hinderliter has been working in sales and food for several years, but was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Padulas approached him with the idea to open the coffee and creamery. “It’s fun to be in contact with the general public and it’s been fun to start something from scratch,” said Hinderliter.
Annie’s Coffee and Creamery, 700 Fort Pierpont Drive, is open from 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
For more information about the business, check out Annie’s Coffee and Creamery on Facebook and Instagram @anniescoffeeandcreamery, as well as its website anniescoffeeandcreamery.com.
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