Working from a Coffee Shop: Queen City Roasters in Plainfield, NJ
A city needs a coffee shop to bring the community together, and that’s what happened when Queen City Roasters was born. Named for Plainfield’s nickname, the Queen City, the coffee shop opened in November 2019.
Owners Maher and Monica Janajri opened Queen City Roasters with a goal to revitalize the city’s downtown area with local businesses. The couple had ties to Plainfield, where Maher spent weekends as a child. Now permanent residents, Maher and Monica look forward to seeing their family, city, and community continue to grow.
Maher told his partner Monica back in 2006 that his goal was to one day own his own coffee shop. Now the married couple (and their two kids!) can be seen operating their coffee shop in the heart of downtown Plainfield close to the train station. If they’re not at the coffee shop, you can find them at their nearby roastery where they roast their coffee weekly.
Beverage #1: Spanish Latte
I was drawn to the Spanish Latte because I had never seen it on a menu before. This latte is a blend of cinnamon, espresso, condensed milk, and a milk of your choice (I chose almond). This seasonal drink was created to bring out the sweetness of Summer and all the comforts of Fall.
Coffee options you can find at Queen City Roasters include Americanos, Espressos, Drip Coffee, Cortados, Pour Overs, and lattes.
Coffee enthusiasts will love their coffees which come from farmers and importers committed to ethically sustaining the coffee supply chain around the world. Coffee is sourced all over the world like Ecuador, Colombia, and Ethiopia.
Their daily pastries are sourced from fellow Jersey business Balthazar Bakery, where the Janajris used to frequent when they lived blocks away in New York City. On the weekends they feature pastries and offerings from local bakeries.
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I was lucky that the day I arrived they were also serving donuts from Plainfield Donuts (whose jelly doughnut is legendary). I enjoyed a vanilla cream. Yum.
Beverage #2: Lavender Breeze
The ideal beverage for a hot day (or anytime!), the Lavender Breeze is made with coconut water, in-house lavender syrup, butterfly pea flower tea, and lemonade. Not only is this a beautiful drink, which I personally think resembles a sunset, but it is also delicious!
Other non-coffee options include tea, chai, matcha, London fog, and an Askinosie Hot Chocolate.
In terms of style, the coffee shop has a modern aesthetic with an exposed brick wall featuring artwork for sale from rotating local artists. The artist featured during my visit is Cassandra Dorcely, a self-taught New Jersey-based abstract artist who was born and raised in Haiti. In an effort to support local artists, Queen City Roasters takes no commission from the sale from the artwork.
The coffee shop also features events/collaborations with artists with paint and sip events, as well as other events like latte art lessons,
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If you’re not in the area and want to experience their coffee, Queen City Roasters offers a Roaster’s Choice Subscription with a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly subscription options of their coffees delivered to your door.
Beverage #3: Rose Cappuccino (decaf)
Because I spent so much time getting work done, I ended up getting a third drink. And because it was late in the day, I had to go decaf. Their rose cappuccino was perfect.
If you’re looking for a great place for coffee to work, meet up, or grab and go, this downtown coffee shop with its friendly staff is highly recommended.
For more info visit their Website, Facebook and Instagram.
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