Coffee Village: Redefining Pittsburgh’s Coffee Culture Through Community and Craftsmanship

Written by: Kristin Muir

For some people, a cup of coffee is just  a way to feel more awake in the morning. However for the owners and partners of renowned Coffee Village, coffee means so much more than quick caffeine. 

Photo by: Coffee Village

Coffee Village began its journey in December 2022, when it bought and rebranded the then-closed Crazy Mocha locations in Pittsburgh. Founder and President of Coffee Village, Mimika Garesché, said that this initiative was driven by the idea to create something new and transform the traditional coffee shop experience in the Pittsburgh area. However, the idea wasn’t just to change up the existing locations entirely. 

Instead, Mimika recognized that coffee shops can be sanctuaries for communities and offer a sense of comfort for guests. Because of this, she and her team wanted to work to revitalize the locations entirely by utilizing the existing foundation, all the while making necessary improvements to the shop’s exterior. Today, you can find Coffee Villages all around Pittsburgh, with two full-service shops and 3 coffee kiosks, all serving their rich and unique coffee brand for their loyal customers to enjoy!

What really sets Coffee Village apart from other coffee shops is their commitment to fostering an environment that emphasizes a sense of community and connection, for both customers and staff. From the start, the goal of Coffee Village was to create more than just a place to grab coffee like other coffee shops, but to build a welcoming atmosphere where customers could gather, connect and create friendships.

“There is so much isolation these days, we really just wanted a place for people to connect: from being a place to get coffee, to a place to gather around friends, or to even make friends through shared interest” says Ree Mitra, Director of Operations for Coffee Village. 

By working closely with their baristas and staff, the owners of Coffee Village have cultivated an environment that not only encourages a strong sense of community, but also personal growth and pride among staff members. The core mission of Coffee Village is to welcome, connect, learn and serve. Because of this, they believe that by investing in the well-being and understanding the needs of their baristas has a huge impact on the environment they work to create. By encouraging their staff to have passion in their hard work, this helps create a ripple effect that enhances the shop’s experience for their valued customers.

Aforementioned, Coffee Village prides itself on education and community involvement, no matter the location of their store. In the future, they hope to bring engaging community events to their wide range of locations, each tailoring to each storefront’s specific needs. 

One way they hope to promote community involvement is by bringing “Coffee 101” classes to their full-service shops, encouraging people to learn more about the coffee they drink and how they can expand upon their typical coffee routine.

“Coffee is more complex than wine in some cases” Mimika comments, emphasizing that learning about the coffee can have a huge impact on one’s coffee-tasting experience. Those attending these classes will have the opportunity to sample various coffee brews, cup coffee themselves, and just see the process of how coffee is made!

Beyond these valuable classes, there are more exciting things coming to the different Coffee Villages to look out for! You can expect to see new additions to their menu, such as harvests of the month and new paninis added to their food menu. Outside of their menu, Coffee Village has hopes of expanding their locations as well in hopes of fostering a sanctuary in other parts of Pittsburgh and beyond.

By encouraging a welcoming environment for customers – from regulars to first-time vistors – and staff members, working to foster a strong sense of community, and focusing on offering a unique experience to each location: Coffee Village excels at going above and beyond your typical coffee shop. So, next time you find yourself at a Coffee Village, make sure to grab a cup of coffee for an experience of a lifetime!

Coffee Village has locations in downtown – Liberty Ave and BNY Mellon, Sewickley and Beaver. For more information about the College Villages and their hours, around Pittsburgh, visit coffeevillages.com.