Adda Coffee & Tea House expands retail options at its Pittsburgh locations
Order a coffee with cream — and throw in a paella-making kit, olives, preserved vegetables and a bar of fine chocolate.
At Adda Coffee & Tea House, a specialty cafe with three locations in Pittsburgh, there’s more than just a hot beverage.
When business was interrupted with the onset of the pandemic, the cafe built an online Bazaar — a global pantry of varied goods — to keep the business going and employees engaged. Adda has since expanded the concept to brick and mortar.
Its third location opened late last year in Garfield as Adda Bazaar, with a full line of goods alongside the cafe. The other two spots, in Shadyside and the North Side, offer a smaller selection of bazaar items.
What began with books, mugs, brewing equipment, coffee and tea went into chocolates, spices from all over the world, stuffed animals, jewelry, kitchen utensils and candles (plus the paella kits, olives and preserved vegetables).
“It blossomed into something neat,” said Morgan McCoy, Adda’s general manager, as she stood in the Garfield store on Penn Avenue, the site of the former Gluten Free Goat Bakery.
McCoy said customers were requesting to see items in the stores, so they decided to offer them in the shops. The paella kit contains a Spanish matiz pan, piparra peppers and ramon scallops in sauce.
Jamilka Borges, a prominent Pittsburgh chef and native of Puerto Rico, demonstrated on the coffee shop’s Facebook page how to make the dish.
“We don’t just sell items, you can also learn about them too,” said McCoy .
The North Side location carries pantry items from Italy and Middle East and North Africa and a small collection of other goods. The Shadyside location (Adda’s first, which opened in 2016) has items from East Asia and a selection of vegan and gluten-free choices.
The global pantry concept came from owner Sukanta Nag, a Bengali native and avid traveler who wanted to see more of his favorite spices from abroad here in Pittsburgh.
“Our owner knows brands he can’t get in Pittsburgh that people want,” McCoy said. “Expanding into retail to ensure our community can find the highest quality products from anywhere in the world on shelves right next door has been a natural step.”
She said he has connections to acquire items that are “from purveyors committed to small brands and ethical sourcing.”
They’ve chosen products from local artisans, also offering them a consignment option.
Coffee and tea is still the foundation of the business. Beans come from Verve Coffee in Santa Cruz, Calif.
“A good barista needs to understand not only the beans but also the machine,” said David Day, a certified barista . “It’s also about how the customer wants their drink.”
Another area of focus is on expanding the subscription service, through a collaboration with Pittsburgh Juice Co. in Lawrenceville on “Yinz Feel Good?” and “Take Care! Kit” boxes.
Pittsburgh Juice Co. is an organic, cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juice with no added sugar or preservatives. Owner Naomi Hoppel has been working with Adda for years.
“It is beautiful to see their vision blossom, especially during a pandemic,” Hoppel said. “Adda goes the extra mile to help other local businesses. What’s impressive is Adda’s commitment to community. It’s even present in their name.”
The word “adda” is Bengali for “bringing people together to engage in the fine art of conversation,” as described on the cafe’s website. “Adda is both a verb and a noun — the conversation itself and the place to have it.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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