Caffe Amadeus Opening Monday in Indiana

Caffe Amadeus is the first of what we hope are many Aldo Coffee "offspring" - coffeehouses opened by our baristi.  We went up to Indiana, PA to visit Caffe Amadeus on Sunday afternoon and were extremely impressed at how it's all come together.

Andi was one of our charter baristi, having been here since opening day in 2004 until this Spring, when she had to leave to devote her full time energies to opening her own shop. 

Andi's husband Bill is roasting everything except the espresso right inside the shop after hours.  The espresso will be Black Cat for now.

The Caffe Amadeus staff is already fairly well trained in drink building and latte art.  One of them poured some art then etched herself a portrait of Mozart using a poster on the wall for guidance.  It's pretty impressive. 

A couple of Andi's baristi are already talking about wanting to compete.  Andi herself was a Millrock Latte Art finalist two years ago, so the Amadeus staffis getting training from one of the best around - she's already taught 13-year old daughter Szandi how to pull triple rosettes.

Not bad for a place that doesn't officially open until tomorrow, Monday, July 9.

We'd heard the place was big, but we had no idea how big until we stepped inside.  It is HUGE.  And it looks like a million bucks.  While Andi and Bill handled the design themselves, there are numerous professional touches throughout the space.   

As the design theme is Mozart, there is a classical Viennese feel to the interior.  But this is balanced by a short bar with stools at the end of the service area as well as a play area for kids, complete with a blackboard wall so children can draw to their heart's content.   

There will be table service, complimentary water served with all espresso drinks and a selection of Viennese style breakfast pastries and desserts baked on premises.

Caffe Amadeus should be a welcome addition to the Indiana community.  It's right on the main drag at 628 Philadelphia, next to Coney's.

We wish Andi and Bill nothing but great success in the venture and we look forward to visiting again very soon.

Comments

[Amy]

Thanks for sharing this story. YAY! for Andi. I hope she has much success.

[Lauren]

ALDO FIELD TRIP!!!

[Chris M]

Nerd details please. What machines, grinders? What is that roaster?

[Melanie]

LaMarzocco, of course, three grinders, not sure which but the ususal suspects come to mind -- this place is loaded with primo tools to make their exellent product.

The roaster is an older one, very cool, that Bill got from a friend who used to roast - - which I think was the beginning of Bill's interest in roasting.

We are featuring Bill's lightish Costa Rican roast as drip in the store today, and being sure all of Andi's old customers here know it is from her new store. It is wonderful.

[Melanie]

Amy! I am so glad you saw this. How about our Andi? I remeber so much about cautious confidence when we first opened -- look at her now!

Words cannot describe how beautiful this place is and the amount of work they put into it. I know I had heard reports of how gorgeous it was and it STILL blew me away.

And to do all that work without losing sight of thier goal of preparing and serving excelent coffee. Remarkable, and I am SO excited for them.

I think they will be wildly successful. I could not be happier for them.

[Rich]

Chris, the main machine is a Linea 2AV, same as ours. It's flanked by two Jollys and a Major. There's also a Rancilio S24 one group that Bill says is primarily for steaming hot chocolates and chais, but can also be used as a backup. There's a Fetco Exctractor for drip and a bunch of presses.

The roaster... that you have to see for yourself. I'm not familiar with that particular animal. Seems like a large sample roaster to me, but he's doing 1.5 lbs at a time, so that seems a bit much for a sample roaster.

[Elise]

I love working for Amadeus and I love Bill and Andi!

GOOD LUCK BILL AND ANDREA...
CAN'T WAIT TO STOP BY AND
HAVE COFFEE--

[Bill]

Hello everyone!

Thanks, Rich & Melanie, for the wonderful words! It was great to see both of you!Thanks to everyone for the heart-felt well wishes, it is so nice to see everyone who posted!

We have not been able to get on the internet, (hopefully we can get better at this!), and this is the first chance to catch up on the happenings at Aldo. Wonderful news on the cuppings!

Chris, The roaster is a Jabez Burns 2-barrel sample roaster that is popular in Canada for shop roasting. The beans rotate in a cylander over a flame. 1.5 pounds can roast to a full city (our light roast) in about 15 to 20min. I have two barrels. The darker roasts take longer, ranging from 20 to 35min. Unfortunately, I am dealing with exhaust issues, which I hope to have cleared up this week.

Speaking of the first week...

We made a million dollars in just six days!!!

Well, that's not really true. It wasn't too bad as every day got a little better, except for Saturday. Saturday is not like Mt. Lebanon. The business people are enjoying later morning starts and the college kids are sleeping from the night before. Hence, we will open at 10a as opposed to 7.30a. We are told that this is the slowest business summer in years and that, combined with 90 degree temperatures to open, made it a little slower than expected. That was until Thursday night when the Downtown Indiana organization included us in their Taste & Tour program. Andi and I didn't know what we were doing, but we gave samples of Mozart chocolate balls, banana pound cake, and brewed coffee. At one point, I decided to put on my Mozart clothes and greet the "tourists". I couldn't find my shoes, so I had to stand behind the bar (I had tennis shoes to compliment my britches & knee socks!) We had 250 people that night, Andi & I stayed at the coffeehouse until 2a, and got up 2 hours later to start the next day! But it was worth it as people got to know that we are finally open and we were quite busy on Friday.

We met with so many nice people here in Indiana and we always run into people who are actually customers in Aldo! So this is a nice connection we have going on!

Once again, Thanks Rich & Melanie for visiting with us last Sunday; it was great to see you! Also, it was wonderful to see Lorane and John the very next day! Thanks for coming up!

Hello Amy!

We will be in touch again very soon!
Bill & Andi

[Don Lancaster]

I first learned of Caffe Amadeus when I read an article in the June 5th edition of the Indiana Gazette newspaper. There also was a photo of Bill & Andi and their two younger children, Patricia & Sammy, in full costume. There also were blurbs in the Indiana Gazette on June 8th & 22nd. After reading about Caffe Amadeus I immediately remembered the experience that I had when I went to a Konditorei in Bitburg, Germany for coffee and a pastry. I was anxious to find out if Caffe Amadeus would be like a Konditorei.

I first met Bill & Andi on July 4th morning as Bill was cleaning the outside windows. I approached him and introduced myself. He took me inside the shop where I met Andi. We talked for a bit. I was very impressed.

Since the opening, I have made it in for a coffee every day but one. Bill & Andi are very nice and hospitable. They have opened a sophisticated & classy European-style coffeehouse in Indiana, PA. It is reminds me of the Konditorei I visited in Germany.

There is another coffeehouse next to the IUP campus. It is a nice place but it is a hangout that attracts mostly faculty and students. The customers that I have seen at Caffee Amadeus have ranged from retirees to university students. Because they have a children's area, I have seen some parents with young children. The parents enjoyed a cup while the kids play.

The baristas they have hired and trained are very nice. There is a relaxing easiness about them. They are a multitalented group. On Friday, July, 13th, one of the baristas who is a music major at IUP played the French horn. The Caffe was opened later that evening. Bill & Andi have expressed an interest in doing more live music in the future. With the talented faculty and students in the Music Department at IUP, we should be in for a treat.

Bill & Andi are a definite asset to the community. They have made a commitment to themselves and to Indiana to create a comfortable welcoming coffeehouse and gathering place. I hope we can reciprocate with enough business to make their efforts worthwhile and profitable.

If you have not been to Caffe Amadeus do make the trip, you are in for a treat.