Three Rhode Island Cafés Brewing Community in Providence

A Coffee Scene Rooted in Community

Providence, Rhode Island, lies roughly 50 miles south of Boston and 185 miles north of New York City. The city draws visitors and residents with summer evenings at WaterFire and Italian restaurants on Federal Hill, among other attractions.

Coffee might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Providence. Still, quality cups can be found at plenty of spots scattered across the city.

This article focuses on three cafés: Bolt Coffee Company, Borealis Coffee Company, and The Shop. I talked with each owner about how their businesses began, what their café spaces are like, what they serve, and how they relate to Providence. Every place has its own character and way of approaching coffee, yet all three share a dedication to building community among the people who walk through their doors.

Bolt Coffee Company

boltcoffeecompany.com

When Bolt Coffee Company started in 2012 as a cart and catering operation, Providence had no third-wave coffee shops that prioritized cup quality.

“There was less focus on the science of extraction,” says Justin Enis, coffee director and lead roaster, who joined Bolt early on and saw it as a genuine chance to build a local coffee following. In 2014, Bolt opened its first brick-and-mortar location in the Dean Hotel downtown. Soon after, Enis created a multi-roaster program, which meant partnering with different roasters on short-term contracts to offer the Providence community a range of coffees.

Bolt Coffee Company photo by Dee Walls

More locations followed: inside the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum in 2016, a new roastery in 2017, and another café in the Jewelry District in 2019. In 2020, Bolt opened its first stand-alone space on Washington Street in downtown Providence—just one week before COVID-19 upended daily life.

After a stretch of considerable growth, Enis says, “it has really been a chance to start anew.” Bolt has used this period to give staff room to develop and to concentrate on creating spaces where customers feel welcome, safe, and supported—sentiments that the Providence community returns, especially during the pandemic.

“There is a real safety net within the community for businesses that are intentional about facilitating that community,” Enis says.

Borealis Coffee Company photo by Dee Walls

Borealis Coffee Company

borealiscoffee.com

Brian Dwiggins opened Borealis Coffee in Riverside, Rhode Island, in 2016 as “a way to connect with as many people as possible over a cup of coffee.”

After roasting and selling at farmers markets for a few years while also working on movie sets, Dwiggins found the spot that now houses Borealis, conveniently located along the East Bay Bike Path. At the time, specialty coffee options outside Providence were scarce; opening a café offered a more sustainable way to run a coffee business.

A roaster first, Dwiggins says, “I don’t claim to have the best coffee, but I want to be a local coffee shop people are excited about.”

Borealis Coffee Company photo by Dee Walls

As a third-wave café, Borealis initially struck some passersby—whether in cars, on the sidewalk, or along the bike path—as “too fancy” or too expensive, but the shop works to foster an approachable atmosphere where customers can reshape their relationship with coffee.

“It is exciting when people can’t drink what they used to drink after having your product,” Dwiggins says.

Borealis has happily become the “East Bay roaster,” offering specialty coffee to commuters during the week and to bike path users on weekends. Though not in Providence itself, Borealis has kept close ties to the city’s coffee community, which Dwiggins describes as tight-knit.

“You don’t necessarily see that in other cities, which are way more competitive,” he says.

The Shop photo by Dee Walls

The Shop

theshopfoxpoint.com

For JP and Diana Murton, The Shop was created with the ability to have a family in mind.

JP Murton describes the Fox Point neighborhood space as “a small coffee shop on purpose, a way to enter into people’s daily lives and participate in real ways.” He hopes those who interact with The Shop feel free to ask questions rather than feel told what the space is and who it is for.

The Shop photo by Dee Walls

When The Shop opened in 2014, the goal was to consistently provide quality espresso drinks to community members. Over time, the team has expanded its skills in various ways, moving into single-origin drip coffee and espresso. This has been possible through partnerships with roasters such as Stumptown Coffee and Parlor Coffee.

While not trying to be everything to everyone, the team at The Shop is committed to making sure customers who enter are seen as people first, much like family. Trust, Murton says, is at the center of The Shop’s ethos, from relationships with those who stop by for a coffee to those who make sourcing decisions on their behalf. Ultimately, for the Murtons, coffee provides a means of expressing core values such as responsibility, sustainability, and community engagement.

Which Providence Coffee Shop Will You Visit Next?

Through hospitality, accessibility, or family, each of these businesses shows how Providence retailers use coffee to cultivate community. Bolt, Borealis, and The Shop all think carefully about what good coffee can taste like and how it can be experienced. It was exciting to talk with the owners and learn more about how each company has been able to make a home for themselves.

If you find yourself in Providence and are searching for a welcoming place to make yourself at home, consider stopping by one of these cafés for a beverage. Take a walk through downtown or the RISD Museum and visit Bolt, hop on the East Bay Bike Path and re-energize at Borealis, or check out The Shop before you head over to India Point Park. No matter what adventure you choose, both your palate and your spirit will be left satisfied.