‘Putting a new spin out there’: 1st Filipino coffee shop in NJ plans to expand
NEW JERSEY (PIX11) — New Jersey’s first and only Filipino coffee shop is doing so well that its owners are getting ready to move into a larger location.
Trixie Jose and her husband, Matt Reyes, started the coffee business with a pop-up cart in October 2021, in the midst of the pandemic.
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“Matt and his dad built it from scratch,” said Jose. “And we just kind of promoted ourselves through social media.”
Jose and Reyes said the pandemic forced them to take a closer look at what made them happy.
“We kind of sat down and really discussed what we want to do with our lives, for our careers,” said Reyes.
Jose quit her accounting career to start the business. Following successful pop-up ventures, the couple opened its Morris Avenue storefront in March 2022, selling Filipino-inspired coffee drinks and baked goods, including a popular ube latte.
“We’re the only coffee shop in New Jersey to office Philippine coffee beans,” said Jose. “We’re putting a new spin out there on coffee that hasn’t been done yet. We make all of our syrups in-house. We use real ingredients when we can.”
The unique flavors have attracted repeat customers like Lexi Bazsa and Sirisha Neti.
“I’m half Filipino, so I really like the Filipino-based flavors,” said Bazsa.
“I think the Filipino flavors stand out,” said Neti. “I usually get the ube latte, and I really like the pastries – the chocolate croissant and the everything bagel croissant are really good.”
Ayala Coffee is doing so well that Jose and Reyes plan to close the current location in the coming months and move to a larger space down the street with cafe seating and a full kitchen.
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