SELF PRESERVATION
With a little effort and a little more time, the flavors of summer and autumn can last through the winter season and beyond.
Indianapolis Gets a Coffee Ambassador
Bovaconti Coffee in Fountain Square
Coffee. It’s a big deal in the U.S., let alone here in the greater Indianapolis area. According to a recent study commissioned by the National Coffee Association, 64 percent of Americans drink at least one cup of java each day and, here in Indy, though we’re not one of the most caffeinated cities in the country, we do have a fair number of places where people can get their daily dose of joe. Of course as a self-proclaimed coffee snob myself, I’ll be the first to step up and say not all coffee is created equally, and not all baristas know how to make a proper cappuccino, let alone how to pronounce it correctly … but … for all my fellow coffee lovers, there’s a new hotspot in town where you can get crazy good coffee and, bonus, they even know how to pronounce the numerous Italian-style drinks on menu like café miele (a Spanish coffee with honey and spices) and spremuta d’arancia (Italian for orange juice)
Pouring the Local Goods
“Think of us more as coffee ambassadors, rather than a coffeeshop,” says Bovaconti’s co-owner Justin Jones. The shop, which officially opened Friday, Oct. 4, plans to feature different coffees throughout the year. “We want to bring local roasters in and give them the creds they deserve,” says Jones of his decision to feature local roasters on a rotating basis. “And it’s good for customers,” he says of the decision to offer more than just one brand, or one style of coffee. “Before spending money on a full pound of coffee, which can be expensive, we’ll make them a pour-over [or two or three] so they can taste it first.” This way, he adds, they’ll be sure to get something they like for home brewing.
Jones, who was born and raised in Plainfield, has been working in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years. He moved to New York after a brief stint in college and it was there, while working for a catering company, that he became fascinated with what happens behind the scenes—from the original planning stages to the delivery, set up, and execution. Eventually, Jones left the big city and returned to Plainfield where he married, started a family, and was hired on as part of the JW Marriott’s banquet operations opening team in 2011.
Connecting with People
“I learned what really, really good presentation is and how good ingredients matter,” says Jones of his tenure at the luxury downtown hotel. He also learned how to connect with people and the importance of establishing good relationships with clients and patrons. And being present—be it at your place of business or in your life, Jones believes is something that simply can’t be replaced. “Customers want to connect with owners,” he says. Which sounds simple enough, but the concept is one that’s often overlooked in the food and beverage business. Jones, however, has made it a priority and his hands-on reputation helped establish his first Indy venture, Georgia Street Grind, as a place where both locals and visitors go for great coffee. The downtown coffeeshop won the Indy Star’s Readers Choice Award for Best Coffeeshop in 2018. And now, Jones is taking his talents to Fountain Square with the opening of Bovaconti—an uber hip, neighborhood coffeehouse serving everything from divine coffee drinks to delicious pastries, all local, of course. Oh…and the name…Bovaconti Jewelers once lived in this now caffeinated hang out and it gives Jones just one more connection with his community.
Bovaconti Coffee | 1042 Virginia Ave. Indianapolis
@bovaconticoffee
SELF PRESERVATION
With a little effort and a little more time, the flavors of summer and autumn can last through the winter season and...
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