Shopping local has arguably never been more popular than it is right now.
With COVID-19 restrictions severely hindering businesses around the city over the past few years, there seems to be a general theme of people putting a priority on supporting their own.
One of the most prominent examples of this has been the increase in popularity of local coffee shops in Cambridge.
Java Jax, Grand Cafe, Monigram Coffee Roasters, Melville Cafe, Blacktop Roaster and Grind House Cafe and Eatery are all offering local alternative coffee options to the java juggernauts of Tim Hortons and Starbucks.
Greg and Ruth Organ opened Java Jax just five weeks ago. The couple has a wealth of experience in the food industry and say they offer a unique experience compared to the bigger chain restaurants.
“I was a chef for many years,” Greg said.
“My wife and I have owned restaurants in the past and we had a great opportunity with this location. We do brewing methods different than a lot of other place and we do almost all of our own baking.”
From your standard brewing methods to incorporating pressurization to extract bold flavours, there’s something for all coffee drinkers. Java Jax gets their coffee from places like Brazil and Ethiopia to ensure top quality.
Greg doesn't find anything wrong with the big coffee businesses like Tim Hortons and Starbucks, but says cafes like theirs offer something different to local consumers.
“Tim Hortons is a very busy place, they have good coffee and service but ours is just a little bit different,” he said.
“It’s a little bit slower paced, a little more refined and personalized. It’s very important to offer something different. Things like our teas, they’re beautiful qualities teas. They have fruit right in the bags. It’s not just your standard earl grey, we have cream of earl grey, matcha tea lattes and that kind of thing.”
Family and homemade are the keys to the couples business, which fits in perfectly with many people’s desire to want to support local.
“My wife is an incredibly important part of the business,” Greg said.
“It’s personalized service, we have specialty coffees and have great homemade food, from soups to chilis.”
Java Jax is located 93 Grand Ave S.
