Scotch Plains Local Opens Black Drop Coffee

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Bringing a bit of a boost to the area, longtime Scotch Plains native Melody DeGaetano opened Black Drop Coffee on Friday.

"I would always say I thought we needed a coffee shop. And I thought the same thing for 10 years, so I opened one," DeGaetano said.

DeGaetano, who has lived in the township with her family for the past 10 years, has always been around food. She has a degree in biology and a master’s degree in nutrition.

She developed a very close relationship with her family friend Mike Bonavita, a coffee roaster, and together they teamed up to open the coffee shop at 431 Park Ave. in Scotch Plains.

The coffee is roasted locally by Goodlife Coffee in Red Bank in small batches to avoid overroasting, which can happen in very large batches used by other large coffee chains, DeGaetano said.

"We bring the black drop touch to everything we do," DeGaetano said. "From frothing the milk differently to intentionally using specific ingredients to the way we set up our menu ... it's all about the little nuances."

Black Drop Coffee offers drinks for adults and children, coffee beans, pastries, snacks, cookies, and more.

Additionally, Black Drop Coffee has outdoor seating in the front and back of the shop, along with indoor dining and to-go ordering. Customers can also order online to pick-up.

"I like to think that Black Drop is elevating the coffee experience," DeGaetano said.

The shop currently offers a twist on a fall drink that DeGaetano said could "soon replace the pumpkin spice latte forever."

The Fallback has more of a New Orleans flavor with orange, cardamon, and other secret ingredients.

DeGaetano is planning an official ribbon-cutting later in the month and also will be open for Scotch Plains Day and Play for P.I.N.K. Rose Checchio Walk on Oct. 3. She will also be hosting a Coffee with a Cop event on Oct. 7.

For more information on Black Drop Coffee visit blackdropcoffeenj.com or instagram.com/blackdropcoffeenj or facebook.com/Black-Drop-Coffee.

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