New cafe brings fresh coffee and baked goods back to former Back Door Bakeshop space in downtown Bethlehem

2022-07-02 02:38:47 By : Mr. Frank Zhang

Fresh coffee and baked goods have returned to a corner shop in downtown Bethlehem.

Toasted and Roasted, a micro coffee roaster and cafe, opened Tuesday at 92 E. Broad St.

Toasted and Roasted, a micro coffee roaster and cafe, opened Tuesday at 92 E. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem. The space previously housed Back Door Bakeshop, a popular take-out cafe and bakeshop that closed in March after nine years of business. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

The space previously housed Back Door Bakeshop, a popular take-out cafe and bakeshop that closed in March after nine years of business.

Toasted and Roasted is operated by husband and wife Mike Khorosh and Ali Dickison, who founded the company six years ago in Los Angeles.

Dickison is originally from East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, and Khorosh is originally from Rockland County, New York.

“We operated the business for five years in LA,” Khorosh said. “When our lease ran out last year, we decided not to renew, just because of the pandemic and the fact that we wanted to be closer to family back home.”

The couple resides in Stroudsburg, where they also operate the business’ coffee roastery.

Their coffee beans are sourced from accredited, responsible importers who have direct relationships with small farmers growing specialty coffee around the world.

Toasted and Roasted co-owners Mike Khorosh and Ali Dickison pose inside their newly opened cafe at 92 E. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

“They help us, a micro-roaster, obtain a premium product and form a connection to the origin of the coffee from Ethiopia or Peru to Indonesia or Brazil,” a message on the business’ website reads. “These partnerships allow us to always feel confident that we are sourcing outstanding beans from start to finish.”

Samples of international coffee selections, including those from Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya and Nicaragua, are placed in small jars on the counter to allow customers to smell the different varieties.

Brewing methods include pour-over and French press, and the couple also installed a new espresso machine for specialty drinks such as cappuccino, double espresso macchiato and various lattes, including chai, matcha and golden (turmeric, caffeine free).

Drip coffee (hot or iced) starts at $3 for a 12-ounce cup. Most other house-made beverages, including cold-brew coffee, hot or iced tea, lemonade and lotus summer refreshers, are priced between $2.50 and $5.

In addition to drinks, the cafe is offering a variety of baked goods — including bagels, croissants, muffins and strudels — from Rockland County, New York-based Rockland Bakery, which operates five baking facilities in New York and New Jersey, eight regional distribution centers and a fleet of more than 100 vehicles delivering freshly baked products in six states.

Toasted and Roasted, a micro coffee roaster and cafe, opened Tuesday at 92 E. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem. The business offers a variety of baked goods - including bagels, croissants, muffins and strudels - from Rockland County, New York-based Rockland Bakery, which operates five baking facilities in New York and New Jersey, eight regional distribution centers and a fleet of more than 100 vehicles delivering freshly baked products in six states. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

Toasted and Roasted also plans to source baked goods from Back Door Bakeshop, which transitioned back to its origins as a wholesale business when it closed its brick-and-mortar location in early spring.

Back Door, known for its scones, cookies and cinnamon rolls, was established by Gail Lehman and Dina Hall in 2009 at 1422 Center St. in Bethlehem. In 2013, the pair moved the business about a mile south to a larger city space at East Broad and Center streets.

Khorosh and Dickison are hoping to offer Back Door’s sugar cookies, mini pies and “literally whatever we can twist Gail’s arm to give to us,” Dickison said.

“A lot of folks have been coming in asking for [Back Door’s] cinnamon rolls,” Khorosh added.

Toasted and Roasted’s opening hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Customers can place their to-go orders at an indoor counter or a take-out window, and Khorosh and Dickison are hoping to get approval for a few outdoor tables in the coming months.

To stay up-to-date on Toasted and Roasted’s offerings and happenings, follow the business’ social media pages, facebook.com/ToastedAndRoasted and instagram.com/toastedandroasted. Info: 610-625-0987; toastedandroasted.com.