Doylestown Getting Two New Indie Coffee Shops

Visitors to downtown Doylestown have two new coffee shops to check out.

One is open and the other is set to open in August.

Nonno’s is an Italian coffee parlor co-owned by Tom Conte and Caterina Gaudioso.

It’s located in the same spot on East State Street previously occupied by another coffee and ice cream specialty store, Coffee & Cream, which closed in April after 24 years in business.

Nonno’s opened quietly last Sunday, but word has already spread around town, with local merchants and coffee lovers stopping by for goodies and some hot brew.

“We’re definitely excited,” said Gaudioso, who was born in Rome and has experience running other businesses.

Nonno is the Italian word for “grandfather.” Conte chose it as his store name in tribute to his own 92-year-old nonno.

“My love of Italy, everything Italian and my grandfather – these were my inspirations,” he said.

The interior has been redesigned, with dark wood tables and chairs providing ample seating inside. Some additional seating is offered outside as well.

“We wanted it to look like an authentic Italian coffee parlor,” Conte said.

Photos of Italy that Conte shot as well as portraits of his grandfathers will decorate the walls.

The store carries Italian coffee and specialty drinks, as well as ice cream and Italian gelato – also a product of Italy that Conte says made Oprah’s famous “O List.”

He’ll carry 10 flavors that will be rotated every two weeks. A recent selection included Tahitian vanilla, chocolate amaretto, hazelnut, tiramisu and blueberry butter cookie.

“There’s no powder, no artificial ingredients, no color additives – all the bright, vibrant colors we have here are from the product itself,” he said.

And the difference between ice cream and gelato?

Gelato is denser because there’s less fat, less dairy and less air in the frozen treat, he said, creating rich and intense flavors.

Nonno’s also carries a full line of Italian pastries.

While the store hours have not yet been finalized, Nonno’s will be open daily. Conte said they plan to time their schedule with the ’s nighttime schedule, keeping their doors open an hour after the last movie ends.

Still under construction, the website is www.nonnoscafe.com.

Around the corner in the Brigade Building at 20 Donaldson St., workers are laboring feverishly to finish the Zen Den, a “funky, chic coffee boutique,” described by owners Annette Coletta and Elizabeth Cellucci.

The two friends from New Jersey hatched the idea to open a coffeehouse about a year ago while walking the boards at the shore. It was something they both longed to do.

Their vision is to provide a place that is both relaxing and rejuvenating for those coming by for a cup of java – come in, get comfortable in one of the cushy chairs or sofas, read a good book or work on the computer, and “just hang,” said Coletta.

Customers can purchase coffee and specialty drinks (made from beans provided by La Colombe Torrefaction, well-known to Philadelphia-area coffee lovers), 27 varieties of teas, frozen and iced beverages. They plan to have a small retail section, too.

Local suppliers have been tapped to provide food items, Coletta said. Expect sweets from and J Scones, bagels from , fruit from and sandwiches from . 

Coletta’s gardening skills are evident at the entrance to the Zen Den, with greenery and flowers welcoming customers. Inside, warm colors are used on the walls, and a focal point of the main room is a fireplace with a water wall hanging above.

Another fireplace and water wall grace the back room, which Coletta said is planned as a meeting room.

They plan on having some live music, too. Check their Sunday schedule during August for the acoustic jazz of En Trio. Some Friday and Saturday evenings, too, will feature some area musicians.

Information: www.zendencoffee.com.