Javateas: The Story
By Lindsey McIntosh
The winter season is closing in, as light makes its great escape behind the horizon far too early. Soon, snow will fall and cast a lovely hue. We will ask ourselves where the day has gone and question the hours as they slip between the cracks. So, as we muster up the courage to step out into the piercing air, stopping by a café to sip on something warm can make all the difference, and Javateas in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, is waiting to open the door.
Javateas opened eighteen years ago and never looked back. The café is proud to be family-owned and operated, inviting customers to become more than a familiar face but a long-awaited family member as well.
It’s safe to say that if you’re a coffee lover, you’ve got a forever home at Javateas.
“My husband and I loved coffee shops when we were in college and always talked about someday owning our own…not really knowing it would become a reality so soon!” Shared owner, Ashley Scheirer. Ashley grew up surrounded by her parent's kitchen business, slowly being taught the responsibilities and adventures of business ownership. “While working with family can be challenging at times, it has proven to be a great experience. My parents own the building we are in, and both parents, my husband, two of my brothers, and two of my sisters work in the building in some capacity.”
As for the name, well, that was all fun and games. “It was just us playing around with different coffee words,” shared Ashley. But for the local community, the name is well-known and beloved. After all, eighteen years makes an impact.
“The community has been incredible over the last eighteen years! We try to be a part of many different things going on in the community so we can be sure to serve and give back to everyone who has always supported us!” Each holiday season, Javateas teams up with Ephrata Area Social Services to create the Our Cup of Care tree, listing the names of children and families that could use a helping hand to make the holiday season full of joy for everyone. “Our families live and work here, and we feel it is our duty to help provide for the needs of people in our community,” shared Ashley.
Thinking back to the early days of business ownership, Ashley shared that she believes it is vital to start working with others in the community as soon as possible, “Don’t wait until five years of being open to form partnerships start right away, even if it’s just little things.”
Javateas' acts of service are just one of the many ways they hope to spread holiday cheer. So, how else do they manage to put a smile on a customer's face? Well, through the good ole fashion act of nourishment, of course. Bring on the coffee flights!
“Our many wild ideas come from a variety of places. Some have been my ideas, some have been my family’s, and many have been employee ideas! Employee feedback and creativity are an integral part of what we do! Plus, they are often up on all the trends and help us keep up as well.”
Ashley admits that the coffee flights, similar to any other type of drink flights out there, have been their most popular idea. They have enticed people as far as New Jersey to stop by the café to try out the latest edition. On top of the coffee flights, Javateas offers twelve drink specials each month, so there’s something for everyone to try.
“Our staff has always been amazing at helping to implement new ideas and being willing to try the crazy things we come up with!” In Ashley’s eyes, spending time at the café and taking part in what the staff are often asked to do helps build a stronger bond between everyone, allowing for a healthy work environment that fosters positive ideas of leadership.
Javateas also offers espresso bar catering and café rentals for gatherings of all types. The options are seemingly endless for what they are willing to do to bring the passion and adoration for coffee to people's doorsteps.
“Small businesses are integral to the fabric of communities, contributing to economic vitality, community identity, and overall well-being. They create a network of relationships that extend beyond commerce, fostering a sense of belonging and pride among community members,” shared Ashley. The spirit that Javateas brings to each customer is infectious, and it radiates throughout their staff, environment, and familial nature that weaves together its history. Once a first-time customer steps through the door, they are hooked. They return perhaps a time or two more before names are exchanged with a barista, orders are remembered, stories are shared, and food or drinks provide nourishment, making what was once a new face a regular for life.
“Javateas is all about relationships. Many customers have become family to us. Being able to share a meal or drink with them opens the door to having a relationship with them. It helps us relate on so many levels, even when we come from different backgrounds. Serving customers and getting to know them have allowed us to share in so many joys, sorrows, and life events with many different people, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”
Javateas is featured on the 2024 Food is Love Coffee Calendar for October. However, make sure you visit them well before then, and bring a friend. Order a coffee flight and allow the comforting atmosphere to whisk you away.
Food is Love Lancaster wishes all of you a happy holiday season!