I am a particularly picky coffee-drinker, but the one place in the Lehigh Valley that has never once disappointed me is Bitty and Beau’s. Founded in 2016 and only a couple of minutes’ walk from Moravian University, the coffee shop hires individuals with developmental disabilities in an already difficult job market for this group.
From a purely customer perspective, the coffee is amazing. It’s not like chain coffee shops, where your drink can range from perfection to swamp water, depending on the day and the worker.
No, no, no, Bitty and Beau’s coffee tastes exactly the same every time, and that is something that I not only appreciate as a coffee aficionado but also need. I hate to say it, but I hold food grudges. If I go to a restaurant or bakery and get one bad meal or drink, even if I have had a good one a million times before, it ruins my palate and just completely destroys my perception of food for at least that night, if not permanently.
And not only is Bitty and Beau’s coffee consistent, but it is also delicious. Not only are the drinks consistent, but they also offer a lot of variety for options and flavors.
The staff at our local Bitty and Beau’s is so sweet, and they always make my day, whether that be complimenting my flavor choice of coffee, writing a cute note on my cup or simply just asking me about my day. Compared to fast-food coffee shops, this type of recognition and conversation is not standard, especially when there’s a long line.
But Bitty and Beau’s doesn’t shorten the experience just because there are people behind you; they remind you that you are a person who deserves social interaction, even if there are five people behind you.
This coffee shop is more than just a place for a caffeine pick-up. The owners, Amy and Ben Wright, are parents to four children: Lillie, Emma Grace, Beau and Bitty. Lillie has autism, and both Beau and Bitty were born with Down syndrome.
When the Wrights discovered that more than 80% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face employment challenges across the country, they chose to start a coffee shop, where individuals with disabilities would be included, valued and do meaningful work.
The Wrights opened their first location in January 2016 in Wilmington, North Carolina, creating jobs for 19 employees with disabilities. Fueled by social media momentum, national media attention, and strong local backing, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee has since expanded to 14 locations, including Bethlehem, across 11 states; it now employs more than 450 people.
In addition, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee launched Cruisers, mobile coffee units designed to bring its mission of employment for people with disabilities to community events. Currently, there are nine Cruiser locations across the U.S.
The company has built a social media following of over 650,000 and has been spotlighted on major platforms, including The Today Show, Rachael Ray, CNN, Harry, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, HLN, People Magazine, and Southern Living. In 2017, founder Amy Wright was honored as CNN’s Hero of the Year.
Bitty and Beau’s has a productive, but not silent, atmosphere. When you walk in, you see students and professionals working on their computers, reading and chatting, so if you need a quiet workspace, I recommend bringing headphones to drown out the chatter around you.
My go-to order is a Chai Vanilla Latte (I’m basic, I get an iced one in the summer, and a warm one in the winter), but I praise this shop so much because the chai is never too chai, if that makes sense. Some coffee shops, and I won’t say names, put way too much chai, where it is literally settling at the bottom, and when you get to the bottom of the cup, you’re sipping straight up spices.
That does not happen at Bitty and Beau’s. Maybe it’s magic, maybe it’s attention to detail, but I never have clumps of excessive chai in my drinks there, and that is enough to get me hooked.
Bitty and Beau’s also offers breakfast and dessert options, including Rice Krispies treats, bagels, muffins, cake-pops, cinnamon rolls and brownies.
Bitty and Beau’s is usually open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with extended hours on Friday (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Saturday (7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and Sunday (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.). They are located at 74 W Broad St, Bethlehem, PA 18018.
