From Books to Custom Coffee — How a Local Bookshop Became a Place You’ll Want to Stay
- Luis Barrionuevo
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
A story about community, creativity, and what happens when coffee finds the right home
What about places that don’t try too hard.
You walk in…
and you just feel it.
The atmosphere.
The quiet energy.
The sense that this place has a story — and it’s still being written.
That’s exactly what you feel when you step inside Old Goat Books.
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A Bookshop With a Soul
If you’ve ever been there, you know.
This isn’t just a bookstore.
It’s the kind of place where:
• every shelf feels curated
• every book feels intentional
• and every corner invites you to slow down
It’s warm.
It’s unique.
It’s real.
And at the heart of it is Erica Nikolaus — someone who understands that a space is not just about what you sell…
it’s about how people feel when they’re there.
☕ And Then… a Custom Coffee Entered the Story
At some point, a simple idea started to take shape:
What if people could stay a little longer?
What if the experience of discovering a book could be paired with something warm in their hands?
Something comforting.
Something familiar.
Something that brings people together.
Coffee.
Not just any coffee — but coffee that truly fits the space.
Building Something That Feels Natural
This wasn’t about turning a bookstore into a café.
It was about adding a layer to the experience.
A small coffee space.
Simple. Thoughtful. Intentional.
The kind of setup that doesn’t take over the room —
it complements it.
Now, people don’t just walk in, browse, and leave.
They:
• pick a book
• grab a coffee
• sit for a few minutes
• and stay a little longer than they planned
And that changes everything.
The Birth of the “Bookshop Blend”
As the space evolved, so did the idea.
It wasn’t just about serving coffee anymore.
It became about identity.
That’s when Erica and I started a different kind of conversation:
What should your coffee taste like?
Not in technical terms.
But in feeling.
Should it be bold or smooth?
Comforting or vibrant?
Something people sip slowly… or something that simply feels right in that moment?
Based on that vision, we selected origins and crafted a blend that would reflect the atmosphere of the shop.
That’s how the “Bookshop Blend” was created.
A custom-roasted coffee, designed to feel like the space itself:
• warm
• smooth
• inviting
• easy to enjoy, yet memorable
The kind of coffee you don’t overthink —
you just keep sipping while turning pages.
More Than Coffee — A Signature Experience
Now, when you visit Old Goat Books,
you’re not just drinking coffee.
You’re experiencing something that was intentionally created for that space.
And when you take a bag of the Bookshop Blend home…
you’re taking a piece of that experience with you.
The quiet.
The warmth.
The moment.
What This Story Really Means
For us at The Tree Coffee House, this is what partnership looks like.
Not just supplying coffee.
But helping businesses create something that feels:
• authentic
• aligned
• and truly theirs
Every space is different, and the coffee should reflect that.
If You Haven’t Been There Yet…
Take a moment and visit Old Goat Books.
Walk through the shelves.
Find something unexpected.
And grab a cup of the Bookshop Blend while you’re there.
You’ll understand what this story is about.
Thinking About Creating Your Own Coffee?
If you’re building something of your own…
A café.
A retail space.
A brand.
Or if you’ve ever thought about:
• offering better coffee
• creating your own signature blend
• adding a new experience for your customers
We’d love to help.
From wholesale coffee
to white-label
to fully customized private-label projects…
👉 Our team is ready to build something that fits your space and gives people a way to take a piece of that experience home.
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Before You Go…
If your space had its own coffee…
👉 What would it taste like?
Luis Barrionuevo is Founder & CEO of The Tree Coffee House - Roaster and Espresso Bar, based in the Region of Waterloo, ON, Canada
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