Espresso Love

Espresso Love is a local coffee shop & cafe located in Edgartown, Massachusetts. The coffee shop specializes in fresh roasted coffees from all around the world. Over 25 types of coffee, from coffee blends, dark roast coffees, to flavored coffees and even decaffeinated coffees, along with fresh pastries and bakery are served. The place is opened year-round and sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, coffee beans, salads, hot and cold sandwiches pastries,offers also lunches, evening menu and alcoholic beverages.
History
Carol McManus opened Espresso Love in 1992. She was new to the food business, but she loved to bake and was compelled to make a living - she was the single mother of 5. She moved to Martha’s Vineyard with her two youngest children, to a house they owned in Katama, in 1986 when she was getting a divorce. Carol’s two oldest children were in college, and her middle child had finished his senior year of high school in Winthrop.She had always loved to cook and bake. After watching a 20/20 TV show on the beginnings of the coffee boom, she opened Espresso Love in the Harborside Hotel in 1992, with $7,000 - $5000 of it borrowed. She was in bankruptcy, so her son Michael took out a loan for her in his name. Her children all helped when they could.It was a success right away.
The business grew out of the small hotel space and Espresso Love moved to its current location behind the Edgartown courthouse in 2001; it now includes an outside garden space that is so relaxing in the morning. Her son, TJ (Thomas Joseph), moved from Austin, Texas, to run the business. Currently, Espresso Love is expanding, opening a second location at 33 Broad Street in Boston, Massachusetts.
The early morning lines at Espresso Love indicate its extreme popularity during the summer. It's a real scene. While it can be organized at times, it's usually a bit chaotic with massive baby strollers, people popping in and out of the line and a pick up area that is very close to the spot where you place your order. The indoor space is cozy and has a few tables near the windows that overlook the gorgeous garden, which is THE place to sit. There is also an enclosed deck area. Free Wi-Fi attracts lots of laptop loungers.
In 2009, Espresso Love got the fifth place out of 18 nominees as the Best Coffee Shop in Cape Cod.
Menu
One of Carol's many claims to fame, was creating a Presidential Muffin ( bursting with fresh blueberries, strawberries, and cream cheese) for Bill Clinton, which she served to him when he vacationed on Martha's Vineyard island in 1994.President Clinton arrived on the Vineyard on a Friday night, and the very next morning he showed up at Espresso Love. For the rest of the Clintons' two-week vacation, Ms. McManus and her staff baked all kinds of things for the Summer White House--and told no one until the President left the island, which ensured repeat business for other Clinton visits. The Presidential Muffin remains on the daily menu at Espresso Love today.
"Obama Muffin," made in honor of President Obama that had his vacation in 2009 and 2010 on the same island, is made of bananas, coconut, macadamia nuts and raspberries. McManus thought that the tropical ingredients are a tribute to the president's Hawaiian roots.She worked on it for a few weeks and perfected it. It's a very healthy muffin with a Hawaiian theme. It's low fat with banana, applesauce,oats, whole wheat flour, pineapple, raspberries, coconut, macadamia nuts. Espresso Love sells about 3 dozen of them every day during peak time. The Presidend himself never stopped by to try them.
Store
An essential addition to the coffee shop, or a great Vineyard gift can be found at the café. T-shirts in a variety of colors with the slogan Where's the Love? or Get Grounded make playful souvenirs of a Vineyard stay. Men's tees or polos, kid's or women's fitted tees, caps, mugs and other logo'd gift items are all available.
All the items are available for purchase online.
Insiders know and enjoy the quirky humor of Edgartown's most famous coffee spot, Espresso Love, a favorite hangout for vacationing Presidents, celebrities and local personalities. Among celebrities with homes on, or who are frequent visitors to the Vineyard, Meg Ryan can be spoted often at Espresso Love, during her summer vacations on the island.
Carol's book
Formerly an academic school teacher, Carol McManus also teaches local cooking classes for seventh and eighth graders, and her recently published cookbook, Table Talk, is filled with easy-to-follow, healthy recipes that are designed to get families to sit down at the dinner table and eat together.
The book is an achievement that complements Carol’s successful business and her family - both of which led her to write it in the first place. Now, she’s inspired to move out into the wider world. She’s hoping to write Table Talk Provence and Table Talk Italy - areas where she’s traveled, with ethnic food she loves and cultures that still celebrate the table.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu