By Caroline Smith
Baby’s Coffee, branded as the “Southernmost Coffee Roasters in America” and located at MM 15, is a historical landmark and community coffee hub that was launched in 1991 by Gary and Olga Teplistky.
In February, Joe and Carnella Bracciale bought the business that’s open 353 days a year. As soon as they learned it was for sale, they knew they wanted to own it.
“It’s really important for us to preserve the legacy and quality that Gary and Olga created, not just with their coffee, but also in their sense of community,” Joe said. “Baby’s Coffee is a pillar of the Keys thanks to their hard work, friendly vibes and Gary’s dedication to the art of roasting and coffee curation. Baby’s is a very good business with a great customer base, and we are very cognizant of the reputation and quality we need to maintain. We know we have big shoes to fill.”
Baby’s values its customers and offers anyone in uniform a free beverage. The customer base is what keeps the place alive. While it has a somewhat niche location, it thrives off its customers from the local Key West Conch community, as well as commuters who make the daily trip into Key West from Marathon or the Lower Keys, along with thousands of tourists who make sure they pick up enough coffee to last until their next trip to the Florida Keys.
The new owners have absolutely no plans of selling, they said. With expansions planned for the future, the Bracciales are committed to not changing too much and keeping Baby’s “eclectic feel.”
They have already increased their food and merchandise selections and continue to use their social media accounts to keep customers “in the know.” They plan to begin using their food truck and online business more in the near future.
The biggest and most exciting improvement includes plans to bring Baby’s back to Duval Street, where it started more than 30 years ago. Within the next few years, the new location would be toward the south end of Duval, the Bracciales said.
The major difference between Baby’s Coffee and most other local coffee shops is Baby’s roasts and bags its own coffee daily. High quality Arabica coffee beans give customers the freshest coffee with over 20 roasts to choose from. The roasting room is connected to the main building, so the coffee is as fresh as possible.
Tripadvisor reviewers often tout Baby’s as “the best coffee in the Keys.”
Baby’s Coffee supports other local businesses. Croissants de France supplies its daily pastries. Ramona’s Conch Creations design its T-shirts and merchandise, and Bugs Ceramics makes its custom coffee mugs. Products from local vendors such as salt scrubs, seasonings and pickles are available in the store.
Customer Emily Bracher said she started going to Baby’s with her parents when she herself was just a baby. Bracher has lived in the Keys her whole life, and now attends Louisiana State University. She said she always makes sure to stop at the coffee shop when she is home for breaks.
“The store brings back memories from when I was younger, selling Girl Scout cookies outside the building,” Bracher said. “Now, I order an iced coffee with their Cuban bagel.”
More information and daily updates are at babyscoffee.com or their Instagram @babyscoffee.
