From communitynews.org
Middlemist Honey Wine & Cider, Somerset County's first meadery, has added a full-service coffee program to its downtown Somerville taproom, expanding operations to reach customers from morning through evening.
The business, located at 30 East Main St., first opened on April 18 and introduced coffee service last week after receiving municipal approval to begin operating earlier in the day. The venue now opens at 7 a.m.
Owner Ilija Melentijevic told Patch that the addition reflects the business's original intent for the space: to function as a community third space rather than purely an evening destination.
The coffee program allows Middlemist to serve guests who do not drink alcohol and to create a daytime atmosphere suited to remote work, casual meetups, and social gatherings. The taproom holds up to 130 people.
A Coffee Menu Rooted in Honey
Somerville native Seth Jay-Choynake is leading the coffee program. According to TAPinto Somerville, he began his coffee career in 2015 at the former Dragonfly Café on Main Street, later working at Starbucks in Bedminster and Ambee Coffee in Warren.
He connected with the Middlemist owners on the taproom's first public day, and three months later took charge of all non-alcoholic beverages.
Choynake sources beans from regional roasteries and incorporates Middlemist's own local honey into signature drinks.
Current offerings include espresso drinks, drip coffee, cold brew, cappuccinos, specialty lattes, loose-leaf teas, honey sodas, and fresh-squeezed lemonades. Two standout items are a Honey Nut Latte and a Honey Cinnamon Churro Latte.
Honey-inspired foams are also available, with additional varietal honey options planned. Espresso drinks are prepared on a Nuova Simonelli three-head espresso machine imported from Italy through a local supplier.
Coffee flights featuring signature lattes and fall seasonal flavours are coming soon, TAPinto reported.
Daytime Events and Private Bookings
The earlier hours open the door to a broader event calendar. Middlemist is planning daytime programming such as open mics, mahjong, and pilates sessions alongside its existing lineup of trivia nights, live music, workshops, and social gatherings.
The venue is also available for private bookings beginning at 7 a.m.
Melentijevic told Patch he wants Middlemist to feel like a whole-day hangout rather than a space that only activates in the evening.
As covered in a prior report on Somerset County's growing small-business scene — Mother and Daughter Expand Mercer County Restaurant Presence With New Sandwich Shop, independent operators across central New Jersey have been building community-centred concepts into their expansions.
A Natural Extension of the Mead Brand
Melentijevic described the coffee launch as an evolution of what Middlemist already does rather than a departure from it.
He told TAPinto that the business has always aimed to make great gathering spaces available throughout the day, and that sourcing exceptional ingredients for coffee fits the same standard applied to the meadery's honey wine and cider production.
As morning coffee hours wind down, the space transitions into the mead tasting room that has drawn enthusiasts from across central New Jersey.
https://communitynews.org/sections/articles/somerville-meadery-middlemist-launches-morning-coffee/
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