At first glance, one would not immediately fuse coffee and Mexican cuisine together. But Kevin Leal, founder of BattleCat, saw an opportunity to partner with the owners of the esteemed Oralé Mexican Kitchen to bring a gift to the community — a coworking space + espresso bar. More than just coffee, BattleCat Espresso Bar is “a place where people can relax, work in a peaceful space, and get a chance to network with others.” Plus enjoy the colorful graffiti and Insta-grammable skull décor, of course. While the coffee cart in Jersey City is still securing a location, keep reading to find out all about the BattleCat Espresso Bar at 1426 Willow Avenue in Hoboken.
About BattleCat
BattleCat was founded in 2014 with a mission to bring sustainable barista careers to the community through a training and mentoring program. The website reads, “the BattleCat Barista Training Program {BCBT} is a professional, growth and start-up program for baristas that want to create their own business in coffee.” They offer consulting services for barista training, management, and employee culture. In short, they are here to empower the coffee creators of Hudson County.
About Orale
It would be remiss to not mention Orale, as Leal {the aforementioned founder of BattleCat} did team up with the owners of Orale to create BattleCat. Orale, however, is known for more than just coffee — it’s known for its delicious tacos + fun dining atmosphere. Think Day of the Dead inspired decor, open dining space, and more. This eatery, however, has two locations {so you can enjoy double the tacos} — one in Hoboken where BattleCat is housed and one in Jersey City {341 Grove Street, Jersey City}.
Now with BattleCat making a home in the Hoboken location, Orale’s visitors can enjoy tacos + a caffeinated pick-me-up after their meal {or hang around to get some work done in BattleCat’s coworking space, whichever works for you}.
See More: The Grind Coffee Shop: Bergen-Lafayette’s Go-To Coffee Spot
Why “BattleCat”
The name came from Kevin’s early experiences with coffee competitions around New York City where they would chant “Battle Cat” at him in reflection of his relentless nature and determination to win. Aptly nicknamed, BattleCat aims to bring forth a spirit of healthy competition and community right here in the Mile Square. Kevin is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association {SCA} and upholds these standards in all the shop’s fierce brewing techniques, such as proper water temperature and brewing time. Kevin himself aspires to perform at the highest of standards, citing the popular Winston Churchill quote as his path to success, “Moving from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
Read More: Lil’ Dove Cafe in Jersey City: All About This Coffee Lover’s Haven
The Menu
BattleCat Espresso Bar does, in fact, sell coffee. Sourced through Café Femenino, their seasonal menu contains a simple mix of hot coffee, cold coffee, tea, and extras. Aside from the current menu, they offer a variety of additional educational projects in the arts, coffee, and tastings – such as the Oralé Latte. The espresso bar is open weekdays from 7:00AM-2:00PM at 1426 Willow Avenue in Hoboken, while the co-working closes at 1:00PM on Fridays. As for the coffee cart in Jersey City, although Kevin has not yet secured a location to vend, you’ll find them at Groove on Grove at the Grove Street PATH when it returns in May 2020.
Have you visited BattleCat yet? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments!
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