After scarfing down some tacos or oysters in the new White Star Market, patrons will be able to enjoy a cup of third wave specialty coffee from Lafayette-based Rêve Coffee Roasters.
The specialty, micro roasting coffee company founded by Nathanael Johnson is the newest tenant announced for the burgeoning gourmet food hall set for the mixed-use Square 46 development in Mid Cityon Government Street.
“We are all about small batches ensuring quality and freshness,” Johnson says. “We want to show people quality coffee.”
Johnson says he has wanted to have a presence in Baton Rouge and opening a location in the White Star Market seems like the right way to do that.
He plans to have a pared-down menu in Baton Rouge, but customers will be able to get the regular types of coffee they are used to buying, like a latte or cappuccino. Johnson and his team have been perfecting a nitro iced coffee for about a year, and that will be on the menu along with teas. He plans to rotate the menu frequently to give people different options.
White Star Market owner Clark Gaines says he and his wife became interested in third wave coffee while living in Ohio and wanted to include that concept in White Star.
“I’m very excited about Rêve coming to White Star,” Gaines says in a statement. “Nate is doing some amazing things with coffee that Baton Rouge largely has yet to experience first hand, and I am very confident he will be successful with us at the market.”
Third wave coffee refers to the movement of purchasing coffee beans based on their origin and brewing coffee as an artisanal or craft beverage.
Rêve joins Jay Ducote, the Jolie Pearl team, Jesse Romero, Micah Martello and Michael Mangham as the tenants announced for White Star Market so far.
Construction on Square 46 is expected to begin in the next few months and last for about nine to 10 months.
BY: RYAN BROUSSARD
Originally Posted by The Baton Rouge Business Report