Looking for a place in Gettysburg to make friends, learn to draw, have a pastry, or just hang out and drink coffee?
Look no further; Presidents Coffee, a modern family-owned coffee shop, has what you are looking for.
Owners Tom Pottiger and his wife Emily opened their business just over a year ago on the corner of Chambersburg and Washington Streets, just one block west of Lincoln Square.
The couple was inspired by the interior of the building and have hand-built the shop as a “place of creativity and conversation.”
The Pottigers said they had a dream to open a coffee shop over the 11 years they have been together. They went on some of their first dates in Gettysburg, making it a special place for them. “When we saw this space open up, we got really excited about the opportunity,” said Emily. And so, for around seven months, they worked to make their dreams a reality.
Tom had a vision of what he wanted the shop to look like. At first, he was thinking of a more industrial theme. But when he saw the interior of the new building, his vision changed, and the opportunity presented itself to create a new, modern aesthetic.
Emily said the inspiration came from wanting to bring something new to Gettysburg. Among the many historical aspects of the borough, the couple says the shop feels like “the needed missing piece.”
When developing their unique menu, Tom and Emily took an experimental approach to the flavors and details of each drink. “Once the espresso machine was hooked up, we began testing different flavor combinations,” said Tom. Their famous maple spice and vanilla “Lincoln Latte” was a product of their experiments and is now a staple on the menu. The team of baristas also played a role in the process, as most had previous barista and café experience.
The Pottigers emphasize that they always want their coffee drinks to have a “coffee forward” feel to them, ensuring the customer always gets their taste of coffee in their drink, while also being able to add flavors. Partnering with their coffee roaster, Passenger Coffee, the menu allows customers to get to know the six different roasts they offer, and how unique each flavor is. This educational and creative approach to coffee not only allows customers to learn about what goes into each blend, but also informs them of the importance of locally sourcing coffee to add a unique taste to each drink.
“Sometimes coffee can be intimidating,” Emily says, but thanks to their experienced, well-knowing staff, customers have no need to fear asking questions. Ashley, one of the baristas, says Presidents likes to take a slower approach, making drinks “in a slow, artisanal way.” This allows the customer to get to know the process, but also to appreciate taking the time to slow down and find some reprise in a cup of tea or coffee.
Getting the word out about the shop has come easily; Presidents does not do any paid marketing. Tom explains that as they were developing their small business, they would go to diners and other places around town and let the staff know “Hey, we’re opening a coffee shop.” By word of mouth and organic social media (such as mentions online by customers), Presidents has grown its clientele, without needing extensive marketing management.
Emily and Tom have both found many friends and connections through new customers and people around town spreading the word.
Presidents Coffee also provides opportunities for customers to meet new people. The shop hosts a yoga session every other Sunday with a local yoga instructor. Other events such as figure drawing and latte art throwdowns can also be found on their webpage. This provides a way for local artists, baristas, or anyone looking for something social to do, to not only meet new people, but grab a cup of coffee or tea after to create an environment of what Presidents Coffee refers to as “creativity and conversation”.
Whether you’re from right down the road, or miles away, Presidents Coffee has a drink for you. With a community-focused approach, baristas will greet you with all you need to know about their menu. Make sure to check out one of Emily’s favorite drinks, the “Apple Queen Latte” which even got the stamp of approval from the Adams County Apple Queen herself.
Whether you’re coming for tea, coffee, yoga, art, or even just to make some new friends. Presidents Coffee is a welcoming place for everyone.
Abigail Hallagan, intern, is a senior at Gettysburg College from Plainville, Massachusetts. She is a Psychology major with a writing minor. Outside of school, she is the Program Coordinator for Psi Chi (the Psychology National Honor Society), a Global Leader at Gettysburg College, and has written articles for Gettysburg College’s Newspaper, "The Gettysburgian."