Colgate University’s coffee connoisseurs looking for a perfectly roasted cup needn’t look further than Hamilton’s own FoJo Beans, a locally owned small-batch coffee roasting company and restaurant. And for those looking for an equally delicious but significantly sweeter morning (or afternoon) treat, FoJo has a seasonal menu that is certain to brighten your day and satisfy your sweet tooth.
This year’s Valentine’s Menu featured a variety of drinks such as the Cherry Cordial Latte with steamed chocolate milk, cherry syrup, whipped cream, a cherry on top and a white chocolate drizzle. Their other drink specials include the Waffleccino, the Devil’s Chocolate Kiss and two FoJo Frapps appropriately named the Bitter Heart and the Sweet Heart.
The owners of FoJo, Dan Joseph and Dan Foust create some of the drinks themselves, but they also provide their employees with the opportunity to create their own specialities. As for the Cherry Cordial Latte, Joseph shared its origins of collaboration between management and staff.
“The ‘Cherry Cordial’ wasn’t just an automatic drink,” Joseph said. “My partner went out and bought chocolate milk, maraschino cherries, little candied hearts and rainbow sprinkles and said here, make it happen. He said he had an idea of a cherry cordial, […] so we played around and the baristas played around a bit and came up with a concept for the Cherry Cordial.”
The Valentine’s menu also includes some kitchen items such as the Grilled Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Scrambled Eggs and the Dirty Morning Biscuit and Gravy. FoJo’s manager, Amy Hicks, commented on the spontaneity of creating the grilled cinnamon coffee cake.
“[The employees] actually didn’t realize that they had grabbed the wrong pan [for the coffee cake], so we were sitting there like, well, what can we do with it?” Hicks said. “It looked kind of like French toast […]; we had to try recooking it, and that didn’t work. So maybe if we cut it in half, finish cooking it and then grill it down? That actually turned out really good and really good with eggs, and then you can get like a side of sausage or bacon. Sometimes we just get really creative with stuff because we didn’t want to throw that whole tray out.”
Through their desire to prevent food waste and introduce more creativity, the staff at FoJo made an item that college students and community members love. Engaging with and appealing to the community is a part of FoJo’s mission “to demonstrate a continued commitment to the local food movement and the local community, to sustainable farming methods and to ethical relationships with growers.” Aside from their specialties menu, FoJo engages with the Colgate community by adding permanent menu items inspired by their relationships with regulars.
“When there’s a holiday coming up, usually the people who work here say, ‘let’s do this,’ but for example, with the volleyball team, they have a ‘Banana Bump Latte’ that evolved from one of the volleyball teams’ orders,” Joseph said. “It really is about the community. Having drinks that they can enjoy and have is a special thing.”
Sophomore Holly Shortell had a chance to try out the Valentine’s menu, and she went with the Devil’s Chocolate Kiss despite her apprehensiveness about the unlikely flavor combinations.
“I was so surprised it was so good,” Shortell said. “I really liked the mix of mocha and tangerine. I didn’t think they would go so well together, but they definitely did. I would totally buy this regularly if it were on their permanent menu.”
In a small college town like Hamilton, having a cozy coffee shop really is a special thing. On any given weekend morning in FoJo, one can find Hamilton locals catching up over breakfast and Colgate students doing homework while enjoying a coffee. Through their special menus and commitment to the community, FoJo has become a staple for many Colgate students looking for a homey place to be with friends and, in the winter, watch the snow fall while enjoying a perfectly steamed seasonal latte.
