Froth on Franklin, the much-anticipated new coffee house and espresso bar, opened in the heart of Jersey City Heights at the end of October. Located at 85 Franklin Street, between Sherman Avenue and Webster Avenue, it is is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, and the husband and wife team behind the counter is thrilled to be home.
Born and raised in The Heights, Alfino (Al) and Maria Ciminata dreamed of opening their own shop in their old neighborhood and found the perfect place – an Italianate style building from around 1870. The corner space is large and bright with a beautiful high ceiling, plaster moldings, ornate columns, and exposed brick. There is plenty of seating near the large windows overlooking the street, or you can spread out at the communal table or counters a local carpenter has handcrafted from reclaimed wooden beams.
Al and Maria really wanted to focus on quality coffee, and chose locally-roasted Kobrick Coffee Co. beans for the job. When Al begins to talk excitedly about Kobrick’s product, his passion for the best coffee, the best service, and just doing his very best is on full display and infectious.
In addition to brewed coffee, espresso drinks, premium pour overs, and iced options, Froth on Franklin offers loose tea service, hot chocolate, a decadent-sounding dirty chai, and baked goods from Balthazar and Tisserie. Keep an eye on the board for daily specials as last weekend’s cold weather inspired tomato soup and a chili cheese pastry braid. A light lunch service is in the works.
Al and Maria grew up around the restaurant industry, but this is their first venture, and their commitment to the founding spirit of coffee, conversation, and community is sure to give back to the neighborhood that has so inspired them. They will make you feel immediately at home, like you’ve known them both for ages, and taken care of by their family of staff.
“We love being the neighborhood go-to coffee house; we’re extremely happy that we can serve up coffee that’s actually roasted here in Jersey City. Keeping it local as much as possible is what we’re aiming for,” said Al.
Froth on Franklin is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
[gmap height=”250px”]85 Franklin Street, Jersey City, NJ[/gmap]
