In January of 2020, Milton welcomed a new local business on 41 Broadway Street – Tastecraft.
According to Milton Sophomore and Tastecraft Employee Vivian Bell, her favorite part about working is her coworkers. “I love my coworkers so much. Some days they can make a seven hour shift feel like three,” she added.
Vivian added she also really enjoys the idea of being a barista as well as serving a really welcoming community. “ I also love the regulars who come in. I can always make good conversations and hopefully make their day. The community feels really good,” she said.
According to Owner Mr. Colby Kauffman, the strong bond between him and his employees are the “core foundation of the business,” along with the signature craft lattes, such as the “Pot of Gold,” latte. These are switched out with new seasonal flavors throughout each year, he explained.
“We are planning to bring up our game with our lattes this year and have already started experimenting with new flavors for the following months to come,” Mr. Kauffman added.
One of the restaurant’s specials has been the creation of their Wonuts, a mini waffle shaped donut. According to Mr. Kauffman, they were originally added as a replacement for the macarons when they could not be delivered from the Macaron Cafe in New York City during the Covid-19 pandemic. Though the macarons have returned to Tastecraft, the wonuts have become a fan favorite and staple in the business to this day, he added.
Mr. Kauffman said that he originally bought a building in Mifflinburg to sell kitchenware, but added a small cafe inside the store to sell coffee and food, as well as kitchen equipment. This business then moved to a new building in Lewisburg. Three years after the move, his business transformed to a fully exclusive cafe and he left the kitchen business behind.
“Coffee was becoming a big trend, and you could buy the same kitchenware from online sites. Whereas a cafe could become an outlet to people looking to stop by for a place to study/work, a caffeine boost to start your day, or grab a bite to eat, a retail store in comparison was much less engaging.” Mr. Kauffman added
The cafe location in Milton opened just a few months before the Covid-19 outbreak, with the in-store service being shut down not long after. They worked exclusively in online ordering and delivery, he added.
Mr. Kauffman said that in the back of the cafe is an old gymnasium, which they have turned into a storage room.
After being in business for five years, Tastecraft’s next goal, according to Mr. Kauffman, is to open a drive thru.
“It will still take some work, but the staff already has been prepared to work speedily and efficiently,” he said.
Mr. Kauffman said that for those seeking to start their own local business: “The best advice is to prepare for a rough start for at least the first five years, and if you can get past those five years, being very specific and focused on your business, then you have surpassed your potential to succeed.”
Tastecraft is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
