Iowa-Based Cafe, The Coffee Stop, Finds Success in Encouraging Staff to Create Own Drinks & Menu Items – CoffeeTalk

Alaina Stouffer, the general manager of The Coffee Stop at Gray Moon Public Market in Newton, has found an unexpected outlet for her creativity through coffee. The café encourages staff to participate in creating new drinks and flavor combinations, fostering teamwork and collaboration in the process. Stouffer mentions that all monthly specials are the result of collective discussions among the staff, emphasizing that they do not create flavors haphazardly but as a cooperative effort.

Initially, employees named drinks after themselves, with the “Chloe” — a white mocha with toffee nut — becoming a customer favorite. Although many drinks have been renamed, their flavors remain unchanged; for example, Stouffer’s original “Alaina” latte was renamed to “Golden Hour” and is currently popular.

Working at The Coffee Stop allows Stouffer to express herself creatively, fulfilling a long-held desire to pursue art, which she had set aside. She appreciates having the freedom to explore and select flavors that blend harmoniously. Signature lattes are crafted manually each day with the staff hand-grinding and pressings the espresso, operating from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, while also offering lotus drinks and iced coffees.

Despite her young age of 20, Stouffer feels grateful for the opportunity to run the business and enjoys the dynamic of leading her team, who are also her close friends. This camaraderie enhances their work environment as they create drinks together, adding to the joy of their collective experience at The Coffee Stop.

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