Go inside this couple's journey back to the Lehigh Valley and discover what makes their small-batch coffee so special.
Alexandra Dickison & Mike Khorosh
Owner-Operators
Tell us about your journey from California to the Lehigh Valley!
Moving back to the East Coast has been an adjustment. The cold, snowy winters are nothing to sneeze at, even though we grew up with them. I (Mike) am originally from New City, NY, and my wife (Ali) grew up in the Poconos. Back in 2015, we decided to shake things up with a move from NYC to Los Angeles for some sunshine. Ali and I moved cross country, got married and opened a coffee roastery and café all in one year. We opened the doors to Toasted and Roasted (LA) in February of 2017 and served the West Hollywood community through 2021. When our lease was up for renewal, we decided it was time to move home and be closer to our families. We sent the coffee roaster on ahead and drove back across the country in our electric car with our two cats (Felix and Leo).
It took about a year of looking all over the Poconos and the Lehigh Valley to find the right space. Finally, Ali came across an ad for the Back Door Bakeshop space and when we met the owners, Gail and Dina, we knew it was our next home. Their passion and love of the community was palpable, plus there's a walkup window for our puppy guests! We walked around Bethlehem and fell in love with it. Food is non-negotiable for Ali and me, and the Lehigh Valley has no shortage of great food options.
What makes your coffee so special?
Well, what makes the coffee special the most is that it's sourced, roasted, brewed and served by Ali and me. We're passionate and compassionate perfectionists. Our goal is to learn new things and improve in everything we do. Our mission is to deliver genuine hospitality and the best possible products.
Most major coffee companies (and small craft roasters) source their coffees from the same 15–20 major importers operating within the U.S. We all have access to the same coffees and many of us even purchase from the same farms. What sets us apart from each other? People. Every bean, every cup, is touched by Ali and me. Are we perfect? Heck no, but we obsess over details and strive to make people feel at home.
Describe the variety of your drink offerings.
We offer a wide variety of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages. All espresso-based drinks are available (latte, cappuccino, cortado, etc.) as well as a rotating selection of single origin coffees brewed to order for you as a pour over or in a French press. If coffee is not your thing, we carry chai, matcha, golden turmeric lattes as well as a variety of teas. If you are looking for something caffeinated but not made with coffee, don't miss out on our Lotus Refreshers (now featuring strawberry lemonade or caramel apple).
How about food?
We carry pastries from Rockland Bakery, which are delivered fresh daily. Muffins, cookies, tarts and the crowd favorite—the apple fritter doughnut. If you are looking for something a bit more substantial, we feature breakfast sandwiches made on fresh bagels or in flour tortillas. If you are really hungry, try one of our made-to-order sandwiches on herb focaccia and grilled on a panini grill.
What are customers loving right now?
Our guests are going wild for a beverage we call the Chagaccino. It's a latte (made with espresso and milk or alt milk) with chaga mushroom powder. Chaga is a mushroom that grows on tree bark with lots of nutrients. It's considered a superfood and the most alkaline food on the planet. Our chaga is hand-foraged in Alaska, freeze dried and mixed with cacao, cinnamon, vanilla and monk fruit. But the key is it tastes delicious as well as being good for you. You'd never know it has mushrooms in it. In the summer, Kyoto cold brew is the go-to drink for all the flavor and caffeine.
What can readers look forward to trying this spring?
We're rolling out new seasonal flavors for our lattes and Lotus Refreshers. We're constantly getting in new coffees based on when the harvests happen during the year around the world. Spring brings us harvests from Brazil, Burundi, Colombia, Rwanda and Tanzania, so expect to see new selections available. In addition to our corner shop, the next goal is forging local partnerships so that you can enjoy Toasted and Roasted coffee at your neighborhood restaurant, deli or even at your office!
92 E. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.625.0987 | toastedandroasted.com
Published as "Get the Goods" in the April 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
