BY LIZ WITBECK
Two brothers are running Wired Coffee &
Bagel in the Ellsworth Commons, in the apartment
complex off Route 9 in Malta.
But its coffee products are drawing interest
beyond Saratoga County.
Matt and Marty Michele grew up in Voorheesville,
and were involved in business at
an early age, helping to run their family’s ice
cream parlor. A couple years ago, they decided
to start their own business. They saw that
Malta had a growing economy and believed it
would be a great place to start a coffee shop.
One of the most unique aspects of Wired
Coffee & Bagel is the fact that all of the coffee
is roasted onsite, the owners said. They said
there are only two other coffee shops in the
Capital Region that roast their own coffee.
Wired receives whole beans from all over
the world, such as Colombia, Peru, and Kenya.
“We roast all our own coffee,” said Marty
Michele. “We just got this coffee from Yemen,
which is very hard to get.”
All the coffees are Fair Trade and organic.
The staff roasts the beans at the shop almost
daily and in small batches. This ensures an
extremely fresh, premium taste that cannot
be found at most coffee shops, according to
the owners.
The entrepreneurs are pushing to do business
outside its shop. One bar in Albany, the
Low Beat, sells their coffee, as well as Salar,
a restaurant in Ohio. Wired is planning on
contracting with other establishments to sell
their coffee in the near future.
Besides coffee, Wired Coffee & Bagel offers
tea from Divinitea, a loose leaf tea supplier
from Schenectady. The bagels are supplied
from a bakery in Brooklyn, to create an authentic
New York City bagel taste.
The menu includes a variety of sandwiches,
salads, and paninis. There are desserts like
cookies and pastries, including items made
by the owners’ sisters.
The shop offers delivery, so customers
can order coffee, bagels and more for their
business or residence. Call-ahead curbside
pickup is available for those who want to call
in their order and have it ready when they
get to the shop.
Wired Coffee & Bagel also offers catering,
cookie platters, and more for corporate
events.
Wired Coffee & Bagel has a relatively large
space inside the Ellsworth Commons. The
interior is furnished in espresso-colored hues.
There is a fireplace, leather furniture and
plenty of seating. Artwork on the walls comes
from local artists. There is wireless Internet.
The proximity of other shops in the Commons
draws traffic into the coffee shop.
“The thing I enjoy most is the customers,”
said Matt Michele. “It’s fun here.”
The shop is located at 1104 Ellsworth Boulevard.
Hours are 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
and Tuesday; 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday
through Thursday; Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3
p.m.; and Sundays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit www.sipwired.com or call 400-1377.