©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
For people in Saratoga Springs that may have a craving for something with a European flare, KaffeeHouse owners say their establishment is the place to go.
The new coffee and pastry shop at 120 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, offers roasted coffee, homemade German-style pastries, and lunch items like soups and salads.
Owner Marcus Solga said the family business is something that was always a goal of his. He loves the area, so when the opportunity arose, he took it.
“It has been my lifelong dream to be my own boss and I enjoy leading people. The specialty coffee market is steadily growing. As such I saw the opportunity and seized it,” he said. “Saratoga Springs is the ideal environment to grow while simultaneously contributing to the community by providing an affordable luxury.”
Solga works as an industrial engineer by trade, with a corporate background in policy making. He runs the cafe alongside his mother, Sabine. She creates the recipes and he makes them work on a larger scale.
Sabine specializes in desserts, like the German cheesecake, streusel bars and Bienenstich, or “bee sting cake.”
Solga said one goal has been to ensure that KaffeeHouse is an affordable place to eat, so everything on the menu is being kept at less than $8.
The location, former home to the Fortunate Cup, is something that Solga is particularly happy with. He said it was chosen because of its parking lot, a high traffic count on West Avenue, and its drive-thru window. He credits these factors, along with his five employees, for the strong business they have enjoyed so far.
“Business has been good so far and we are eagerly preparing for the racing season,” said Solga.
The menu includes specialty coffee beverages, such as coffee latte or cappuccino, iced coffee and premium teas and smoothies. Solga said so far the customer favorite is the apple streusel cake. They offer a different homemade gourmet soup every day that uses a vegetable stock that is both dairy and flour free. Another favorite is the bratwurst sandwich.
Eventually, they plan to expand the business into catering parties and events.
KaffeeHouse is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its phone number is 518-729-8480 and its website is kaffeehousesaratoga.com.