The world of specialty coffee has come to Ellsworth Avenue, but with an approachable, Pittsburgh twist.
Arriviste Coffee Bar is the passion project of owner Kim Lopez, who moved to Pittsburgh from New York City three years ago. Lopez has always been a fan of coffee, but the idea of opening his own shop began only 14 months ago.
“It was a day dream, but if I stayed in New York, it was never going to happen,” says Lopez. “Coming here opened the opportunity.”
The interior of the shop is stunning, albeit simple. A cozy nook invites reading and chatting, and there are several tables for work or conversation.
However, like any good coffee shop, the focus is on the coffee.
“The focus is on quality handcrafting. I’ve told my guys, ‘I’m never going to get mad at you for taking too long to make a good drink.’ That being said, we want to broaden people’s horizons about what coffee could be, and make that a lot more accessible to people,” says Lopez.
The shop offers several pour-over coffee options, as well as already brewed coffee to-go. Arriviste is the first coffee shop in Pittsburgh to feature a Modbar brewing machine.
“They call it a Modbar because it is modern looking, and there are modules,” says Lopez. “It is just like a traditional big machine, but deconstructed so the bulky stuff underneath. It makes it more open to interact with people. You don’t have a thing in front of you to hide behind. “
The shop also features two pour over machines, allowing Arriviste to serve a consistent, delicious pour over every time, while the staff has time to do other things.
The name, Arriviste, is a French word that literally translates to “someone who has just arrived.”
For the new shop on the block, this makes sense, but Lopez comments that it has a double meaning.
“I am an immigrant, I am Filipino, so there was that connotation to it, but there is a duality to the meaning. The context in which it is commonly used is not really a positive. It kind of means nouveau riche, someone who isn’t really part of the establishment, an upstart who wants to do something different. There is the duality because people think of baristas in that way. Yes, we are trying to do something different, but maybe it is better.”
Arriviste has only been open for 10 days, but it is quickly become a staple in the neighborhood.
“I deliberately didn’t put paper on the windows because I wanted people to be curious,” says Lopez. “People come in and say, ‘We’ve been waiting for you! You’re finally open! What took you so long?’ So yeah, so far, so good.”
Arriviste Coffee Bar is open Monday – Friday , 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday & Sunday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Arriviste Coffee Bar (5730 Ellsworth Avenue)
I am proud of u son, not only because of ur passion for coffee that u so willingly share with others but also of the unobtrussive way u introduce the new way of enjoying coffee as it should be. I wish u success and all the best this journey will bring u???