By Deanna Martinez
Tucked into downtown Cary, Esteamed Coffee offers far more than a great cup of coffee. Located at 114 S. Academy Street, Cary, NC 27511, this bright and airy coffee shop has become a beloved gathering place for locals seeking both exceptional coffee and meaningful community connections.
The welcoming space features cozy indoor seating with a charming cottage feel, sunlit windows, and comfortable corners perfect for catching up with friends, reading a book, or settling in with a laptop. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor patio, an inviting spot for sipping coffee on a Carolina morning.
For the past five years, Esteamed Coffee has been serving the community while fulfilling a mission that extends far beyond coffee. The nonprofit café provides meaningful employment opportunities and foundational job skills training for adults with intellectual, developmental, communication, and visual disabilities. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, and workplace training, team members gain valuable skills that help prepare them for future careers while building confidence and independence.
Every latte served, and every customer greeted, helps support a mission centered on inclusion, opportunity, and community. The result is a coffee shop that feels warm and welcoming while making a lasting impact on the lives of the people it serves.
Signature Sip: The Esteamed Latte
One of the café’s most popular drinks is the Esteamed Latte, a comforting blend of vanilla and salted caramel topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
It’s a flavor combination that feels both familiar and elevated. The smooth sweetness of vanilla creates the perfect foundation, while the salted caramel adds a rich, buttery depth that keeps the drink from becoming overly sweet. The finishing touch of cinnamon brings a gentle warmth and subtle spice that ties everything together beautifully.
The result is a balanced latte that feels cozy year-round, whether enjoyed on a crisp fall morning or as a comforting afternoon treat. Each sip offers layers of flavor, with the vanilla, salted caramel, and cinnamon complementing one another in a way that is both indulgent and cozy.
The Perfect Pairing
Rich, fudgy espresso brownies make an ideal companion to Esteamed Coffee’s signature Esteamed Latte. While the latte showcases comforting notes of vanilla, salted caramel, and cinnamon, the brownies bring a deep chocolate flavor enhanced with a touch of espresso powder and coffee extract.
The coffee notes in the brownies naturally complement the espresso base of the latte, creating a pairing that feels balanced rather than overly sweet. As you sip the creamy vanilla and salted caramel latte, the chocolate brownie accentuates the drink’s rich caramel undertones while letting the cinnamon topping shine.
These easy, budget-friendly espresso brownies prove that simple ingredients can create something memorable. Together with the Esteamed Latte, they offer a warm and comforting pairing perfect for an afternoon coffee break or a leisurely catch-up with friends on the café’s patio.
Fudgy Espresso Brownies:
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (4 ounces) chocolate chips, milk chocolate
5 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp coffee extract
1 cup four, heaping
1 Tbsp Espresso Powder
Pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line an 8×11 baking dish with a sheet of parchment paper.
Cream sugars and eggs.
Melt butter and chips in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and add back in for 20 seconds if needed.
Add extract. Stir.
Mix the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.
Add flour, espresso powder, and salt. Mix well.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 55 minutes.
Cool and sift with powdered sugar.
Optional (instead of powdered sugar)
Icing:
1/2 cup chocolate chips, milk chocolate
1 Tbsp. butter, salted
Melt in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Stir.
Spread over baked, cooled brownies.
