Coupeville coffee haunt returns to life

A popular caffeine lovers’ hangout in Coupeville is open for business again.

Coupeville Coffee and Bistro opened  early last week occupying the former South Main Street home of Miriam’s Espresso.

The new coffee house is a mirror image of its predecessor, with a similar menu and the same interior.

“Everything in here is the same. I don’t have to start from zero,” owner June Blouin said, thanking its previous owner, Miriam Meyer, for developing a loyal clientele.

Coupeville Coffee and Bistro is offering a familiar selection of pastries, “grab-’n-go” food ranging from breakfast burritos to panini. She is also offering a basic dinner menu in the evenings.

Blouin boasts that she offers Stumptown Coffee, a Portland-based roaster with locations in Seattle and New York. She said the specialty coffee roasts beans to order ensuring her customers will enjoy a fresh cup of coffee. She’ll place an order for beans in the morning, which are then roasted that evening and delivered the next day.

Miriam’s Espresso was a longtime favorite hangout spot until it abruptly closed in January 2011 due to economic and family reasons.

Blouin said she was looking for a restaurant to open when she noticed the empty coffee shop that is located next to Coupeville Elementary and eventually decided to take over the former coffee shop.

Coupeville Coffee and Bistro debuted with a “soft opening.” Staff are still learning the menu while serving customers. Blouin hopes to have a date set by the end of July for the grand opening.

Blouin has been managing restaurants for about 10 years, most recently a Thai restaurant in Seattle. She lives in Coupeville with her husband, Shawn, and children, Alita and Ryan.

She’s pleased by the early response she’s been getting from the community.

“When you open the door at 6 a.m., you’re going to have someone coming in,” Blouin said.

Once the grand opening is complete, she hopes to expand her services by offering a full service breakfast on the weekends.

Coupeville Coffee and Bistro is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Contact Whidbey News Times Staff reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5058.

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