Imagine a place where you can sit down with a stranger and strike up a conversation over a cup of hand-crafted coffee; a place where friends and colleagues can gather to catch up in a warm and welcoming atmosphere while enjoying a delicious sandwich or baked treat. Picture a place so loved by locals that it’s part of their daily routine. Seems too good to be true, right? It’s not! All of this and more can be found at Gryphon Coffee Co., located at 111 W. Gay St. in the heart of West Chester.
Owner Len Mojzes says that his vision for the cafe is to be a traditional European-style cafe that is both coffee-centered and has great food. He admits that usually this is a hard balance to find and either the coffee outweighs the food or vice-versa, but Gryphon's has found the balance. Len states that this is due to keeping the menu small enough that they can be good at everything.
“If we try to put it out there for our customers, we want to be great at it,” stated Len.
Their menu is on the smaller side but contains all the heavy hitters you would expect in a traditional European cafe. You can choose from their standard drink menu of latte, cappuccino, espresso, Americano, cortado, flat white, matcha, and loose-leaf tea to name a few, as well as their seasonal drinks. Some favorite seasonal flavors are Gingerbread Latte, Brown Sugar Latte, Chai, Hot Apple Cider, seasonal lemonades, and more. You will also find sandwiches and pastries to choose from. The employees at Gryphon’s do their best to make what they can themselves, including the delicious syrups that the cafe is known for. When it comes to these in-house syrups, the goal is to add to the coffee and not mask the coffee. This is what makes Gryphon coffee so great!
This “be great” mentality is found throughout the cafe. From their coffee to their food, to their customer interaction, Gryphon’s truly excels at it all. In fact, Len says this natural and friendly interaction is what really sets Gryphon apart from other cafes and coffee shops in the area. The employees take the time to get to know you, have a conversation with you, and make you feel like part of their community. At Gryphon’s, the coffee acts as a way to unite everyone to a common interest in one spot.
“Gathering together in our cafe, it shows that there is something human about us; we are all just people and we have something in common for the moment,” said Len. “At Gryphon’s, we are welcoming to everyone!”
The coffee isn’t only uniting our immediate community, but it is also bringing the world into West Chester. On top of being a cafe, Gryphon’s is also a roaster, importing beans from all over the world. Most of their coffees are medium to light roast and it can take a while to find the perfect blend, as the owners are picky in what sell. They want their customers to be as excited about the coffee as they are. Len and his team carefully choose their coffee by what is in season. It is not uncommon for them to try 15-18 blends from the same country to find the most exciting and affordable brews to use in the cafe. They also like to find coffees that make an impact on the global community. Coffees roasted in the past include those made by women-owned businesses in areas such as Honduras and Columbia. It’s a great opportunity for Gryphon’s to give back globally as well.
In addition to being a central part of the West Chester community, Gryphons is now expanding its roasts to be available commercially. Recently, they launched a line of bird-friendly coffees that can be found not only in the cafe but in places throughout the area such as Kimberton Whole Foods. To be considered bird-friendly, coffee producers must provide 40 percent shade coverage over the crop, have at least 11 species of birds on their land, and maintain a 12-meter tree canopy. Choosing ecologically responsible roasts is equally as important as taste to Gryphon Coffee Co.
While visiting Gryphon’s take a moment to look around the cafe artwork. The artwork that adorns the walls is all created by local artists and is for purchase. It changes regularly, so make sure to check the walls often to support local artists as they grow. If you’re a local artist and interested in having your artwork on display, reach out to Len through the website and start the conversation. Make sure to include photos of your work as well. This program offers a great avenue for local artists to get their start in the community.
As a lifelong resident of West Chester, Len says that there is something truly unique about the blend of the university and the community. As a father of college-aged young adults, he and his wife toured many college towns with their daughters to find the right school. He said his impression was always how unique the blend of college and community is in West Chester. In their travels, they often saw universities in a bubble away from the community, but in West Chester the two co-exist and it creates a wonderfully unique community. They see students and residents interacting throughout the day, which shows how united West Chester truly is in comparison to other communities.
If you haven’t had the chance to visit Gryphon Coffee Co. yet, now is the perfect time to check them out. If you are a regular, you already know how special and loved Gryphon’s is to the West Chester community. If you’re not sure what to order, just ask the barista! They will guide you to find the perfect drink for your taste. Gryphon Coffee Co. also accepts online orders for drinks, sandwiches and pastries.
Gryphon’s opens daily at 7 am and closes at 5 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on the weekends. Visit gryphoncoffee.com/west-chester for more information. You can also contact them by phone at (484) 983-3909.
“At Gryphon’s, we are welcoming to everyone!”
