Catalina Café Brings Craft Coffee to Naples

by

Just like there’s an art to crafting cocktails, why not approach coffee the same way? At least that’s the driving idea behind Catalina Café, a specialty coffeehouse that has opened at the Naples Bay Resort.

Owners Maurice Moulton and Patricia Allaire, a husband and wife duo, started their café in Tallahassee five years ago and quickly built a reputation for serving ultra-premium brews, roasting their own beans and making all of their syrups in-house. Moulton, a self-styled “coffee geek,” has competed and continues to compete in barista competitions and is an instructor with the Specialty Coffee Association of America. After a chance meeting with celebrity chef Art Smith last year in Tallahassee, plans were set in motion to have Catalina join Smith’s new 1500 South at the downtown resort.

The grand opening for both is March 8 (right now, Catalina is in a soft opening phase; the grand opening will usher in food service, which translates to made-to-order sandwiches using local products whenever possible).

“It just so happens that the name Catalina means ‘pure’—we actually came up with the name because our daughter is Catalina,” Moulton says. “Trish has another daughter whose name is Zoe, but it just didn’t sound right as Zoe’s Café, whereas Catalina Café has the alliteration. We do have a drink called 'Zoe’s Revenge.' It’s a latte with white chocolate and tiramisu syrup in it.”

Moulton also says that right now they’ll be bringing in the roasted beans from Tallahassee, but they’re looking for a spot in Naples to open a proper roastery to supply the café —coffee connoisseurs know this is grounds to get excited.

To plan a visit:

Catalina Café

1500 Fifth Ave. S., Naples (in the marina shops at the Naples Bay Resort)

catalinacafe.com

Read Hot Dish every Wednesday and Friday online and every month in Gulfshore Life.