West Chester Dish broke the news back in June that beloved Chester County cupcake truck Dia Doce is opening up a storefront in downtown West Chester. Not only will the DubC be home to Thais Da Silva’s delicious cupcakes, but barista Cathey Slayton will open Cathey’s Coffee Bar inside the shop. I spoke with Cathey and got all the details on this new venture.
WC Dish: How did you get started making coffee drinks?
Cathey Slayton: I grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and eventually moved to Billings, Montana. I got a job a few years ago at a Starbucks inside a Target store. I learned from the best how to make coffee and coffee drinks. When I moved to Pennsylvania, I continued working at Starbucks. When Thais wanted me to start making coffee drinks to pair with her cupcakes, it was a no brainer.
What else will you be serving besides coffee?
I plan to serve green, black and fruit teas, both with and without caffeine as well as matcha drinks. I will also be making fruit and green smoothies which can include protein powders.
Dia Doce prides itself on using all fresh local ingredients. Do you share this philosophy?
Absolutely! Thais has a huge garden in Glenmoore where she grows many of her own ingredients. She gets the rest from local farmers in our own community. I will be using many of the same ingredients in my coffee drinks and smoothies. My brewed coffee will be made from beans obtained from Golden Valley Farms located in West Chester and One Village Coffee out of Souderton, PA. We will source our espresso from Newtown Square’s Burlap and Bean and all of our tea and matcha will come from Pure Blend Tea out of Downingtown, PA. We will be getting our dairy products directly from farmers in Lancaster.
How will Cathey’s Coffee Bar and Dia Doce be working together?
While Thais has standard flavors of cupcakes she makes every week, she crafts a menu of speciality cupcakes that changes weekly based on available and seasonal ingredients. We plan to create a tasting menu where her specialty cupcakes will be paired with one of my coffee drinks or smoothies. These pairings will change every week.
What is your favorite part of being a barista?
I am a people person. I love to socialize and meet new people. I’ve only lived in the area for two years, so I can’t wait to get to know the locals. I want the coffee bar to be a place where people can come and relax and get a good cup of coffee, a sweet treat and mix and mingle with friends both old and new. We will have seating at the bar and also tables lining the windows so you can watch all the West Chester action while sipping your drink.
What’s your favorite coffee drink?
I like to keep it simple. My go-to drink is a vanilla latte. I love the way the foam feels on my tongue. I actually love any coffee drink with foam.
When can we expect Dia Doce and Cathey’s Coffee Bar to open?
We are hoping to be open at the end of August. Keep your eye on our Facebook page for an official announcement.
Find Cathey’s Coffee Bar at 100 South High Street, West Chester; phone: (610) 476-5684.
Photographs credited to Cathey Slayton, Dia Doce and Ronna Dewey.
