On Friday, November 2nd, Treehouse Coffee Shop hosted an array of local string musicians who came together to play old-time music: a genre that originated from the songs of the Irish and English and played by the American settlers of the 19th Century. The cafe does this on the first Friday of every month, and it’s not the only way they are bringing the community together.
Treehouse Coffee Shop, located in Audobon, NJ, has been in business for about 15 years now and has become a popular social hub for the surrounding area. “It’s just good people, a lot of good conversation,” said John Conroy of Collingswood, NJ, who comes to the cafe daily. Treehouse has become a venue for live performances, weekly open mics, writing groups, and so much more. They even host a live Irish band every Thursday. “That group has played with us for, I’d say 10 years,” said Haleigh Bunting, a 24-year-old barista at Treehouse. “They played here one night, and it just became a regular thing. [The band] has a real community…they have so much fun.”
Possibly the most constructive affair here is ‘Espresso Yourself.’ “I think it’s one of the most wonderful things we do,” said Bunting. The event, ran by Community ROCKS’ Sara O’Brien, invites preschoolers to express themselves through music. “This place is packed,” Conroy commented, “I’d say there’s usually around 30 kids.” Community ROCKS is a local organization focused on inspiring and educating children and teens through music and art. During Espresso Yourself, O’Brien usually sings and plays the guitar for the children.
As delightful and engaging as these events may be, this isn’t to say that Treehouse doesn’t have a strong focus on the coffee they serve. The cafe receives their beans from not one, but two different sources: Revolution Coffee Roasters of Collingswood, NJ, a small-batch roaster that roasts most of their coffee on the darker-side for a bolder taste, and Crescent Moon Coffee and Tea, LLC of Mullica Hill, NJ, a company that roasts their coffee on the lighter-side to bring out some of the natural, nuanced flavors of the beans. Both roasters believe in using sustainable practices, which align with the values of Treehouse Coffee Shop, and Crescent Moon specifically uses fair trade, organic beans to make their coffee.
The cafe also serves a variety of soups, sandwiches, baked goods, and potpies, among other menu items, and offers a variety of vegan and gluten-free options. All of the food available at Treehouse is fresh and locally-sourced, a feat accomplished in part by their alliance with Our Yards Farm CSA: a rather unorthodox farming group that is comprised of suburban community members who use their own lawns to grow crops. The CSA ensures that all members use organic practices.
With everything that goes into making this coffee shop what it is, it is clear that Treehouse is more than just a cafe. In an age where most of us are glued to a screen, it’s comforting to know that there’s a place that is bringing folks together through a common interest. It isn’t a chat room, message board, or social media site, but a physical location providing a public service, if you will, to the community. It benefits the region’s economy, environment, and society, making Treehouse a worth-while place to visit and explore.
The Bean 