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Organic Coffee Shop with Vegetarian Menu Opens in Forest Hills

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | October 22, 2014 1:29pm
 Red Pipe Cafe on Austin Street will also feature live music.
Organic Coffee Shop with Vegetarian Menu Opens in Forest Hills
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QUEENS — A new coffee shop featuring organic and vegetarian menu opened this week in Forest Hills, a neighborhood that has been primarily served by coffee shop chains, including Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.

Red Pipe Cafe, at 71-60 Austin St., replaced Stoa Jewelry store, which closed earlier this year.

The coffee shop, the owners said, seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle.

“We are practically in the business of selling health,” said Dimitry Benjamin, 28, one of the owners, adding that all products offered by the store are organic and vegetarian. Several items are also vegan and gluten free.

Benjamin, who has lived in the area for 20 years, opened the shop with Giorgi Tabagari and René David Alkalay, who is the founder of Genesis Tree of Life Yoga and Wellness Center in Forest Hills.

“It’s the lifestyle we follow,” Benjamin said. “We eat healthy and we want to promote it in the neighborhood.”

The coffee, provided by Counter Culture Coffee, comes from small farms around the world, including Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Guatemala, the owners said.

In addition to popular coffee drinks, including espresso, latte, cappuccino and macchiato, the shop also offers cortado, an espresso served with a small amount of warm milk.

A latte at Red Pipe Cafe costs $3.75, for a cortado patrons have to pay $3.50 and a macchiato runs $3.25.

The shop also boasts a variety of organic teas, as well as sandwiches ($6 — $6.50), salads and soups, made with ingredients from Albert’s Organics and Ace Natural, which specialize in natural and organic items, Benjamin said.

And the shop offers organic juices ($7.50) and smoothies (starting at $6).

Red Pipe Cafe serves several breakfast dishes as well, including organic oatmeal with honey, peach and cream or peanut butter, banana and honey ($4.50) and yogurt parfaits with granola and fruit (starting at $4).

Once a week, the coffee shop will also feature live music, the owners said. This Wednesday evening, patrons will get a chance to listen to a guitar performance. 

The shop is open 7 days a week, Mon. through Sat. from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.