Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb2016

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ture in Durham,
North Carolina.
Powers said
Vintage will buy
from other
roasters in 2016,
including Heart
Roasters in
Portland,
Oregon; Intel-
ligentsia in
Chicago; and
Slate in Seattle.
She said Vintage
uses around 50
pounds of coffee
a week.
When I asked Powers what sets Vintage apart from
the many independent coffee shops that opened their
doors in East Cooper in the past year, she insisted that
one doesn’t stand out above the others – not even her
own place of business.
“We’re not above anyone else. We just want to share
the knowledge about coffee,” she said.
Denise: The cinnamon latte at Vintage, one of my
favorites of the new spots in East Cooper, had some of the
best latte artwork I’d seen, besides being made with
homemade cinnamon syrup. Not too sweet and just frothy
enough, it’s the perfect afternoon drink when you’re
working on a deadline and in need of extra inspiration.
Not that I ever wait until the last minute for anything.
Vintage Coffee Cafe
219 Simmons St.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
843-654-9606
Joey Bag a Donuts
Brian: During Joey Casale’s formative years in an
ethnic neighborhood in Cleveland, he was known as
“Bag a Donuts,” which, he explained, means “heavy set
Italian man.” He brought the nickname with him to
Mount Pleasant, where he, his sister (Kim) and their
mom (Mardy) are the proprietors of a family-run coffee
shop and bakery.
I sipped a hot cup of black coffee when we visited
with the three owners recently. Joey let us know that the
coffee was imported from Italy, but he chose not to reveal
which company roasted the beans. I guess he preferred to
keep that information from competitors who read Mount
Pleasant Magazine.
Joey Bag a Donuts, which has been featured on The
Travel Channel, has been offering its loyal customers
more than just imported coffee for the past six years. The
menu also includes sandwiches, bagels, muffins, 60
different flavors of donuts that are baked on-site and even
homemade Stromboli, a nod to their Italian heritage.
Kids certainly are welcome at Joey Bag a Donuts, where
the display case is low to the ground so people who have
not yet reached
their adult height
can get a good
look at the
bakery items.
According to the
company’s
website, “It’s OK
to press your
nose to the glass.”
It’s also OK for
kids to let Joey,
Kim and Mardy
know that they
are grateful for
the respect they
are shown at Joey
Bag a Donuts.
The walls are
decorated with notes of appreciation from youngsters who
have visited the local establishment.
Denise: Sometimes you need a dose of sweetness in
an otherwise “meh” day, and the salted caramel mac-
chiato at Joey Bag a Donuts is perfect for those occasions.
In fact, I think it was the first drink I ever sipped at the
coffee shop – right before I promptly became jealous of
residents of North Mount Pleasant who get to visit Joey
Bag a Donuts all the time. Made with salted caramel
syrup, fresh espresso and milk that is both steamed and
frothed, this drink defines decadence.
Joey Bag a Donuts
1118 Park West Blvd.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
843-856-5639
“It’s OK to press your nose
to the glass.”