Bovaconti Coffee is a Gem in Indianapolis

The new Bovaconti Coffee shop bocce court in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis. Photo by Lauren Krauter courtesy of Whirlaway Marketing.

Earlier this month, the team behind Indianapolis coffee shop Georgia Street Grind brought another coffee brand to life: Bovaconti Coffee.

With an upscale, vintage-style interior featuring plenty of exposed brick, painted tile ceilings and custom tile work, the multiroaster cafe reflects the historic character of the building in which it sits, as well as the rich Italian heritage of the neighborhood. The coffee program, however, is decidedly progressive.

The building, which dates back to the 1850’s, was previously home of Bovaconti Jewelers. Georgia Street Grind and Bovaconti Coffee Founder and General Manager Justin Jones told Daily Coffee News that the company was meticulous in its efforts to preserve the original character of the space through the buildout.

Photo by Lauren Krauter, courtesy of Whirlaway Marketing.

Said Jones, “My partner and I made many of the design decisions, like restoring the exact shade of pink that once adorned the walls of Bovaconti Jewelers, letting the exposed brick from original 1850s building be a focal point of the space, and giving a subtle nod to the jewelry store origins by including diamonds around the space in the floor tiles and on some of the branding like takeaway cups or the external signage.”

The company brought in local craftspeople for the shop’s custom velvet banquette that lines an entire back wall and radiates a sense of welcome throughout the establishment.

“One of my favorite elements is the bocce court we built outside,” said Jones. “Bovaconti Coffee was created to be a neighborhood gathering place, modeled after an authentic Italian espresso bar.”

The new Victoria Arduino Black Eagle espresso machine at Bovaconti Coffee. Photo by Lauren Krauter, courtesy of Whirlaway Marketing.

On that espresso bar is a Victoria Arduino Black Eagle machine that Jones said is one of only two in the state of Indiana. Batch brew comes by way of a Fetco brewer, and the beans themselves are sourced from a variety of local and cause-oriented roasting companies. One currently highlighted offering is a Rwandan bean roasted by Fort Wayne’s Utopian Coffee, which sources it directly from women coffee growers affected by genocide.

“Those are the types of brands we’re proud to carry,” said Jones. “We love featuring labels that are helping serve a larger purpose. While I am passionate about coffee, I am a coffee curator, rather than a roaster. There are so many incredible roasters in this city and beyond, I love having the chance to help give those artisans exposure.”

Bovaconti Coffee Founder Justin Jones behind a bag of Utopian Coffee featured in the new Indianapolis coffee shop. Photo by Lauren Krauter, courtesy of Whirlaway Marketing.

While featured coffees in the shop are single-origin coffees, the two blends that will always be available are the Georgia Street Grind house blend roasted by Danville’s Arcane Coffee, and the Bovaconti Signature blend, developed in collaboration with Utopian. Jones said that coffee will soon be sold in Bovaconti branded bags.

“Eventually we would love to expand the Bovaconti Coffee concept elsewhere in the city of Indianapolis, allowing future shops to take on their own unique neighborhood feel,” said Jones. “The vision behind Bovaconti Coffee was to create a neighborhood gathering place that people are drawn to and want to return to time and time again. We’re focused on keeping up the momentum.”

Photo by Lauren Krauter, courtesy of Whirlaway Marketing.

Bovaconti Coffee is now open at 1042 Virginia Ave in Indianapolis’ Fountain Square neighborhood.