I started drinking coffee under the age of ten -- not consistently but enough to know I enjoyed the taste, though I must admit it was mostly cream and sugar. When I got my license at 16, I would often frequent Starbucks to sip a large iced vanilla latte, and write. From there, my love and addiction to coffee blossomed. Since the age of 18 to 25, I have worked in three different coffee shops, have been a regular at various establishments, and have enjoyed beverages from the likes of Seven Stars, Wildflour Cafe, and even local gas station coffee. I am no expert, although I can appreciate both subpar and top-of-the-line java. But out of everywhere I have been a customer or employee of, I have been the most fond of No Vacancy, located on Aquidneck Island, run by Rhode Island natives, Colby Machado and Tom Amaral.
For those unacquainted with No Vacancy, you are totally being deprived of superior specialty drinks. The beauty of the Machado's and Amaral's business is its close proximity to Mission Burger. They provide scrumptious breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs and burgers to its patrons that exceptionally pair with the products from No Vacancy. To paint the picture on how No Vacancy started, Tom crafted a makeshift coffee roaster out of an old bread maker with a hole cut in the side and fixed it with a heat gun. This was one of Tom and Colby's first roasted batch of coffee, though they never sold any of it. Since this first major step, they have partnered with a number of small-community farms, one of them with origins in Bella Vista, Chiapas Mexico; owned by over 20 Mayan women. To ensure a high standard of flavor, they access the beans before it is available to the consumer.
Although I don't personally stray away from my typical drink of choice -- an iced latte with oat milk and honey, No Vacancy offers a variety of exclusive drinks, from a house made strawberry soda to an iced fig latte, or their summer classic the "Ginger" made from ginger syrup with a splash of yuzu and a tonic base. But more recently, their most popular winter drink the "Campfire," a latte made of their House Guatemalan and Ethiopian blend of coffee, and contains maple and smoked sea salt. Though my boyfriend is close friends with Colby and Tom, when I first met them both, I was met with nothing but kindness, paired with a bit of silliness.
According to the National Coffee Association, the popularization of coffeehouse culture spurred in the Middle East, where artists, musicians, and scholars often frequented. Some, meaning me, may argue that these roots often provided an exclusive environment. To elaborate more, this did not allow space for those of all backgrounds to attend. But the boys from No Vacancy not only serve up extraordinary drinks, they also create an inclusive and welcoming domain. They love their regulars and don't take lightly to newcomers, in order to guarantee an added layer of customer satisfaction.
Each Sunday, No Vacancy opens up shop in their shared space at Mission Burger, but in exciting news, Tom and Colby have been offered a space next door in Utility at 58 Aquidneck Ave, in Middletown, RI. This will allow No Vacancy to not only have a larger space to culivate a warm space for customers, but also they will be able to offer more coffee options, like a rotating single origin coffee. The rough move in date is mid-March. Stay tuned via their Instagram @novacancycoffeeco.
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