The mixing of coffee, conversation and community is shown through every aspect of Benelux Coffee, an industrial-yet-modern coffee shop located in Cameron Village. The local coffee home has been an active part of the Raleigh community since its birth back in 2010.
Founder and owner Steven Halaszi takes influence from the European “benelux” countries Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg which is clearly embodied in the cafe through innovative menu options and its overall aesthetic − which Halaszi describes as ‘industrial chic.’
“We wanted to keep things simple and let the drinks and the food speak for themselves,” Halaszi said.
The first thing to notice when walking in is the world’s largest coffee bean mural, reportedly recognized by Guinness World Records, scaling the wall. In addition, there are bikes mounted on the walls of the shop adding to the funky-yet-minimalist feel of the space.
“Benelux is a really fun and unique coffee shop that’s got a community atmosphere,” said Sam Shaber, a manager at Benelux Coffee. “It can go from being a great place to work and study in the morning and afternoon to a romantic place for first dates and meeting up with friends for an after-dinner coffee or beer.”
Benelux offers customers a large menu to choose from, featuring coffee, beer and Belgian waffles. The coffee shop’s style is modeled after European grand cafes that also serve various food and drinks. And, with beverage options ranging from kombucha craft beer to various coffees and teas, Benelux Coffee is able to satisfy varying taste buds.
One coffee drink unique to the cafe is the “Queen,” a latte with honey served hot or iced that offers a unique twist on a traditional drink. For craft beer lovers, there are many beers on draft from local breweries that are then brewed with coffee in-house.
Benelux is also home to mouthwatering Belgian waffles, which the location spells ‘wafels,’ the Dutch way, with seasonal picks and build-your-own options.
“Another unique thing we have is our Belgian waffles that are lightly golden on the outside but fluffy on the inside,” Shaber said.
These waffles have savory and sweet options. Right now the seasonal pick is the “Lox Waffle,” complete with caramelized onions, cream cheese, smoked salmon and capers.
“The coffee and the waffles help make Benelux who we are,” Shaber said.
The delicious menu and comfortable atmosphere are not the only elements that set Benelux coffee apart from other local shops. Benelux Coffee is also an active part of the community, an idea that is shown through its local pride.
“One of the most important things to me that we do, and a point of distinction, is that when we say we’re a local coffee shop, we’re a local coffee shop,” Shaber said. “We roast all of our own beans. We use local vendors and small businesses for juices and kombucha. We always have a local beer on draft. We really use the local community in every way possible.
In addition to supporting other local businesses, the coffee shop serves as a place for people of all walks of life to meet up and connect with one another.
“Coffee and people always go together,” Halaszi said. “It’s important to be humble and impact any sort of community that you can.”
This impact can be seen through the Tuesday biweekly cycling meetups for community members.
“Everyone is welcome and every bike is welcome,” Halaszi said. “We go out for about an hour and about 10 miles of cycling. They come back and we have beer specials on that day all day. People usually just get a kick out of it.”
Another point of community outreach the coffee house partakes in is hosting the monthly LGBT Center of Raleigh’s Youth Coffee House.
“They come and have a safe place for kids and teens to talk and share,” Shaber said. “They’ve been doing that for a couple years here. It’s a fun thing for us to help with.”
Both Halaszi and Shaber encourage groups to gather in Benelux unofficially and use the space to connect.
“There is a deep connection of [coffee shops] being a place where people go and get caffeinated and talk and share,” Shaber said. “We really try to foster that and pay homage to that.”
For more information on Benelux Coffee, visit their website: http://beneluxcoffee.com/.
Benelux Coffee in Cameron Village has been open for three years, and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
