I had never heard of a cloud forest before speaking with Emily Comnick, who owns the new coffee shop in Two Harbors along with her husband, Charlie. Emily told me that Charlie used to be in the coffee business and has traveled to coffee country. After looking at photos online, it’s easy to see how these forests got their name. The cloud forests are at a high elevation and have a low cloud cover at a canopy level, giving a visitor the magical feeling of being immersed in the clouds.
So, it makes sense that Emily and Charlie would name their coffee shop Dream Cloud Coffee Roasters.
“We were trying to think of something that would kind of represent a feeling of whimsy and dreaming of sorts. To kind of give that vibe of a magical place and experience,” said Emily.
The business opened on May 3rd of this year in the old Mocha Moose building at 543 Scenic Drive in Two Harbors. The location itself is a dream come true for the couple.
“We were very very very lucky to have the space. We know that and we’re just really happy. It’s very much so a dream for us. We’ve always actually wanted to live on the North Shore, specifically the Scenic Drive, but never thought it was a reality and here we are!” Emily said.
The shop offers and assortment of baked goods, such as cardamom buns, cinnamon rolls, cookies, strawberry cakes, bagels, focaccia and other types of bread, lemon bars, chocolate cakes, donuts, and more. Beginning in August the shop will have a monthly menu so everyone will have a good idea of what is being featured during each month.
The business, which also has art, photography, and ceramics for sale, has been well received. Both of the owners are artists and a friend, Kristen Miller, helped to make most of the mugs at the shop.
“We’ve definitely had a good response to it. Everybody has enjoyed the coffee, the drinks, and the atmosphere. I think a lot of people, when they walked in, were really excited and blown away by what it looks like inside,” said Emily. “It’s fun to step into a little cottage-like building and get an immersive experience.”
The couple have been working on the garden since they moved into the building, and Emily reported it is in full bloom right now and a beautiful sight to see. The effort adds to the magic of the experience that Emily and Charlie are hoping to provide to their customers.
“We want you to remember that cappuccino or remember that sweet treat you had and remember the feeling of the garden, or inside the shop, or the exchange you had with us,” Emily said. “I think one thing we both really love, me and Charlie, is we love being of service to people. We want to provide people with a really great service and something they can remember in a magical moment. It’s something they can share in because that’s something we love to get out of places we go and visit.”
Starting on July 31st there will be more opportunities to experience the magic that Dream Cloud Coffee Roasters offers. The shop will have expanded hours of Wednesday through Sunday from 9AM-3PM.
“We’re kind of finding our groove and we’re realizing that we want to do more and share more of the space. The only way to do that is to be open a little more and I think being open earlier is a better thing for everyone.”
Emily encourages everyone to visit Dream Cloud Coffee Roasters to check out the coffee, drinks, goodies, art, photography, ceramics, and maybe even more so to take time to enjoy a moment of magic.
“In a really fast paced society now, everything is go go go, and nobody really takes the time to sit and enjoy something as simple as a cup of coffee and a cookie, but it’s something like one of those small moments in your day that can really change things,” she said. “That’s what we want to do, we want to create beautiful things and surround ourselves with that and surround the people who enter our space with that and to leave them feeling happy and at peace and to remember what life is about, it’s simple little moments and enjoying them with others or yourself.”
It’s a good reminder to take the time and smell the coffee. I plan to do so soon at Dream Cloud Coffee Roasters!
