Villa Perk Coffee turns one, unveils innovative new drink
Villa Perk Coffee Co. in Villa Park is preparing for its anniversary celebration on Saturday, Sept. 21.
After only a year in business, the company is already a staple in the Villa Park community. Twin sisters Sara Schreiner and Carrie Vignali Rossi, along with Sara’s husband Brandon Schreiner opened the shop at 217 S. Villa Ave. with the goal of bringing an upscale but comfortable coffee house experience to the downtown Villa Park area, which was severely lacking in nonalcoholic gathering spots.
Signing a lease back in March of 2022, the three partners sought to restore the historic building and bring a flavor of old world Villa Park back to the location on Villa Avenue and the Prairie Path.
Complications of such a historic building saw the renovation extending into the summer of 2023 with all new HVAC, plumbing, electrical, gas lines, walls, ceilings, and a new exterior store front, bringing the building back to its original facade and exposing the historic brick long hidden under siding.
The community was anxious and supportive as they continued to wait for the grand opening, finally scheduled for September of 2023. The shop opened to lines out the door and down the street. Locals were thrilled with a new and beautiful downtown spot where they could meet, work, and relax.
While the location and ambiance drew them in, the beverages kept them coming back. The owners were excited to experiment with new and different flavors and methods, and created such now-iconic drinks as the Pancake Latte, made with maple flavoring and a scoop of real butter, as well as the Ovaltine Latte.
This nod to the historic former Ovaltine Factory (now apartments, located out Villa Perk’s back door) features an in-house produced malt syrup as well as the classic Ovaltine powder.
The shop has continued to grow and thrive in the past year, recently adding expanded exterior signage and new interior décor. But the drinks remain at the forefront, with the goal of consistent innovation and new, exciting flavors. The recent release of the Rizzberry Lemonade (blue raspberry lemonade) saw a new audience in Gen Alpha who coined the slang “rizz” after which the drink is named.
The Oat Milk Stroopwafel Latte saw the first flavor-infused milk drink, with cinnamon added to the milk before steaming to bring a subtly sweet but robust flavor.
Flavor-infused milk is the name of the game for the newest innovation, set to be released at the anniversary celebration this Saturday: Cereal Milk Lattes.
After steeping various cereals in milk and straining out the remaining bits, lattes are then crafted with the flavored milk, harkening back to the sensation of drinking the leftover milk after a bowl of cereal. These not-too-sweet drinks offer the delicious flavors of childhood favorite cereals while highlighting the premium espresso for which Villa Perk is known.
The future is bright for this new business, still in its infancy, but already experiencing phenomenal growth, regular customers, and the full support of a vibrant community.
Stop by Villa Perk to join in celebrating their first year this Saturday between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. For information, visit www.villaperkcoffee.com.
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