It started with a cup of coffee. Last winter, Erika Lamberto and I sat together at Calabria, swapping stories about the winding paths that led us both back to the Mohawk Valley. Erika’s journey included years in the hospitality world, mine in media, and while the details were different, family is what ultimately brought us both home. We found common ground in how those experiences shaped us before choosing to plant our roots here. What could have been just a casual chat felt like the beginning of something bigger—a reminder that the best conversations often start over coffee.
When Erika and her husband Bryce opened Calabria Coffee in May 2021, they envisioned more than a café. They wanted a place where people could gather, slow down, and feel part of something local. Today, Calabria has become just that: a neighborhood anchor where the coffee is as memorable as the company.
Named for the region in southern Italy where the Lamberto family has roots, Calabria blends heritage with hospitality. The menu is simple but thoughtful—rich lattes, smooth cold brews, and seasonal specialties—paired with pastries and baked goods from Caruso’s Pastry Shoppe & Honey + Salt and donuts from The Confectionery. But what truly keeps people coming back is the atmosphere: warm, welcoming, and unmistakably local.
This fall, Calabria steps into a new chapter with the launch of the Coffee in Hand Podcast, an extension of the spirit that fills the café every day. I was honored to join Erika as her very first guest, setting the tone for a series built on real stories and genuine dialogue—proof that the connections sparked over coffee can ripple far beyond the café walls.
As Calabria looks ahead to its next chapter, it stands as more than a coffee shop. It’s a place where friendships are made, ideas are shared, and the Mohawk Valley’s sense of community is brewed one cup at a time, reminding us, once again, that family has a way of bringing us home. You can find more information on Coffee in Hand on Instagram and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
