Angela Liu was born in New York City, moved to Rochester as a teen and attended boarding school in China. She studied fine arts and nursing but mostly had a career in corporate America, including working as a Chinese translator for engineers in the semiconductor industry.
A common thread has been enjoying visits to cafés and coffee shops. Finally, she decided to open one of her own in the North Winton Village.
"I’m a little bit tired of corporate America and wanted to start something myself," she said. “It’s been a lifelong dream. I wanted to create a communal space where people can come in and relax that’s not revolved around bars and alcohol.”
The cozy Pandamonium Coffee House is at 686 N. Winton Road, next door to the new bakery JensArtisan.
The name is mashup of a few ideas. "Pandamonium is a crazy, whimsical, sciency kind of name," she said. Also, "I’m into black and white animals” like cows and pandas, she said, and her boyfriend calls her Panda.
Its doors have been open just a few weeks, and the neighborhood has responded with enthusiasm. “It’s very busy, which is great," she said. "The community was lacking a coffee shop in that neighborhood. We love the sense of community. That’s really the highlight."
What's on the menu at Pandamonium Coffee
The ingredients at Pandamonium are locally sourced and emphasize businesses owned by fellow Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Coffee beans come from the local micro-roaster Aporia Coffee Co. In addition to espresso-based drinks, several tea lattes are served; most teas come from Happy Earth Tea in the South Wedge. An East-West Latte combines bold, malty Assam black tea with a double shot of espresso and milk. Kombucha from Happy Gut Sanctuary is offered on tap, and an "ABCg" fresh juice beverage combines apple, beet, carrot and ginger juices.
The shop offers an assortment of baked goods from Jenny's Bakery in Brighton as well as from So Belly Happy , which makes nut-free macarons, crispy rice treats and cookies.
The menu has a healthful approach. She uses natural sweeteners like maple syrup and blackstrap molasses. She also offers A2 milk as an option. Especially popular in the Asia Pacific region, it lacks a specific protein found in other milk. Some studies have shown that A2 milk might be more digestible, particularly for people who have lactose intolerance.
Pandamonium is a one-person operation, but Liu has been getting help from family members and friends. She isn't set up to prepare food in the shop, but would eventually like to add her mom's dumplings and handheld Asian fare. She also is looking forward to collaborating with other small businesses and artists.
“There’s a little bit of things on the horizon, just not yet," she said.
If you go
Pandamonium Coffee is at 686 N. Winton Road. It is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon Sunday.
The inviting space has a few comfy chairs and a couple of small tables for seating. Parking is on the street, and a few spots are in back of the building.
Accessibility: A small step leads into the shop.
Tracy Schuhmacher covers Rochester's food and drink scene. Spot something opening or closing in your neck of the woods? Reach out to tracys@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Cozy new coffee shop opens in Rochester. Take a peek
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