68° and Clear
Image
Beverage name: The Green Alien
This week’s spotlight: Grover's Mill Coffee. A quaint, local cafe that serves their freshly brewed coffee with a blend of creativity, history, and community. Grover's Mill Coffee lies in the middle of a bustling shopping center at 295 Princeton Hightstown Rd, right in the heart of West Windsor.
Grover’s Mill Coffee came to be almost two decades ago, back in 2005. Originally a family owned business, the cafe was on the verge of closing when Isa, a seasoned barista and the current owner of Grover's Mill, rose up and preserved its legacy, continuing operations since 2022. After years in the coffee industry, including managing numerous Starbucks locations, Isa found his place to thrive; a welcoming, tight knit coffee hub with a community-first focus. “I think the reason I love to own this place, you know, I love to be part of the community, because I'm part of a place where West Windsor community members can come and be here, and enjoy my coffee. Yeah, I definitely love this job,” he shared.
Prices at Grover's Mill are fair, ranging from $3 - $9. Usually, customers spend a good ten bucks here, not only for their great coffee but for their alien-themed cookies too! Grover's Mill starts their days bright and early, opening at 7am and closing around 5 every day—a perfect time for early risers to start their day with a fresh cup of coffee.
Yet like many small business shops, Grover's Mill Coffee has had to overcome their own obstacles. “When opening the shop, I was faced with everything,” Isa shares. “We don’t have resources like larger franchises and chains, so we have to face everything on our own. We always try to find a solution, with reasonable time and reasonable resources. Thankfully, there have been no bad incidents. So that makes me happy.” As these small businesses strive to provide the best, it becomes our responsibility as the community to help support local cafes and work together to make a better place for everyone to thrive. Visit your local coffee shops and spread the word!
Grover's Mill Coffee: What’s it like?
When you first enter Grover’s Mill Coffee, the first thing that hits you is its overwhelming love for the community. From top to bottom, paintings from local artists hang on the walls, statues and artwork donated to the cafe sit on shelves, and photos of the community line each crevice of the shop. As Isa declares, “It’s not all about the profit, it’s about supporting the local musicians, artists. They’ll gather here, as a place to meet, support each other, help each other, and people love it.”
Hosting numerous different occasions here, Grover's Mill Coffee functions as a second home to many, connecting with the neighborhood through events like Mic Nights, radio reacting programs, and even costume contests for Halloween. Many locals have even taken the opportunity to use it for personal events too, such as baby showers, anniversaries, and even marriage proposals! To West Windsor, Grover's Mill Coffee is no ordinary shop, but is truly the heart and soul of the community. And yet, it doesn’t stop there. Almost a month ago, Grover's Mill Coffee shop has taken up one of the vendors at the West Windsor Farmers Market, providing their delicious coffee on Saturdays from 9am - 1pm! Whether it’s hosting local events, or giving back to the community, Grover's Mill Coffee is always looking for ways to stay connected.
But that still isn’t all. Grover’s Mill Coffee pays homage to the history and roots of West Windsor, particularly to the 1938 “War of the Worlds” Radio broadcast, famously known for tricking citizens into believing aliens had landed in Grover's Mill, NJ. Local artwork celebrates this lore, decorating the space, with a distinct, marshal-like personality.
How’s the food?
Isa roasts all coffee in-house, with beans sourced from places like Ethiopia, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, and Sumatra. The café’s beans are roasted weekly (~150 lbs), ensuring nothing served is older than three weeks. Nearly 80% of the beans are organic, sourced from small, sustainable farms.
If you’re visiting for the first time, Isa recommends the "Green Alien," a house specialty made with real pistachio, white mocha, and cold brew topped with pistachio cold foam. For purists, there are pour-overs with your choice of roast: dark, medium, or light. Coffee ice cubes (yes, real coffee!) ensure your iced drinks stay flavorful to the last sip. Make sure to visit in the fall too, as Grover's Mill Coffee plans on adding maple flavored items to their menu–sourced from a customer's family farm in Vermont.
The Green Alien: What does it taste like?
Customers say:
“Great balance of bold and sweet!”
“It’s flavorful, creative, and feels like something special you can’t find anywhere else.”
“Real pistachio flavor (not that artificial stuff), great cold brew base, and the cold foam takes it to the next level.”
“ It's creamy without being too sweet, and you can really taste the pistachio.”
“I adore it! Great coffee, with a unique taste that’s just the right sweetness.”
Green Alien: 9/10
From the food to the artworks to the alien themed cookies, Grover’s Mill Coffee has strived to give back to the community, going above and beyond for its members and beautifully mixing West Windsor’s rich history with delicious coffee. On behalf of The West Windsor Voice, we thank you for making such a large impact on the community!
