For Michelle Padover and her husband, Chris Taharally, great coffee and better-for-you sweets aren’t just products—they’re a love language. Coluna Coffee & Cookies began as a kitchen-table experiment and has grown into a pop-up fixture where whole-bean roasts meet gluten-free, nutrient-dense bakes that disappear by the dozen.
Padover’s path started with “MamaMichKitch,” the Instagram she launched during the pandemic to share simple, joyful recipes. Then Taharally brought home a superior grade coffee roaster—a plot twist that sent the couple down a delicious rabbit hole. She leaned into baking cookies with clean ingredients; he dove into sourcing and roasting. Their fan-favorite chocolate chip cookie, developed with insights from their years as special educators, is gluten-free without skimping on crave. The texture hits that elusive balance—crisp edges, tender middle—and pairs neatly with Coluna’s darker roasts.
Operating without a storefront is intentional. The duo shows up at farmers markets, neighborhood pop-ups and community events, brewing conversations as easily as coffee. A tidy setup—grinder, pour-over kettles, canisters of beans and trays of cookies—keeps lines moving while inviting questions. Newcomers often start with a sample and leave with a bag of whole beans and a half-dozen cookies. Word of mouth has carried their goods beyond Essex County, with happy customers in California and Massachusetts who heard from a friend of a friend.
Sourcing is the heartbeat. Beans arrive from Mexico, Colombia, and several African origins, chosen for flavor and ethical sourcing that allow coffee farmers to earn their fair share. Taharally manages procurement and roasting with a steady hand, aiming for consistency even when tariffs and prices shift. He profiles each coffee to highlight its original character—a cocoa-leaning cup for chocolate desserts, a fruit-forward lot that sings as a morning pour-over. Coluna champions whole-bean sales, encouraging customers to grind at home for peak freshness. Padover includes simple brew guides with each purchase, demystifying ratios and grind size so a weekday cup still feels special.
The cookies follow the same philosophy: minimal ingredients, maximal flavor. Almond flour and quality chocolate lead the lineup, with seasonal riffs like chocolate-covered espresso beans or coconut macaroons for the holidays. Padover tests every batch the way she cooks at home—patient, precise and focused on how families actually eat. The result is a dessert that feels celebratory but never fussy.
Partnerships keep things lively. In West Orange, the couple credits a cheerleading small-business network for opening doors, from stocking brownies at Orange Sky to exploring a collaborative holiday space in South Orange. They partner with local makers for gift bundles—beans plus cookies, tied with twine—and pop up at school fundraisers and neighborhood block parties. The goal is steady, values-led growth rather than rapid scale.
Long term, they see two paths: a cozy brick-and-mortar in three to five years or a nimble model anchored by select retail partners. Either way, the vibe stays personal. Padover chats with regulars about recipes and brew tips; Taharally talks roast curves and water temperature. They remember names, preferred roasts and the cookie one customer buys for a grandchild after Saturday soccer.
Padover points to her grandmother—and a semester in Florence—for her North Star: simple ingredients, treated with care, bring people together. At Coluna, that looks like steam curling from a just-ground pour-over and a still-warm cookie shared with a neighbor. It’s the small, sustaining ritual of good coffee and something sweet, the kind that turns a table into a gathering place. In an era of fast everything, Coluna chooses the slower path—sourced with intention, baked with heart—and invites the community along, one cup and crumb at a time.
Coluna Coffee & Cookies — At a Glance
- Small-batch whole-bean coffee; nutrient-dense, gluten-free cookies and other baked goods; coconut oil popped popcorn, markets, pop-ups and collabs
- Phone: (240) 800-7052
- Website: colunacoffeecookies.com
- Instagram: @Coluna.Coffee.Cookies