Today’s Sprudge Maps Spotlight takes us to the beautiful city of Pittsburgh, home to Constellation Coffee since 2013. Today this fine cafe serves coffees roasted byย Vignette, Mother Tongue, Little Waves, Brandywine, and Maquina Coffee,ย with a menu that “remains on the classicsโwell-brewed coffee, balanced espresso, and fresh, locally made snacks.” And what’s better than that?
Want your cafe to be considered for a Sprudge Maps Spotlight? All you have to do isย register your shop for Sprudge Maps, our user-driven compendium of coffee shops around the globe. And the best part is, itโs completely free!ย Sign up today!
Sprudge Maps is presented byย La Marzoccoย andย Pacific Barista Series.ย
As told to Sprudge by Amy Weiland
Introduce yourself to our readersโtell us about your cafe!
Constellation opened in 2013. It was my goal to have a place where the coffee was consistently delicious, customers could enjoy their neighborhood, and employees were respected for their skills and knowledge. About a decade later my focus remains on the classicsโwell-brewed coffee, balanced espresso, and fresh, locally made snacks. During the pandemic, we added an outdoor seating area just down the street. We’ve planted a pollinator garden with tons of native plant species, and we are fortunate to have the space to compost on site. We are a low-key environment with top-shelf coffee that is honored to serve our community.
What equipment do you use in your shop?
We use a La Marzocco Linea, a FETCO batch brewer, Mahlkรถnig grinders, and a variety of manual brewers.
Which roaster or roasters do you serve?
We work with Vignette, Mother Tongue, Little Waves, Brandywine, and Maquina Coffee.ย We try to keep sustainability in mind and focus mostly on East Coast roasters, with orders from our West Coast pals coming in less frequently. Being a woman-owned business I love supporting women who roast. Also, I love our tea program. It’s not an afterthought! We have great options from Song Tea & Ceramics in San Francisco.
What is the neighborhood like where you’re located? What’s some other cool stuff nearby?
We are located on a main street heading towards downtown, between two residential neighborhoods. Parking can be difficult, and most of our regulars come on foot. Pittsburgh is mountainous, split by a few rivers, and traffic is bad, so people tend to congregate close to home.
My personal favorite spot is an easy walk down the street, the Allegheny Cemetery. It’s huge and serves as a sort of wildlife refuge in the city. If you’re lucky you can even spot some threatened bird species there, like the red-headed woodpecker. If you’re staying in the neighborhood for dinner, I can’t recommend Apteka highly enough. It’s an Eastern European vegetable restaurant and it never disappoints.
What’s something cool or unique about your cafe you want folks to know?
Constellation was named because I believe a cafe can serve as an orientation pointโit’s a place to connect with friends, get your schedule sorted for the day, or take a break before you venture back out into the city. The name holds a double meaning though, as I am also a working astrologist. I have trained with Steven Forrest, an evolutionary practitioner based out of California, hold certificates from the London School of Astrology and a diploma from the School of Traditional Astrology. I have a studio in the rear of the cafe available for booking sessions.
Is there a community organization or charity you’d like to shout-out as part of this feature?
One of our favorite animal rescue organizations is run by a neighborhood fellow who feeds stray cats, fosters and does TNR – instagram @guylovescats, with a Venmo link in the profile.
Thank you!
Want your cafe featured in a Sprudge Maps Spotlight?ย Register your shop for Sprudge Maps, our user-driven compendium of coffee shops around the globe. Itโs completely free.ย Sign up today!
Sprudge Maps is presented byย La Marzoccoย andย Pacific Barista Series.ย
Photos by Constellation Coffee, used with permission
