YORK COUNTY — Persnickety Crane Cafe opened five years ago after owner Cecilia Corujo had a vision.
“What I have attempted to do with building this coffee shop is to create the place that I wanted for decades as I raised four children, tried to go on date nights, worked and homeschooled,” Corujo explained. “I have endeavored to create a space that will be a blessing to families, kids of all ages and coffee enthusiasts. Coffee has been a mainstay in my life for decades; it has helped me get up early with kiddos, and stay cognitively sharp in the workplace.”
Located in the Village Shops in Yorktown, the cafe offers coffees, teas, and breakfast and lunch items.
Combining her love for travel and coffee, Corujo wanted to make the cafe a place where coffee lovers could come and experience the true art of making a cup of coffee.
“Through work and recreation, I have been able to travel extensively. That travel gave me many ideas to bring to a local coffee shop,” Corujo said. “In Ecuador, I had a host puree an entire watermelon and serve me this juice — it was the most refreshing drink, which inspired our fruit smoothie (pineapple, fresh strawberries & banana, mango and more). I’ve enjoyed an affogato and specialty teas in London.”
“I have experienced walk-up coffee bars in Italy, and eclectic sit-down cafes and bakeries in Croatia, Japan and Germany,” she continued. “My vision is to bring the best of what I’ve experienced to Virginia — to the crossroads of Yorktown, Newport News, Poquoson and Hampton.”
Coffee isn’t the only thing on the menu at Persnickety Crane Cafe. The cafe also boasts a healthy breakfast and lunch menu.
“We are intentional about our menu — making our own syrups in-house, crafting unique options that are not only delish but have nutrition as a priority. One example is our Mediterranean Nourish Bowl — it has avocado, cucumber, black beans, corn, tomatoes, quinoa-rice and more with a creamy tahini sauce that brings all these fresh flavors and textures together in a mouth-watering way. It is filling, visually appealing, and packed full of healthy ingredients that give energy and essential vitamins,” Corujo said.
Corujo said bestsellers include the Persnickety Mocha Latte, the Blueberry Lemon Scone, and The Waldorf — a 10-plus ingredient chicken salad sandwich on artisan white bread. Prices range from $6.50 for a latte to $14.50 for a colossal breakfast burrito.
To cater to families, the cafe is also home to a play area for kids.
“Whether you’re looking for a place to hang out with friends, a new spot for date night, or somewhere to make a special memory with the kids, come on over. Between our comfy leather chairs, book/game shelf, and our family interactive space, there’s something for everyone,” Corujo said.
Corujo also enjoys hosting events at the cafe. From classes and seminars on chocolate making to date night offerings, there is something for every age.
“We are an experiential café, so we do events like a homeschool workshop on the history of tea and chocolate; we do coffee workshops on how to make international coffees; we do daddy/daughter paint afternoon; Mother’s Day flower bars; making an edible terrarium, cookie making workshops, Trivia nights, princess tea parties and more,” Corujo shared.
Events are usually held two to four times a month on Saturday afternoons. Advanced registration is required and can be made by emailing the cafe.
Ultimately, Corujo hopes that her little coffee shop makes a difference for those who visit.
“I want to provide a venue for people to personalize their experience with coffee. It’s more than a beverage … people’s feelings are associated with enjoying a warm latte with art in a mug, their unique tastes and preferences. Some want a simple cup of Joe — nothing fancy — others enjoy discussing extraction during the pour-over process and tasting fruity flavor notes. Persnickety Crane Cafe is an outlet for my passion of coffee, quality, creativity, inspiration, and strong families. It is a first step in my goal of making a positive difference in the world,” Corujo said.
Persnickety Crane Cafe is open Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit persnicketycranecafe.com.