It’s a new dawn for young entrepreneurs Maggie and Tessa Taylor.
The sisters, ages 23 and 25 respectively, opened Sunrise Brew Coffee in St. Augustine earlier this month, fulfilling their longtime dream of owning a cafe together.
The cozy caffeine outpost opened its doors Aug. 2 on a corner off State Road A1A, only a mile from Crescent Beach.
Sunrise Brew Coffee’s coastal-themed décor echoes its location, making customers feel as if they’ve stepped straight from the sand into the café.
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The shop is decorated with seashell frames and foamy blue tiles. Hanging surfboards still appear to be dusted with sand, adding to the shop’s beachy atmosphere and charm.
Many customers enter the shop with wet hair and towels, coming in perhaps after an early surf to grab their morning cup.
Running an independent cafe, they told The Citizen, was once unthinkable in more ways than one.
Maggie and Tessa were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having grown up in Utah.
Church members are prohibited from drinking coffee. But the Taylor family left Utah and their relationship with the religion behind when they moved to Florida while Maggie and Tessa were still in middle school.
The sisters developed their taste for the beverage while still in high school, starting with lunchtime frappuccinos and honey lattes.
Now, Maggie’s favorite is Sunrise Brew’s Chagaccino — a mocha-style coffee blend with mushroom powder, known for its health benefits.
Maggie said some of her fondest memories with her sister were at coffee shops they visited in high school. They provided a warm and welcoming space where they could chat while sipping a delicious brew.
“We always had a dream,” she said. “We’ve created a space we would go to.”
Baristas happily bring out pup cups — small servings of whipped cream for visitors’ four-legged friends.
Some customers quietly sip their drinks while working on laptops, surrounded by the rich aroma of roasting espresso.
From sweet cinnamon roll lattes and breakfast bowls to the relaxing environment, the Taylor sisters said they aimed to create an inviting space for St. Augustine residents.
“We wanted to have Sunrise Brew be more than a coffee shop,” Maggie said. “We wanted it to be a community hub.”
A banner on the Sunrise Brew website summarizes approach.
“Coffee creates community, community creates coffee.”
Tessa Taylor invites a customer back after another bustling morning. “Hope we’ll see you again,” she says.
“Oh, you will,” the customer replied.
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