New Orleans may have recently lost a witch-themed cocktail bar, but the city will get a cafe in the same vein when Witches Brew Coffee Co. opens this fall in Mid-City at 2940 Canal St. On the Witches Brew website, the cafe describes its lattes, energy elixirs, matcha drinks, and house-made baked goods.
Co-owner Paul DeSana recently told What Now New Orleans that the café combines his passion with the passion of his partner Deanna Holdcraft.
“I’m really passionate about single-origin coffee and trying new coffee,” DeSana said. “Deanna is very passionate about baking. Ever since we met, she’s been baking me new recipes and new baked goods to try on an almost weekly basis.”
Holdcraft also has a background in archeology, and she plans to bring a bit of that expertise to Witches Brew. In addition to offering the occasional historic baked good, the café is considering offering yaupon, a brew made with the only caffeinated plant native to North America.
“Yaupon is definitely something that I want to offer because it’s a neat sort of alternative to coffee and traditional teas,” she said. “It’s also got a long history of use in the Americas, before colonization and after.”
The café will offer counter service inside and have an outdoor patio, all with a witch and cat-themed vibe. In keeping with the overall theme, the café will donate a portion of its earnings to a local charity for cats.
“We want the experience to be more than just a typical café experience,” DeSana said. “We want it to be a memorable experience.”
