Following the launch of their first Stateside brick-and-mortar outpost in Jim Thorpe two years ago, the husband-and-wife team behind Donerds Donuts is now scouting a second location in Bethlehem.
Speaking to What Now Philadelphia by phone, co-owner Andrew Underwood – who founded the company with his wife Annabel Figueroa – explains that because Donerds operates a food truck which they take to Bethlehem, about 45 minutes outside Jim Thorpe, so regularly, it “prompted the search for another brick-and-mortar there.”
Underwood and Figueroa proudly proclaim themselves the “mad nerd scientists behind this big experiment that is making sure we have the best coffee and donuts possible,” and according to Underwood the Bethlehem laboratory, so to speak, will allow Donerds to expand the tap system for their signature nitro cold brew coffees, which are brewed using local roasters La Colombe, Portland-based Stumptown, and Chicago’s Intelligentsia.
As for the donuts, Underwood says that each one is a “little experiment, and our chefs are basically the scientists behind the experiment.”
Those experiments have resulted in some rather ambitious creations, such as the summer special, Key Lime Pie, a Caramel Churro Donut, Cannoli Donut, and fall favorite, Pumpkin Brûlée. In addition to donuts and coffee, Donerds also serves uniquely vibrant macarons and breakfast burritos.
Donerds Donuts began in 2016 as a humble food truck built from a refurbished 1981 VW Bus, which Underwood and Figueroa would drive around Santiago, Chile. Following the success of that venture – Donerds was even named one of Chile’s top three donut producers by a Chilean media outlet – the duo was able to franchise a location in Chile in 2019, before packing up and heading to Jim Thorpe, where they would go on to open the first US Donerds while also continuing to operate the mobile donut truck – albeit a different one from their beloved Volkswagen.
Donerds Donuts’ existing outpost is located at 76 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229.
