Q&A with Haley
Words by Haley Lopes, Photos from Society Coffee Bar.
- What is Society Coffee Bar?
Society Coffee Bar is a unique coffee shop with locations in Taunton and Somerset that focus on specialty coffee. The Somerset location also serves cocktails in the evenings. Society first opened its doors in 2022, and a second location was opened in Somerset in 2024. Both locations are owned by co-founders Keith and Debra Viveiros, who originally purchased the property that now houses the Taunton location with the intent to open up an office for their real estate company, Milestone Real Estate. They saw potential for a coffee shop in the space, which is how Society Coffee Bar came about. The name comes from the owners’ desire for their business to be a space where people in the community come to enjoy each other’s company, indulge in high-quality food and coffee, and take in the atmosphere.
- What makes Society Coffee Bar unique?
Society Coffee Bar is more than just your average spot to get a cup of coffee. Top-notch ingredients and customer service are their main priorities. When it comes to its coffee, the business implements a special brewing process rarely found at other locations in the area. Careful attention is given to small details that are typically overlooked by other coffee shops, such as grind size and brew temperature. The Somerset location doubles as both a coffee shop and a bar, meaning that you can get your caffeine fix by day and cocktails by night.
- What will I find on the menu at Society Coffee Bar?
Whether you’re in the mood for coffee, food, or drinks, Society Coffee Bar has you covered. Their coffee menu features classic coffee options along with specialty lattes. One highlight is the Cinnamon Bun Latte made with espresso, vanilla, brown sugar cinnamon, and your choice of milk and topped with icing and cinnamon sugar. Teas and other beverages are also available. The coffee shop’s number one best seller is their signature drink, the Quinny. It’s made with cold brew coffee and whole milk and can be described as a caffeinated coffee milk and iced coffee hybrid. There are also caffeinated drinks known as “Spritzers” that come in flavors of tropical mango, pineapple, and blueberry hibiscus lemonade.
The food on offer includes a variety of sandwiches, oatmeal, bagels, and pastries, including gluten-free and vegan options. One of the sandwiches that is available is the bacon, egg, and chees,e which is made with hot honey glazed bacon, white cheddar, egg and spinach tossed in a bourbon vinaigrette and grilled on an asiago bagel. The turkey, pesto, bacon sandwich is made with sliced roasted turkey, tomato, white cheddar, hot honey bacon, arugula, and pesto aioli on sourdough. All of their sandwiches can be substituted with gluten-free bread. Some of the options for baked goods include bagels, brownies, and cookies, along with Portuguese favorites like pasteis de nata.
In addition to the year-round menu, there are also seasonal menus. As of writing this article, the winter menu included items like the eggnog latte, the peppermint whoopie pie, and the ginger molasses cookies, to name a few.
At night, when the Somerset location switches from a coffee shop to a bar, you’ll be able to sip on specialty cocktails along with a selection of wine and beer. Cocktails on offer include The Chairman, which is made with Newport craft vodka, kahlua, fresh espresso, chocolate bitters, and sugar, and the Amber Hour, made with Japanese whiskey, Yuzurl, Aperol, peach-clove syrup, and lemon. The Somerset location offers a tapas menu in the evenings and includes selections like Society Nachos, made with tri colored tortilla chips, blue cheese queso, sauteed onions, bacon jam, avocado crème fraiche, tomato, and honey, or the Perfect Tacos, made with pulled pork, cilantro lime crema, roasted corn, and pickled onions. A selection of desserts is also available. For information on current menus, check Society Coffee Bar’s website and social media accounts.
- What can I do at Society Coffee Bar?
In addition to being a great place to get coffee, dessert, or a meal and catch up with friends, Society Coffee Bar also hosts events in the evenings at their Somerset location. For example, karaoke nights are held on Thursdays starting at 8 pm. Comedy shows also occasionally take place during evening hours. These shows often feature local comedians. At one recent show, celebrity stand-up comic Matt Rife even made a surprise appearance.
The Somerset location was formerly a credit union, and when the space was converted into a coffee shop, the bank vault was kept intact. It’s now an exclusive, roped-off area known as the VIP Vault. The space can host gatherings for events like bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and Sunday brunch. The Vault is capable of holding anywhere from twelve to fourteen people and makes for a memorable way to celebrate a special occasion.
- Where can I find Society Coffee Bar?
You can find Society Coffee Bar at 260 Broadway in Taunton, Massachusetts, and at 891 County Street in Somerset, Massachusetts. For more information, including hours, current menus, and upcoming events, visit their website societycoffeebar.com. You can also find them on Facebook at Society Coffee Bar and Instagram @societycoffeebar.
