Roastery with vintage aviation theme opens in popular brewery
Article and Photo by Leona Baker
Virginia Beach-based Pinup Coffee’s recently opened location inside of Back Bay Brewing’s Farmhouse Brewery on Kempsville Road has given the phrase “niche market” a new level of retro cool. The café is literally tucked into a niche at the base of the stairs inside the 1912 farmhouse that is home to the brewery and its many popular events.
The space greets guests who enter through the farmhouse’s front door and makes a perfect nook for a small service counter, some creative shelving, and just enough equipment for a barista to whip up your favorite coffee shop classic or Pungo Fields Iced Latte.
Pinup Coffee began as a roastery selling mostly at farmer’s markets, the dream of veteran and Pacific Northwest native Stephanie Wein, who came up with the name—originally inspired by WWII era pinups and tattoo culture—when she was just 15.
Both Stephanie and her husband Bryce served as Navy aircrewmen before they retired, so when their coffee brand became a reality, adding a nod to military aviation made sense.
Hence, roast names evoking famous vintage aircraft: Tail Wind (a medium-dark blend with chocolate notes and hints of caramel), Slightly Dangerous (a versatile medium-dark crowd-pleaser), and Rationed Passion (a medium blend with bright character and nutty undertones).
With the opening of their first café, the Weins are ready to take their dream to the next level and connect with the community in new ways as they split their time between their roasting facility, not far away on VB’s Central Drive, and the brewery.
“I fell in love with roasting and I’ve always just loved the craft community,” says Stephanie. “The food, the local vibe, a place like this where everyone comes together. There’s great food, you can get beer and hang out with your friends outside, bring dogs—that’s where my heart is.”
Bryce’s talent for software engineering came in handy in designing custom roast, inventory and sales tracking software for the business, something they hope to develop as a low-cost or open-source tool for other independent roasteries. He also maintains their equipment.
Stephanie handles the roasting, coffee buying and menu development and is particularly proud of their purposefully designed arabica blend cold brew, which scored a 90 on coffeereview.com and can be purchased in whole bean form, ground or liquid concentrate.
The Pinup Coffee Co. café is open from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. daily and serves a selection of lattes (marionberry, vanilla lavender, matcha, pistachio), cappuccinos, espressos and mochas as well as seasonal specialties and snacks, bagged coffee, and baked goods from Top Knot Artisan Bakery.
Be on the lookout for yummy collabs between the roastery and the brewery. Learn more at pinupcoffeeco.com.
Leona Baker
Leona Baker is the former Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine. She is a writer, creative, communications professional, food freak, news junkie, nature and travel lover and mom. She holds a degree in English from James Madison University and a degree in Dance & Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously served as Senior Copywriter for Spark 451, Director of Marketing & Communications at Virginia Wesleyan University, and Senior Editor of Port Folio Weekly.
