Express lane provides quick coffee fix, spirituality
Published: July 24, 2005
Jim Yeager passes a lot of coffee places on his morning commute from Hanover Township to Pittston. But the 40-year-old mechanic always waits to buy his large coffee, extra cream, extra sugar, at the Espresso Heaven kiosk in Pittston.
Like many others who pull up to the North Main Street drive-thru, he’s hooked on more than just the caffeine.
Besides espressos, lattes and other specialty drinks, owner Niki Reed’s customers come for conversation, contact, compassion and sometimes a prayer.
“You could stop and talk to her, as long as you don’t hold up the line,” Yeager joked from the cab of his pickup. “We talk about everything, from traveling to automotive repair.”
For Reed, serving up caffeine in its many frothy forms is more than a job; it’s a ministry, though many customers would not know it. A born-again Christian, she doesn’t force her religion on customers, but she does like to connect with them.
“I don’t sit here for 12 hours just to ring up the cash register,” Reed, 43, of Pittston said Tuesday morning during a lull in business.
“I like to talk.
“Everybody wants to know that they’re important; everybody wants to know they matter.”
Reed opened Espresso Heaven in the former Insalaco’s supermarket lot just over two years ago. Since, she has gotten to know about some customers’ personal problems or illnesses in their families. Some don’t even order a drink, but come in to ask her for a prayer.
Jeanine Manta, 25, of Swoyersville enjoys the cheeriness of Reed and her employee, Debbie Stark, 43, of Ransom.
Reed has prayed for Manta’s sister, who has been ill.
Manta said the coffee kiosk owner even had a prayer group pray for her sister. Now, Manta said, her sister is doing better.
“I have a bigger smile when I leave there,” Manta said. “It’s unreal to think someone you get coffee from is able to touch you.”
When a young man in a pickup stopped to place an order Tuesday morning, he happened to mention he had to see the doctor again for his back problem.
Reed asked if she could pray for his recovery. He agreed.
But she doesn’t push it; she doesn’t force.
Reed said some customers don’t know what to make of her. She has tattoo of a tiger and usually plays Christian music inside the kiosk.
A construction worker who came through asked what kind of music she was playing. She told him it was Fred Hammond, a Christian artist.
“He just kind of shook his head,” Reed recalled with a laugh.
That’s OK with her.
“I don’t want to blow people out of the water with my Christianity,” she said.
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