Immediately upon walking into Wicked Brew Café & Coffee Shop in Bangor customers are greeted with the alluring smell of freshly brewed coffee and a warm and welcoming atmosphere that immediately makes you feel right at home.
Wicked Brew’s owners, Mary and Carrie Holt, opened the business in 2017. The inspiration to create a cafe came from both women’s passion for baking. Carrie attended culinary school and has over 20 years of restaurant experience. Carrie is also Mary’s daughter-in-law, making the business not only run by women, but also a family business. Benjamin Holt, Carrie’s husband, also works in the shop as a general manager. However, he emphasized that Mary and Carrie and the ones who run the show.
Wicked Brew hand cooks their food items in house to ensure the food is as fresh as possible. They emphasize that their mission is to use fresh ingredients as well as specializing in organic and fair trade coffee, tea and chai masala tea.
“We pretty much make everything in house,” Benjamin Holt said. “We make all of our simple syrups, we make all of our bread, we make all of our pastries, even our bagels.”
In addition, they are very accommodating and ensure all guests have an option on the menu. There are gluten-free and dairy-free options as well as vegan choices. The vegan breakfast sandwich has specifically been raved about in their Google reviews.
The pandemic put a lot of strain on small-business owners and unfortunately, Wicked Brew was no exception. Although the shop has only been open for a short time, it has quickly become a popular destination for locals and students.
The shop also recently underwent a small renovation that updated the barista area as well as upgraded the entryway so there is better flow for the people coming and going. It is a well-cared-for coffee shop in all aspects.
If you are new to Wicked Brew, Benjamin Holt recommends trying the maple cinnamon flavor in your coffee, hot or cold. The maple is from real Maine maple syrup and the taste is perfect for fall and cozy weather coming up. For tea drinkers he recommends a London Fog, because they are always delicious.
Located in the Historical District in Bangor, Wicked Brew is not too far from campus and is an ideal spot for studying or relaxing with a quality cup of coffee. Wicked Brew is definitely a must-visit for those who have not been yet. They are located at 173 Park Street in Bangor.
