Barrister Coffee House
The recently opened Barrister Coffee House has already begun an inspiring legacy beyond just selling coffee.
Owners Adam and Megan Bisaccia opened the doors of their coffee roastery on October 16, 2023. Located in downtown Basking Ridge, all of the coffee served is roasted on-site.
Having been born and raised in Basking Ridge, it was the ideal location for Adam to open the roastery alongside his wife.
“Naturally, it was the perfect location to “give back.” In fact, we capitalize the ‘R’ at the end of Barrister in our logo (BarristeR) as a nod to the B and R in Basking Ridge,” Megan noted.
In designing the interior, the two drew inspiration from the colors of Ridge High School, shining light on Adam’s alma mater.
With all coffee beans being roasted on-site, they come from a variety of locations including Burundi, Nicaragua, Honduras, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and Colombia.
“In addition to being able to purchase bagged coffee, you can pull up a seat at our coffee bar and order anything from espresso to a honey cinnamon cappuccino,” Megan noted.
Adam and Megan have turned the small space into an instantly inviting and must-visit location. Customers are greeted with care and given a remarkable experience.
As for naming their coffee house, Adam and Megan chose “Barrister” being that it is an old English term for an advocate. In addition to serving carefully crafted coffee, “Barrister Coffee House is a social enterprise, focusing on helping to improve access to education for those facing educational challenges and disadvantages,” Megan explained.
With Adam and Megan both being attorneys by trade and having a deep passion for helping others, the roastery follows the motto, “A Great Cup for the Greater Good.”
Before creating their business, the two had already led extraordinary careers. Megan noted that they both “have extensive roots in helping others and wanted to use the coffee roastery to do the same.”
As the head roaster, Adam has been trained in several locations across the country, including Stowe, VT, Seattle WA, and Minneapolis, MN. Prior to opening Barrister, Adam “served as a Professor and Legal Studies Chair at community colleges throughout New Jersey, where he regularly encountered students facing educational disadvantages.”
The inspiring work of this duo does not stop there. Megan is a former immigration attorney, for both the federal government and private practice.
To continue their work in advocacy, 100% of profits made from their roasting company, Barrister Coffee Roasters, are donated to local and verifiable causes. They also work closely with the Work Based Learning Comprehensive Behavior Analytic Program at Ridge High School.
Megan further explained that “Barrister utilizes its space to connect our neighbors, spotlight community initiatives, and provide a platform for those with similar visions of helping others learn and achieve.
Barrister has also donated to the following organizations and more: The Marine Raider Foundation in honor of Captain Stanford H. Shaw, III; Raritan Valley Community College Food Pantry; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey; Good Grief; Barrister. and Wee Little Arts’ Artist of the Month Series; Cedar Hill Elementary School PTO and the Ridge Baseball Club.
Unique to your ordinary coffee shop, customers leave with more than just a carefully curated cup of coffee. They leave having contributed to Adam and Megan’s mission of providing everyone with the education that they deserve.
Having only been open for nearly 4 months Adam and Megan have brought forth a community work aim to help others, and share a love for coffee.