One More Cup

There are a handful of basic truths in life that we should always remember. And somewhere, deep in the middle of that pile of truths is this one: never underestimate what some good craft coffee can do for a city.

In 2017, Meghan and Stewart Mackie opened The Bike Shop in Winter Haven, a shop for cyclists that also featured a café inside that they called N+1. “We really wanted to have a craft coffee bar inside,” said owner Meghan Mackie. “And at the time, the only other coffee shops in town were Richards and Starbucks. So we really wanted to bring craft coffee to the shop while featuring local roasters.”

After finding some mild success with N+1 while it was located inside The Bike Shop, the Mackie’s realized they wanted more for their craft coffee dreams, and for N+1. “The coffee shop didn’t kick off as much with the public while being in The Bike Shop. But my husband and I always knew we wanted more from it. I think it may have been an intimidating experience to walk through all of the bikes looking for coffee when you’re not a cyclist - and you’re thinking, ‘where am I?’”

Naturally, when the Mackie’s heard the company next door to The Bike Shop was planning on moving out, they jumped on the opportunity to take this growing café concept of theirs, and give it its own space to grow. Today, four years later, N+1 takes up the corner building directly next to The Bike Shop. Now carrying itself with a space of its own, N+1 is full of regulars, serving them with coffee from local roasters such as Ethos and Patriot. N+1 is supporting the local community, and the community is giving that support right back, which is all that the Mackie’s have dreamt of.

“Our goal is really to make sure people feel comfortable,” said café manager, Danni Demalignon. “We want people to come back and see the same people behind the counter. It’s nice to see the same faces and learn who they are. And the same goes for our baristas behind the counter. We love seeing our regulars.”

Sit back and sip the coffee

In addition to the overall inviting atmosphere, N+1 features a record player and vinyls to spin your favorite tunes and perhaps order one more cup.

Enjoy fresh baked goods daily, such as this Tomato + Feta Galette, by Bandidas.

“We want people to come back and see the same people behind the counter. It’s nice to see the same faces and learn who they are. And the same goes for our baristas behind the counter. We love seeing our regulars.”

That kind of consistency is something N+1 offers that you might not get from other cafés. And while you’ll obtain that comfortable feeling from both the baristas and the atmosphere, you’ll also get it from the menu. “One of my favorite things I’ve heard from a customer is that drinking our vanilla spice latte is like taking a walk through Home Goods,” said Demalignon. “I smiled. That was a new one.”

Inside the café, N+1 is full of life. It’s full of all their regulars coming in and ordering their morning drinks. It’s full of all the many plants and greenery that find themselves in every corner of the shop, always in sight. It’s full of a special kind of morning sun that seems to paint itself over the entire interior. It feels relaxed, which was always the plan.

“I just wanted it to be kind of cozy and homey,” said Mackie. “I love greenery, so I knew I wanted to add a lot of live plants. I wanted it to be a cozy corner, and for people to feel comfortable here. I wanted it to be a place where you actually want to sit for a while and hang out.”

Danni Demalignon

N+1 Cafe Manager

Admittedly, the biggest question I had while sitting down with Meghan and her shop manager, Danni Demalignon, was about the name. Where does a name like N+1 come from?

An interesting formula to put on the storefront, Meghan had a simple explanation. “My husband Stewart and his buddy have this silly book they own of unwritten rules for cyclists.” explained Mackie. “And so, one of the rules states that the correct number of bikes to own is N+1. Pretty much saying that you always want to have one more. We thought that was pretty cool and connected the coffee bar back to the bike shop, so we named it N+1. I think N+1 makes so much sense with coffee as well because you always want just one more. So that’s where the name comes from.”

And it’s true, you do always want one more. Maybe that’s because the coffee is so good, or because coffee shops just have a way of bringing you in and keeping you there. Whether you’re sitting down for a conversation with a friend or sitting down with a book and some headphones seeking some alone time, coffee shops are not just staples, but pillars of our communities. They are where we start and sometimes even end our days, connecting communities and the people within them. They are atmospheric moments in our lives that bring us closer to one another, and even to ourselves. Helping us feel wired in, and connected to the community we find ourselves planted in or happen to be visiting.

Should you find yourself in Winter Haven or the greater Lakeland area––whether it be alone or amongst the company of an old friend––you should take a moment and stop by N+1. You’ll find great drinks made possible by local roasters and a couple of sharp baristas. But you’ll also find a place to gather. The “water cooler” of the community, you’ll find a place to recharge, refuel, and experience a relaxed moment where you are free to lower your guard and just be. What more could you ask for?