Building the Valley: Upper Burrell’s new 3740 Cafe offers combo of coffee and community

It’s a family affair at 3740 Cafe in Upper Burrell.

Located along the winding and rural Milligantown Road, 3740 Cafe seems like it’s in the middle of nowhere. It is anything but.

Mike and Christy Albert strategically chose the one-story building at 3740 Milligantown Road because it is within two miles of the Penn State New Kensington and the Westmoreland Industrial Park.

The cafe location is also strategic for the family of four. Mike and Christy Albert grew up in nearby New Kensington, meeting when they were 8 years old. They now live in Winfield, Butler County, and have been married for 24 years.

“We always wanted to open a business,” said Christy Albert, 43. “Since we grew up around here, we thought, ‘Why not get back to where we came from,’ ” she said.

There was another reason the couple wanted to work in the area: Their two children, Kane, 22, and Ally, 20, are students at Penn State New Kensington.

The coffee shop is a family business in the truest sense. All four family members adhere to a work shift rotation to keep the shop staffed. Each contributes some special talent to the business.

The elder Alberts offer business acumen and knowledge of the area. Mike Albert gutted the building and secured local rough-cut pine to turn into customized countertops in addition to other work.

The Albert children bring their expertise in coffee to the business.

Kane knows the finer points of brewing and the technicalities of the coffee-making process.

The compressed goodness from the specialty espresso machine from Italy is added to an array of coffee beverages, which is up to 34 flavors, at the cafe.

Ally knows the nuances of the assortment of flavors and knows many customers will want a chocolate raspberry latte — the top seller. The smoothies are big with patrons as well, she said.

Another major reason for selecting Upper Burrell as their business location was to give back to the community by providing a clean, quiet space with locally sourced products and Wi-Fi, the couple said.

“The coffee shop is for the community, and it’s for us as well. We’re ‘people people,’ ” Mike Albert said.

The fresh-baked goods are supplied by Mazziotti Bakery of Lower Burrell. The coffee, with varieties from around the world, is roasted by Allegheny Coffee and Tea Exchange in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

“We love the people here and to be part of this community,” said Mike Albert.

Ally observed that she would never have known the people who are regulars at the shop if she wasn’t working there.

Locals visit the shop every day, and that gives the family a purpose in the community, they said.

The shop opened in late January, and customers are flocking to the new community hub. Students and workers make up the bulk of the coffee aficionados.

The coffee shop offers student and veteran discounts. First responders get their coffee for free.

The family plans to expand the menu, the parking lot and the back patio area this summer.