Hopscotch Coffee & Kitchen, celebrating 10 years in Bloomington, began with former owner Jane Kupersmith and the husband-and-wife-team of Erin Tobey and Jeff Grant. Today, Tobey and Grant run the operations; he primarily oversees the back of the house and roastery, while Tobey focuses on the aesthetic and service in the front. Over the last decade, the roastery has grown from a java joint to a full restaurant. Today’s locals and travelers can sip their 100 percent direct-trade coffee while enjoying freshly made scrambles, bowls and sandwiches in a joyful space.
What made you want to become a coffee roaster?
From my perspective, I’ve been peripheral to the process; Jeff started the coffee shop with Jane. My contribution has been interiors, menu design and working on the aesthetics of the place. We had come from being in the service industry, having good bosses and not-so-great bosses, so we wanted to create a place we both felt good about, and more represented our values. I was mainly a cheerleader in the early days, though I did learn how to use the espresso machine. I painted a mural on the wall and helped pick out the fonts, whatever it was.
What is your favorite type of coffee drink, and why?
I will enjoy a latte. Hopscotch makes a Jack-o-Lantern latte, which is our version of seasonal pumpkin spice. I love a nice latte.
What is your favorite food and drink pairing?
We have a breakfast dish called the New Traditional, with eggs or tofu. I have eggs over medium with toast, our breakfast potatoes and black coffee. It feels so familiar and comforting; that feels like the perfect pairing to me.
What is your favorite thing to cook for yourself and your family?
I love making breakfast: waffles and scrambled eggs. Jeff’s family has a recipe for haystack eggs: You shred potatoes, crack an egg and then bake it in the oven for about 10 minutes, adding cheese. We use veggie bacon, something our kid will enjoy. We have a 7-year-old, so I love making breakfast on the weekends.
What items do you always have in your fridge?
I like Irish butter right now. Strawberries, arugula and kale are some excellent staples.
If you could choose your favorite place to visit, where would that be, and what would you have?
The most romantic and culinary thing I can think of is being in Italy and having a spritz, something fizzy and alcoholic.
If you could choose a favorite place in Indiana to visit, where would that be located, and what would you drink and eat?
We like going on little day trips to French Lick or Nashville, Ind. We love to drive to Indianapolis for the Children’s Museum, the zoo or Newfields and then get something delicious at Amelia’s, like baked goods and freshly made bread, to bring home.
