For a taste of the fine coffee houses like that of Café Einstein or Literaturhaus in Germany, one only needs to drive to Mount Oliver in Pittsburgh, minutes from Downtown, Oakland, or South Side to the ECHT Coffeehouse. The firehouse turned European-style coffee house with micro-roastery has a welcoming vibe, relaxing music, and high-quality coffee and food. James Tyler and his team offer contemporary bistro-style small plates and desserts and elevated comfort food. James and husband, Jȍrg, have incorporated the love and design of their second home in Berlin, Germany, and travels to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa into ECHT. Tyler acquired his cues for cooking from American, European, and international cuisine. He also adds a unique twist on southern comfort food he learned to cook from his mother, like delicious grits & greens with a side of lardons! In love and memory of Tyler’s mother, ECHT had soft openings on special dates in February and March 2022 to pay homage to her Homegoing services.
Grits & Greens
Tyler will continue to commemorate the cherished spirit of his mother as he and the team host special events. One event will include a candlelight dinner, where guests will be escorted up the craftsmen made spiral staircase to enjoy a candlelight dining experience in a unique and inviting gallery atmosphere. ECHT also plans to host supper clubs and provide space for other special events. The ECHT Liquor Lab and Tasting Room will soon be available, where guests will go down the spiral staircase to find the tasting room, which will offer hand-crafted liquor and cocktails. If one comes at the right time, they can observe the owners distilling. The coffee house space is set within the ECHT Contracting Design and Build Shops. ECHT Craftsmen created the interior of the coffee house. Their work is showcased in the cabinets, shelving, furniture, light fixtures, chandeliers, and counter crafted with sunken-in appliances.
Jȍrg, Sheila, and Owner James Tyler
Tyler is from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and moved to Pittsburgh to attend the University of Pittsburgh. He continued in school full-time and worked the night shift to graduate from the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing. Tyler soon moved to upper-tier positions in Digestive GI Recovery and the Critical Care Unit. Tyler retired from a successful career with UPMC Shadyside for over 30 years, where he loved patient care. He received the “Above and Beyond Award” for his outstanding commitment to patient care service. “I’m excited about this next opportunity in life with ECHT. I look forward to providing a good service to the neighborhood. I want people to come in and enjoy the experience. I also want to maintain a diverse staff. It’s important for me to encourage more people of color to visit and work at ECHT and give back to our community,” Tyler said. ECHT’s location is 107 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15210. Call 412-576-4130 for additional information or visit their website at https://echt-coffee.com.
Turkish Coffee
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