BERLIN— Sweet dreams became a tasty reality for two sisters who grew up in their parents’ bakery and officially opened Cozy Cup Bakery & Café in Berlin.
“We've been dreaming about this for years I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” said Carla Torres, co-owner of Cozy Cup Bakery & Café. “For so many years we've had Pinterest boards of how we wanted everything to look, what kind of pastries we wanted and stuff like that.”
Sisters Genesis Neysmith and Carla Torres, owners of Cozy Cup Bakery & Café, were born and raised in Meriden. Although throughout their childhood they were always watching their mother cook, Neysmith said, “they never thought that they would be doing something like this,” until their dad opened the first family bakery.
Torres, entering high school and Neysmith in middle school at the time, would head to Panaderia Pan Del Sinai in Willimantic bright and early on the weekends and spend the whole day there with their parents, they said. As Torres, Neysmith and their two other siblings grew up, so did their involvement in the shop.
Taste of Connecticut
The two sisters’ desire to open the business slowly began to brew after they both ventured off to do their own thing. Torres chased higher education and continued working with their dad managing not only Panaderia Pan Del Sinai, but the other two locations he opened, Pan Del Sinai II in Hartford and Pan Del Sinai Bakery in Meriden. Neysmith went into the dental field for almost a decade and aspired to be a dental hygienist. Starting off as a dental assistant and doing financial work in the field as well, she went back to school, but she and her sister were just too overwhelmed with the thoughts of sweet treats.
“My sister and I started looking into it and when we were looking at different locations, we came across this one, and we got very lucky because there was already a bakery here. So, it worked out. Really, it was such a blessing,” Neysmith said.
The duo signed the lease at 259 New Britain Road in September 2024. It was formerly Family's Bakery and Restaurant which closed its doors over a year ago. The sisters spent about three months turning the location into a “modern and cozy” space that makes customers “feel warm and invited,” Neysmith said.
“The town of Berlin has been waiting a long time for a bakery to call its own, and we are thrilled that we have two sisters, essentially a second-generation family opening a bakery here in town,” said Berlin Economic Development Director Chris Edge.
Cozy Cup’s menu includes house-made cakes, pastries, pancakes, omelettes, salads, hot and iced coffee and more.
“We carry two main breads as well Pan De Agua and Pan Sabao which we're getting from my parents; so, we’re still keeping it in the family,” Neysmith said. “My whole family is very close and are always there for each other.”
Some of the popular items, according to Neysmith, include the Cubano sandwich which comes with pulled pork and ham; the tres leches cake which is a sponge cake and quesito which is like a cheese Danish.
The café also offers the option for custom orders or larger platters for events like birthday parties or holiday events.
According to Neysmith the café will be incorporating a lunch menu which will include items like rice and beans, chicken, and pulled pork; more types of breads; smoothies; specialty drinks for the holidays and more.
“We noticed that our parents’ bakery is more Hispanic foods, so we have a lot of Hispanic things. But we want to make sure we're doing what the customers want so we’re making sure we’re listening to customers and incorporating those items as well,” Torres said.
Cozy Cup Bakery & Café, which is open Monday-Friday from 6 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturdays from 6 a.m.- 2 p.m and Closed Sundays, held its grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting on Feb. 6.
“I really couldn't have asked for a better partner on this journey especially after me having a baby and everything too she's been there,” Neysmith said. “And with all her experience working with my dad I definitely learned a lot from her.”