STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.—Three years in, Redemption Cafe on Forest Avenue is carving out its place in Staten Island’s coffee scene with handmade syrups, fresh‑brewed coffee and a welcoming atmosphere that extends well beyond its faith‑based beginnings.
The café at 572 Forest Ave., once the Mustard Seed and, before that, a vape shop, is owned by Vincent Funaro with business partner Pierre Rueca, who leads the culinary side.
Vincent Furnaro jumps in behind the counter to make a fresh-brewed espresso drink. Beans are roasted by Unique, a coffee importer on Richmond Terrace, also in West Brighton. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
“Redemption Cafe has two meanings,” Funaro said during a recent visit. “A lot of us know each other from church, and the former name was the Mustard Seed. The idea was that from the mustard seed grows Redemption Cafe. Now we’re here, and our mission is to redeem the coffee culture on Staten Island by giving excellent drinks, very delicious food, and a vibe you can’t get anywhere else.”
A cold brewed coffee with cream gets a burst of flavor from the syrup of the month—peppercorn and pomegranate—which has a bright, pleasant kick from the aromatic spice.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Unlike chain coffee shops, Redemption Cafe brews each cup of regular coffee to order, a three-to-five-minute process that ensures freshness. The café also makes all of its flavor syrups from scratch, including caramel, vanilla, cinnamon and pistachio. Seasonal flavors rotate monthly; raspberry peppercorn is currently featured.
“One of our main things is homemade flavors and syrups,” Funaro said. “If you order a caramel latte, your caramel is made from scratch. Every drink has the same exact measurements. We’re not rushing through drinks like a major chain would.”
Museli is a specialty of the house. Here it is arranged with cashews, almonds and pistachios plus fresh fruit and finished with naturally flavored wildflower honey. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The food menu includes a signature take on the classic New York bacon, egg and cheese, featuring a cheese French omelette with cheddar, bacon and sriracha ketchup on a croissant. Customers can also choose sourdough or pumpernickel bread. The café offers muesli topped with agave and fresh fruit, along with weekend sandwich specials.
Redemption Cafe sources its beans from local roasters including Unique Roasters and Plaza House. The café selects different beans for espresso drinks, hot coffee and cold brew. “We don’t want to use the same bean for iced coffee as our hot coffee,” Funaro said.
The sign is a holdover from the former Mustard Seed Café, even as the shop now prides itself on welcoming a broad and diverse audience.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Employee Serena Lau demonstrated the brewing process, explaining that each fresh brew steeps for several minutes before serving.
The café’s name reflects both its origins and its ethos.The owners met through church, but Funaro emphasized Funaro emphasized that the space is open to everyone. “It’s not exclusively faith-based,” he said. “We have people from all walks of life who come in and enjoy our stuff. We’re very proud of the environment we’ve created here.”
Nancy Murphy is a familiar face at the café, greeting customers with a warm smile and an easy, welcoming spirit.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Hot chocolate ranges from $5.25 to $5.75 depending on size, and the café attracts customers from across Staten Island as well as Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Viewers watching the Facebook Live broadcast recognized Nancy Murphy, a familiar face at the café. Murphy is an anchor of the space, greeting guests by name and, like Lau, appreciating the steady stream of repeat customers.
From a mustard seed to a bustling café, Redemption is still growing—and so is its community.