As Alexis Jensen prepared to welcome her newborn this summer, she and her husband, Joe, were also brewing another creation — Sweet Harbor Coffee.

The Roslyn café opened in early October after eight months of approvals, permits, and construction. With a baby and a new business, the couple jokes that they’re now parents twice over.

“People say that we had two babies, and I think that’s a good way to describe it,” Alexis said.

Joe added that when his daughter smiles at him after a rough night at work, “all the bad feelings melt away.” The two already imagine the day they’ll tell her stories about this whirlwind season — prepping the shop, running on little sleep, and making it all happen together.

Sweet Harbor Coffee sits in the heart of Roslyn, Alexis’ hometown. After seven years in Brooklyn, she and Joe moved back to Long Island to start their next chapter.

“This is definitely a coming-home moment for me,” she said.

— all photos of Joe and Alexis Jensen and Sweet Harbor Coffee were taken by Alexandra Spergel/courtesy

Dreams brewed here

Growing up, Alexis always thought a coffee shop would be the perfect addition to the village. When she saw a storefront open up, she jumped at the chance.

“It was definitely one of my lifelong dreams to open a coffee shop,” she said.

That dream began when she worked at Joe Coffee Company while in grad school and fell in love with the craft.

“I learned a lot about the farming aspects of coffee,” she said, “but what I really loved was how the shop connected with the local community.”

In Brooklyn, she and Joe became regulars at neighborhood cafés. They loved how each one served as a gathering place — part workspace, part social hub.

“For me, I didn’t grow up dreaming about opening a coffee shop like my wife,” Joe said. “But after seven years in Brooklyn, I really came to appreciate it. It kind of gave us both a spark.”

Alexis, who’s worked in marketing for a decade, said she was always drawn to that creative energy. “I’d meet people working on cool projects, sometimes even collaborate,” she said. “That sense of connection was something I wanted to bring to our own shop.”

Brooklyn style, LI soul

The couple designed Sweet Harbor Coffee to feel like a blend of Long Island summer and Brooklyn vintage. One photo in particular inspired the look — a black-and-white image called August in Amagansett, showing two kids skateboarding down a sunny street.

“You can feel the energy of that photo,” Alexis said. “You can almost hear the song playing in the background. We wanted to keep that same vibe throughout the space.”

That vision comes to life in the boho-beach lighting, exposed brick, and orange-and-brown checkered wall tiles. Every design choice — down to the art and furniture — reflects their personalities.

“When you walk in, if you know us, you’ll say, ‘This is so them,’” Joe said.

Music is a big part of that atmosphere, too. Joe, a lifelong musician, curates daily playlists that range from classic rock to soul and R&B, depending on the mood.

The menu highlights espresso-based drinks and rotating seasonal specialties, like a maple sea salt latte and dirty cardamom rose chai. Each cup comes with latte art, from hearts to leaves, “because the little details matter,” Alexis said.

“The response from the community has been really welcoming,” Joe said. “We’ve met local business owners, high school kids, young parents like us — it’s been amazing.”

Alexis said she’s already bonded with other new moms who’ve moved back from the city. “It’s cool seeing people relate to our story,” she said.

Future plans include making their own syrups and introducing ceremonial-grade, single-origin matcha drinks. “We’re not cutting the recipe,” Alexis said proudly. “It’s pure, high-quality matcha, and we’re super proud of it.”

They also plan to expand their retail section with curated, New York–based items from brands and shops they love.

And as for the team behind the counter? “We worked really hard to hire a great group of baristas,” Alexis said. “I’m already so proud of them.”

“We’re just happy to give the love back,” Joe added, “and serve the best coffee we can.”