I don’t think I will ever drink iced coffee. Ever. And I feel very confident about that. It’s not that I’m anti-cold coffee — if that’s your jam, I won’t judge — but my heart belongs to a hot, steamy cup of coffee. After spending time in Italy one year, I became a full-on Moka pot devotee, insisting on making my daily cappuccino just so. Am I a coffee snob? Maybe. Life is way too short to drink bad coffee, right?
Which is why I was so excited to sit down with New Harvest Coffee & Spirits, part of New Harvest Coffee Roasters, a Rhode Island-based business led by CEO Rik Kleingfeldt. Rik is a champion of excellent coffee and was an early adopter of the coffee exchange model — a philosophy rooted in sustainable, responsible business practices. New Harvest started in Pawtucket, relocating in 2020 to the Farm Fresh Rhode Island hub on Sims Avenue in PVD, where it is now based.
The café itself was born out of a desire to connect more directly with the community. The first New Harvest café opened in 2015 in the historic Arcade, the oldest indoor mall in the United States. Its current space at Farm Fresh serves as both a coffee bar by day and a creative spot for cocktails and mocktails at night. It’s not just about beverages — it’s about conversation, connection, and creating a “third place” — that magic spot that isn’t home or work, but where the community hangs out.
New Harvest is deeply invested in relationship-driven approaches when it comes to sourcing beans. All of their beans are bought directly from farmers, skipping the middlemen entirely. One such partner is Adolfo Reyes, a Honduran farmer they’ve been working with since 2010. These personal relationships matter — New Harvest employees travel to farms around the world, and the roaster makes sure it pays growers more than fair-trade prices for their beans.
But coffee isn’t without its challenges. General manager Ryan Zins shared with me during our recent chat that the industry is feeling a bit pressured: rising demand meets limited supply, climate change impacts growing regions, and political shifts — including tariffs by who-we-will-not-name — can make imports more expensive. Yet, New Harvest remains steadfast in its mission: connect people to exceptional coffee, support farmers fairly, and create meaningful spaces here in RI.
One of the fun features at Farm Fresh RI is a peek behind the curtain, so to speak — when you stop by the stores located there, you get to see how things are actually made. This includes the New Harvest barista training classes, taught by Britta, one of New Harvest’s expert staff members. Whether you’re an aspiring barista or a DIY coffee fan who wants to step up your home brewing game, these classes teach you how to pull the perfect shot of espresso and steam milk like a pro. (I have to admit, learning to use one of those shiny espresso machines has been on my bucket list for years — stay tuned.)
Ryan, who grew up in Pawtucket, brings a mixology background to his role, making him the perfect person to oversee New Harvest’s day-to-night café and bar operations. They want to make space where digital nomads, writers, and neighbors can come together and feel part of something.
In the evening, the café turns into a casual hangout for those who want a seasonal cocktail — or, for those of us skipping alcohol, a mocktail. (As a newly minted teetotaler, this thrills me.) Drinks like the Rum-Nada or the Valley-Slide prove that zero-proof cocktails can be just as fun as those that are full-leaded.
And of course, there’s food. Along with locally sourced pastries and bagels, there’s a rumored breakfast sandwich in the works for later this year. Seasonal menu items are designed with staff input, which emphasizes the collaborative spirit of the place.
New Harvest is also serious about innovation. It explores everything from better water filtration systems, to reducing environmental impact, to experimenting with blends creating flavor notes, similar to winemaking. Staff even developed a freeze-dried instant coffee that I suspect will actually taste good based on the coffee I have already enjoyed there. This might be the perfect travel accessory for this adventure broad.
Water conservation is front of mind for Ryan, who is keenly aware of the massive amounts of water involved in bringing a single cup of coffee to life. Taking part in the entire process — from seed to cup — gives them a deeper perspective when considering the industry’s future.
New Harvest is also committed to nurturing community creativity. Their café hosts local events like monthly Providence Gambit chess club gatherings and even Providence Roller Derby meetups. They also dedicate wall space to showcasing local artists, giving customers fun eye candy to enjoy while sipping their lattes.
Their mission is simple: create a welcoming space where coworkers, customers, and neighbors can come together, sip something delicious, and maybe even brew up an idea that changes the world.
Closed on Mondays. See their website for hours. NewHarvestCoffee.com.