Pipers Tea & Coffee
3701 South Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63109
314-282-0060
cupofpipers.com
Husband and wife Peter and Amber Barnett, originally hailing from England, searched endlessly for a good cup of Earl Grey in Western Kentucky. In an exhaustive exploration to no avail, the couple concluded that they would need to produce their own version of the traditional English tea. Their creation would utilize “an Englishman’s taste and a French lady’s nose.” After more than a year of research, being fully immersed in the world of fine loose-leaf teas and working with talented tea farmers around the world, a new take on a classic was born. A combination of high-quality black tea from Asia, silver needle from China, and Sicilian bergamot from Italy resulted in “the finest Earl Grey we could blend,” Amber remarks. The dynamic duo would invite their American friends over for tea, which resulted in the guests’ asking where they could buy this intriguing Earl Grey. The instant attraction that people had to their signature tea stirred an idea inside the couple to start a beverage business, and so they followed through and did just that in 2012.
When presented with the prospect of opening a shop in a historic bottling plant in Paducah, Kentucky, they ran with the opportunity to bring the unique concept of Pipers Tea & Coffee to life in a space much larger than their home. “In England, tea is steeped in so much history and tradition, dating back to the 17th century, that most English people have their specific type of tea they stick to and enjoy,” Peter explains. “Whereas in America, drinking a wide range of hot specialty teas wasn’t popular until the late 20th century. We found that people here are open and willing to try different teas and are eager to learn more about its rich legacy, which the space in the bottling plant gave us the perfect opportunity to share its heritage as well as our passion for all things tea.”
After a period of working on the Kentucky location, Peter and Amber decided to expand the business into St. Louis in 2021 and capitalize on the tea sector. They found the ideal location in an area of town that needed revitalizing and uplifting, so that the venture is much more than enjoying a hot elixir but also aiding in restoring a community. According to Amber, the concept of Pipers is inspired by “penny universities” and embodies a “third place.” Penny universities are what the first coffeehouses in England in the 17th century were called, where for the cost of a cup of coffee (a penny), one could engage in stimulating conversation and learn from the people around you. The term “third place,” which was coined by the sociologist Ray Oldenburg in the 1980s, refers to places where people spend time between home (“first place”) and work (“second place”). They are locations where engaging dialogue happens, ideas are exchanged, and relationships are built.
With a wonderfully contemporary aesthetic with sleek lines, modern furnishings, and playful light fixtures, this often-sun-drenched café invites coffee connoisseurs and tea fanatics to sip their preferred brew, work in a comfortable setting, and freely converse and meet with others. Sourcing only the highest-quality ingredients for their small-batch loose-leaf teas, the brand’s 30 offerings consist of single-origin teas, black teas, green teas, white teas, and more. The most sought-after ones in their inventory include Pipers Chai (a spice-forward take on traditional chai), Pipers Grey (a combination of bergamot, vanilla, and cornflower blossoms, resulting in a richly flavorful and creamy infusion), and herbals like Orchard and Blue Raspberry.
With a simple mission to serve the community with great tea and coffee and truly thriving in their efforts, it’s apparent that the pick-me-up destination not only fits in well in multiple locations but has transformed the landscape for other beverage entrepreneurs to follow suit. “It’s been said that tea is, essentially, a journey of water, which we feel is such a beautiful poetic sentiment, as we came from England to Western Kentucky and are now in St. Louis on this great journey with tea, taking its rich history and tradition on a modern adventure,” Amber states. “Who knows where it will lead us next!”
Pipers Tea & Coffee’s St. Louis store is open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Their teas can additionally be purchased online.
