Best barking coffee around

Otto, a just-over-1-year-old puppy, is the face of an exciting new brew company based in East Islip.

Otto’s Coffee Shop is Touro law student Alexa Zuppa’s creation that came at a time when everyone was needing some caffeine and puppy love.

“During the pandemic, it was really difficult for my family. I wasn’t working and my mom wasn’t working,” said Zuppa. “So we were talking around the table one night and said how everyone loves coffee and that a coffee business would be a great endeavor.”

With Otto being half-Siberian husky, half-Pomeranian, he had enough energy to be a caffeine spokesperson. Zuppa and family members went through an elaborate taste-testing mission to find just the right beans and finally settled on a supplier from Hawaii.

“We get the beans already ground up and then package into our merchandise containers,” said Zuppa.

With nearly a dozen choices, Otto’s Coffee has a flavor for everyone, from the strictly black, Otto’s Original Roast, to the more dessert-like Otto’s Pup-a-nilla Nut Brew.

Not a coffee drinker?

There are teas as well with Otto’s Mixed Dog Tea, a good nighttime or easy afternoon drink that should prove popular with the holistic yoga crowd.

For traditional tea drinkers, there is Otto’s Breakfast Tea, a robust black tea that is perfect in an English teapot with scones and clotted cream.

The inventive coffees have become popular pairings with local bakeries, with the most recent collab being a sweet foray into café life with Sweet and Savoured. Otto’s Coconut Crazy coffee was presented with a coco-mocha s’mores scone and was a hit with patrons.

Zuppa has also been growing brand recognition by attending outdoor markets throughout the South Shore. Otto’s Coffee Shop (sometimes with Otto) is a staple at the Patchogue Outdoor Market, where they have set up weekly.

Ten percent of proceeds from sales go to support local animal shelters, and the website and social media pages are often updated with pictures of “Otto’s Friends,” the dogs of customers.

Most recently, Otto’s obtained a personalized Ford Transit van to enable them to do parties as a vendor.

“The van is fully equipped with multiple coffee stations so we can serve large crowds,” said Zuppa. “Otto’s Coffee would be a great addition to your party with drinks for everyone.”