Lions Den Coffee

·13 min·1 clip

A former Bristol police officer explains why he left his job to open a Sicilian-style coffee shop in Southington.

The episode begins with host Alison Demers introducing guest Vinny Infante, owner of Lion's Den Coffee Shop in Southington. Vinny shares his background as a police officer in Bristol for 11-12 years and his decision to seek an exit strategy, leading to the coffee shop idea. He discusses his Sicilian and Italian culture, emphasizing his preference for espresso over black American coffee. The conversation touches on family origins in Sicily, with Vinny mentioning Franco Fornta and Priola. Vinny explains that the shop revolves around Italian and European coffee culture, aiming to create a community hub where people gather, similar to cafes in Italy. He describes the shop's location at 57 West Main Street in downtown Plantsville, easily accessible from I-84. The name Lion's Den is derived from Sicilian symbolism of strength and protection, with the logo incorporating a shield shape referencing his police background. The discussion moves to food offerings, including tiramisu, build-your-own cannoli boxes, and pistachio-filled croissants made with Italian-style dough. Vinny highlights the coffee products, such as cold brews developed over nine months without added sugar, and a Mexican mocha latte with cayenne pepper. He mentions using real Nutella in lattes and a house blend coffee roasted in Newington by Sucuzos, another Sicilian family. The shop uses high-quality ingredients like Luizzi Mozzarella and Boar's Head Meats for sandwiches, sourced through distributor Ace Endico. Vinny emphasizes quality standards and team incentives. He talks about community initiatives, including Back the Blue support for law enforcement, with plans for special edition coffee cans. The shop also engages with local sports teams and schools, such as teacher appreciation events. Vinny expresses ambitions to expand nationally, aiming to build a multi-billion dollar coffee company. The episode concludes with Alison encouraging listeners to visit the shop and check its website.

As heard by us

A Bristol officer's coffee shop story centered on espresso, cold brew testing, and local growth.

Community Access comes across as a grounded local profile, following Vinny Infante and Lion's Den Coffee Shop in Southington through the everyday details that make the place feel lived in.

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Why you'd press play

You get a coffee-shop origin story with Bristol police shifts, espresso, and a very stubborn cold brew.

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