Pictured above (L-R): Ylli Zhaveli (manager of Coffee Unique) and Adrian and Armani Kamberi (owners of Coffee Unique)

By Susan Miele

June 4, 2025: While the renovated Topps Bakery is making waves at one end of Pondfield Road, a new eatery is attracting visitors at the other. Coffee Unique, which opened its doors in December, offers café seating, an inventive menu of drinks, an extensive selection of desserts and pastries, and even a few “bells and whistles.”

While every coffee bar has a personality, Coffee Unique’s might be characterized, in part, as “Instagrammable.” From the wall of faux greenery and purple neon signage to the flavored coffee creations that present as red or blue, the visual effects are sure to inspire some photography.  Even the bathroom is visually striking, with a vision of an outdoor tree canopy looming over the black-tiled walls.

The menu offers traditional coffee-type drinks and pastries, as well as a few twists. King coffee, for instance, is adorned with edible gold flakes. The blue latte features blueberry powder, while the pink latte contains beet powder. The Unique smoothie is half ice cream and half fruit smoothie, separated vertically down the middle. These and other offerings convey the owners’ interest in creative concepts and presentation. For added flourish, customers can “print” an image of themselves in the foam of their coffee.

Owners Adrian and Armani Kamberi are brothers who came to the U.S. from Kosovo eight years ago. In Kosovo, Adrian oversaw a political television program. Upon arriving in New York, the brothers took odd jobs. Their first foray as entrepreneurs—a venture that is still ongoing—is in the line of fencing and decking. As connoisseurs of good coffee, they wanted to branch into the café business. They brought on Ylli Zhaveli to be their manager, having met him when he was bartending in Pelham. Zhaveli is also multi-talented, doubling as a piano and clarinet instructor.

The Kamberis’ wanted to bring something different to Bronxville, including “mixed culture” cuisine. Their own heritage is reflected in items such as burek—pastries filled with either spinach, cheese, or beef; mantia, which are filled with beef and cheese; and Balkan coffee. But the pastry case is a melting pot of sorts, with selections including Austrian apple strudel, Portuguese pastel de nata, crème brulee, cannoli, Japanese castella sponge, and baklava. Many of the baked goods are made by Balthazar.

What made the Kamberis choose Bronxville? “Bronxville is a really nice town. We love it. People walk around a lot; have high standards,” Adrian Kamberi said. “It’s a close-knit community. People are supportive, smart, polite, friendly. Our customers come from all over. We have many people who come every day; they become like family.”

Occupying the storefront previously housing Gramatan Travel, Coffee Unique offers extensive operating hours: 7:00 am-10:00 pm daily, 365 days a year.

“We might close earlier on some holidays,” Kamberi noted.

Coffee Unique

69 Pondfield Road

834-450-0001

www.coffeeunique.com