Welcoming vibe, good coffee await at Oakmont's Moonbeam Cafe

A new coffee shop in Oakmont is brewing up friendly vibes.

“I hate going into cafes and restaurants and the wait staff is not warm and welcoming,” says owner/barista Nina Komaniak. “No coffee snobs here.”

Perhaps the youngest business owner in Oakmont, 21-year-old Oakmont resident Komaniak replaced the typical collegiate career path with entrepreneurship, opening Moonbeam Cafe late last year.

“I get to follow my dream and passion at such a young age,” says the Riverview High School graduate. “I really hope it inspires people to do what they want to do.”

Honing her barista skills for more than three years while working in Pittsburgh, Komaniak says she saw a need for a cafe with really great espresso.

“It was always hard to find a cafe with knowledgeable baristas with great attitudes and a clean, sleek and comfortable place,” Komaniak says. “This is how Moonbeam was born.”

Purchasing and preparing coffee from direct-trade, small, family-owned farms in Colombia, Ethiopia and Guatemala, Komaniak wants her customers to not take their cup of coffee for granted.

“People from third-world countries spend their whole lives harvesting the coffee bean,” Komaniak says. “Behind that comes a lot of work and passion.”

Moonbeam Cafe shares space with clothing boutique Urbana, specializing in affordable woman’s clothing and accessories.

But Komaniak says Moonbeam will occupy the entire space when Urbana moves out.

Moonbeam’s espresso is locally roasted in the Strip District by DeFer Coffee and Tea.

Dark Moon Roasters of Nevada and Heart Roasters, based in Portland, are two independent coffees offered at Moonbeam.

Komaniak blends all of her own syrups in-house, using only organic ingredients and is known for her creative artistic foam designs on her lattes.

Customer favorites include the Orange Spice Latte and a good shot of espresso.

Moonbeam offers hot chocolate and teas for the noncoffee crowd.

“I fell in love with the art of specialty coffee and the culture of cafes,” Komaniak says. “During my time as a barista, I have watched many human connections be made over coffee.”

Drink prices range from $1.50 to $4.50.

Limited food items such as biscotti and desserts are offered, but Komaniak stresses Moonbeam’s focus will remain on coffee.

“Oakmont already has such great food offerings,” she says.

Frequent Moonbeam customer Caryn Cebulak often orders a special latte.

“I love the dairy-free oat milk lattes,” Cebulak says. “Moonbeam always has lots of options.”

Future plans include expanding to accommodate more than the 10 or so spots available now to patrons.

“I plan on adding comfy and lush seating to accommodate more folks and intend to add a small platform for small performances and events we want to host,” Komaniak says.