Darkpour Cafe, the small coffee pop-up that has spent the last year tucked inside Bliss Small Batch Creamery in downtown DuPont, is closing that chapter and moving into its own space at The Hive Market. Owner Nicole Tomaselli says the cafe will occupy about a quarter of the market, with plans to open its espresso bar first and roll out a full food menu afterward.
The move comes after Darkpour spent roughly a year as what its owner calls a hidden gem inside Bliss, operating on a seasonal schedule tied to the ice cream shop's own hours, according to The News Tribune. Bliss Small Batch Creamery, located at 1520 Wilmington Drive per Mapquest, is open seasonally in DuPont and also runs a year-round location in University Place, offering traditional ice cream and gelato made with alternative milks. Under that arrangement, Bliss opened in the afternoon while Darkpour sold espresso in the morning, per the same report from the Tacoma paper.
Darkpour's own website confirms the cafe is currently closed as it makes the switch, telling customers, “We are closed for now, but well be back in September in our new spot!” According to darkpour.com, the cafe is setting up shop inside The Hive Market and plans to open its espresso bar before introducing its food menu. The News Tribune reports the new spot is expected to open within the next week and by October 1, with hours set for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day.
A Bigger Kitchen, A Bigger Menu
The new address is listed as 1495 Wilmington Drive, Suite 160, in DuPont, according to a Toast Tab listing for the cafe. That online menu already shows some of what's coming: a tahini and real maple syrup latte, a toasted coconut latte topped with whipped cream and salted caramel drizzle, and a salted honey espresso cold foam layered with coconut water or skim milk. There's also an oatmeal bowl finished with house-made brown sugar and cinnamon.
Tomaselli told the Tacoma paper the toasted coconut drink is called the Toasty Together, while the cold foam creation goes by the Salted Bebe Latte. She said her flavor combinations, including tahini and maple syrup, honey and ginger, and brown sugar and cinnamon, are built to complement the coffee rather than overpower it. On its about page, Darkpour says every coffee is crafted with new, unique flavors while the staples remain available for regulars who want something simpler, and that it sources its coffee and tea from local roasters and tea companies.
What The Hive Market Brings To The Table
The News Tribune reports The Hive Market is run by Tomaselli's partner's family and includes a community marketplace with consignment goods, a small grocery area, and artisan items from local makers. That fits the model the market established when it opened in downtown DuPont, described by The News Tribune as a new indoor marketplace featuring local artisan businesses. When the market debuted, owners Jennifer Maldonado and Norma Felix showed off wares including clothing, jewelry, home goods, pet goods, antiques, gift baskets and flowers, with permanent vendors like Flower and Vine, Fetched and Found, and The Book Mongers rounding out the space.
Once fully up and running, Darkpour plans to serve breakfast and lunch items including sandwiches and soups, along with pastries and treats made in house, per the Tacoma paper's reporting. Darkpour's about page echoes that ambition, stating the business intends to become “a larger operation, adding breakfast, lunch and baked goods” to its coffee lineup. The cafe also says it runs a program to commission local artists for its space, part of a broader emphasis on local sourcing that extends from its coffee beans to its collaborators.
One customer's take, posted to Apple Maps, gives a small preview of what regulars already like about the drinks: “Very yummy espresso and I like that it's real brown sugar, not syrup.” For now, DuPont coffee fans will have to wait for Darkpour's doors inside The Hive Market to officially open, with the cafe's own site promising a September return and the Tacoma paper pointing to a target as soon as the next week and no later than October 1.
