Cupcake interview with Owners of Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee

Back in February, during a visit to Miami, I was lucky enough to try out the pretty new bakery Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee in Coral Gables (specifically, 1411 Sunset Drive). They specialize in, yes, cupcakes and coffee. I myself don't drink coffee, but even though my friends and I had just had lunch and cupcakes down the road, we got some cupcakes to go. They didn't have a ton of flavor options, so we tried, from what I recall, coconut, vanilla/vanilla, vanilla frosting/chocolate cake, and one with chocolate frosting and I believe chocolate cake. Sorry, it's been a little while, but we all really enjoyed them and the vanilla was a truly rich vanilla, the kind that's a little off-white and clearly made with real vanilla. I tasted them all and they were all very rich, and rather large cupcakes; not massive, but somewhere between an average sized cupcake (say, one from NYC's Sugar Sweet Sunshine) and the jumbo ones they sell at Sprinkles. (How I wish there were a standard sizing so we could say "large" or "medium" and all know what sizes we were discussing - I think the only size this works for is "mini.")

Owners Kristine and Jose also have a very generous offer to our readers, made in the comments to an earlier post. For the month of April 2008, if you go to their shop and say the magic words "Cupcakes Take the Cake," you get a free cup of coffee! How's that for customer service? Here is Jose's entire comment, reposted:

Hi everyone, this is Jose Cuellar from Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee in Coral Gables, FL. We appreciate all the comments (both critical and supportive) on this board regarding our cupcake and coffee shop, and will use them to improve both our service and of course our cupcakes. About our cupcakes and coffee...our cupcake recipe was developed by my wife Kristine constantly looking to satisfy her own sweet tooth. These recipes where based on a family heirloom passed down from her grandmother. Our ingredients are the highest quality we can find (pure Belgian chocolates, vanilla extracts from Madagascar supplied by specialty suppliers) and our cupcakes are baked fresh daily, our coffee is a custom blend of regional Colombian beans exclusive to Buttercream Cupcakes, as well as other exclusive blends. We just opened in February and have already made improvements to our service and cupcakes based on your customer comments. For those of you who haven't yet visited us in Coral Gables I would like to extend a special offer: get a free cup of brewed coffee when you mention the secret words "cupcakes take the cake". This is a limited time offer (and the obvious rules of fair play apply - 1 brewed coffee per person) until the end of April, 2008 (or else we'll go out of business!). Again, thank you for your support, and be sure to say hello when you come for your 'cupcakes take the cake' cupcake and coffee. Best wishes - Jose and Kristine "


Me with my four-year-old friend Tashi in front of Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee

Name: Kristine Graulich & Jose F. Cuellar /Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee
Age: Kristine - 31, Jose -32
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Occupation: Kristine- baker/owner, Jose- manager/owner
URL: www.buttercreamcupcakes.com

How long have you been baking, and how did you come up with the concept for Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee?

Kristine has been baking ever since she was a teenager. She has always had a sweet tooth, and her house was always full of fresh baked goods baked by her mother, Jane Graulich, and/or grandmother, Elizabeth Langel, her inspiration, who she has given her a lot of baking tips). Kristine has always wanted to open a cupcake shop ever since she went to Magnolia Bakery in New York over 7 years ago, and since baking was always fun for her the idea was always growing. As for the coffee part of Buttercream, I have always wanted to open a coffee shop ever since I was in high school, and worked with the Colombian Coffee Federation as a barista.

How did you decide on the location?

We decided on this location because its one of the few in Miami with a neighborhood feel to it.

You are located next to an ice cream store; do you think being so close to them helps your business?

Yes, it does. Being next to Whip'n Dip Ice cream shoppe is certainly a plus. They have the best ice cream ever, and as it turns out the two businesses complement each other. Sometimes people will buy a cupcake and go dunk it in ice cream next door, or come to buy a coffee (for the parents) and buy the kids ice cream and cupcakes.

What’s unique about your cupcakes?

Our cupcakes are unique because they are baked fresh daily on premises, we use natural juices and zest, the highest quality Belgian and French chocolates, as well as the best vanilla extracts we can find.

Why do cupcakes and coffee go so well together?

It’s a great mix for the family, because the parents can order a coffee beverage (latte, cappuccino, mocha, etc... we have a full coffee bar), and enjoy it with their cupcake, and the kids can order a cupcake with a cold glass of milk or frosted beverage.

Do most customers buy both, or just purchase one?

At the beginning they where mostly focusing on buying cupcakes, but as the word spread that we have a great coffee shop, people (mostly adults) started buying something from coffee bar along with their cupcakes.

What’s your busiest time of the day and week?

The after-school crowd and the evening crowd. We are open till 9 pm Monday-Thursday and 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.



What are your best-selling cupcake flavors so far, and do you have plans to introduce more?

The bestselling is Vanilla, Red Velvet, and Vanilla Oreo. Yes, we do have plans to introduce more flavors in the near future, and once in a while will add a flavor that is not on the menu.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of running Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee?

Our least favorite part is the lack of sleep, but our favorite part is that we are fulfilling a long time dream, and this is very rewarding to both of us.

What do you think the perfect cupcake requires?

A denser moist cake and a buttercream that accents the cake perfectly.

Why do you think cupcakes have become so popular lately?

I think its because they are so portable, yet elaborate, and it reminds everybody of their childhood.



And now for some personal questions…

How often do you eat cupcakes?

Every day.

What's the best thing about eating cupcakes?

Knowing that you baked them and they taste so good.

What's your favorite type of cupcake?

Kristine- Chocolate/Chocolate.

Jose-Lime.

How do cupcakes compare/contrast to other baked goods for you?

We like how they are easily portable (no fork or knife required), and it’s a precise portion.

Is there any innovation you'd like to see made to the cupcake that would improve it for you?

No

Do you bake your own cupcakes? Or (even better) have someone who bakes them for you?

We bake our own.

What's your first cupcake-related memory?

Kristine - When she was six she decorated cupcakes with her mother for Christmas.

What's the most fun you've ever had with a cupcake?

When Kristine gets to decorate cupcakes for the holidays.

Do you have anything else to add?

We hope to see you at our location in Coral Gables, Florida! Thanks. Kristine & Jose