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This week’s spotlight: Black Pearl. A comfy, authentic, coffee shop that values the quality of its coffee. Black Pearl sits on 404 Plainsboro Road, a quick 8 minute drive from West Windsor and the perfect hub to relax, hang out, and enjoy some exceptional coffee.

Black Pearl was created almost 4 years ago in 2021, opened by Jazmine Moran, who co-manages along with her daughter, Maria. When Jazmine, a huge coffee lover, first came to America, she was disappointed to see that many coffee shops didn’t serve good coffee. To her, it was dissatisfying. “I don’t like black water,” she says plainly. “I want coffee.” But not just any coffee—quality coffee. She realized that rich, delicious coffee that went beyond the norm was hard to find--So she decided to create it herself.

What she had was a deep love and respect for coffee rooted in her upbringing. Back in her country, coffee was a large part of her culture. Her mother roasted and ground beans by hand, creating aromas and flavors that stuck in her memory forever. That’s the Pearl standard: coffee that is authentic, homemade, and delicious.

Black Pearl proudly serves Stumptown beans, roasted in Seattle and delivered fresh every month. With sourcing from around the world, Black Pearl ensures the coffee in your cup, whether a creamy latte or a bold cappuccino, is both satisfying and flavorful.

Prices are fair, starting at just $1.50 and capping at $12 for high-end drinks. But for her, it’s always been about value, rather than price. “It hurts me to pay $3 for bad coffee. But for good coffee? I don’t mind.”

Yet like many small business owners, especially immigrant women, she’s faced many obstacles. “It’s hard. As a foreigner, it’s like only 5% of people like me that make it. The rest don’t. Not because we don’t try, but because we don’t always have the opportunities.” She discusses economic hardship, navigating bureaucracy, and the challenges she still overcomes today to build something real in a world permeated with consumerism. But still, she pushes on, because Black Pearl is so much more than just a business; it’s her expression. Her passion. Her legacy.

But this dream isn’t staying small. Jazmine plans to expand to more locations, looking to places in Philly, Brooklyn, and even Princeton. Make sure you stay on the lookout for great coffee coming near you!

Black Pearl: What’s it Like?

The moment you enter Black Pearl, you’re greeted with a warm, welcoming environment that implores you to taste its delicious coffee. “They’re people who care about their health, about what they consume, about actual quality. Our customers come because they’re looking for something good.”

Not only is their coffee freshly delivered and premium coffee roast, but their food menu is all made from scratch. Everything is made fresh every three days, using real ingredients. “We like to know what we’re doing, you know, what we’re feeding people. No preservatives, nothing fake,” Jazmine shares. Each cup of coffee, sandwich, and pastry here is made with the same dedication and passion that opened Black Pearl. Their large variety of items gives the chance to come in every day and try something new, expecting the unexpected, and to be guaranteed a heavy helping of delight.

“I’m grateful.” remarks Jazmine. Grateful for the opportunity to share, to create, to exist in a country that, for all its flaws, gave her a space to bring her dream to life, and her coffee to the people.

Customer Reviews/Remarks:

“She is the morning happiness. Her smile is a good smile. She makes my morning.”

(That’s how one customer described Jazmine. And if you’ve ever been to Black Pearl, you probably understand why.)

“The coffee is complex and rich. I can tell it’s good coffee.”

“It’s nice and sweet on my tongue, yet a very delicious coffee bitter that hits the spot.”

“I can taste the notes of fresh espresso with this delicious aftertaste.”

“I can very easily say that is the best coffee I've ever had.”

Black Pearl: 10/10

This mini-series has been inspired by my own personal love for coffee, and the belief that our community deserves the best when it comes to what we eat. I have strived to uphold that belief, not only through my writing, but through my interviews as well. And it’s small coffee shops like Black Pearl that make me even more grateful for those like Jazmine Moran and Black Pearl Staff for bringing such wonderful coffee to our community!