White Hart Cafe celebrates one year of new ownership and vision under Daniel Coco

The White Hart Café, a favorite downtown Lynchburg study destination for students, recently celebrated one year under new ownership.

Daniel Coco and his wife took the responsibility of owning a coffee shop and café knowing full well how hard it could be.

“I’m not just some investor that is trying to turn this place for a profit,” Coco said. “This is my life. This is my dream and my passion.”

When Coco took over the business, he had a vision for what the café could be, and he has been working tirelessly for the last year to turn the White Hart into a jewel of Lynchburg.

“The first change that I made was to start sourcing better green coffee for roasting,” Coco said. “Also, we’ve started to pay more attention to the roasting process and to the staff training process.”

His changes to the work environment have not gone unnoticed by the employees either. Hayden Nielander, who oversees the roasting of all the coffee at the White Hart, has worked for the White Hart for the last year and a half and said she has appreciated the changes in the coffee quality especially.

“(Coco) dedicates a lot of time to being here at the shop, to making sure the coffee quality is there, and he really cares about the people that come into the shop,” Nielander said. 

Long term, there are some changes Coco would like to make, both to the shop itself and to the coffee roasting process.

“We’ve been putting everything we make back into the business,” Coco said. “We’ve made renovations and replaced equipment that needed
replacing.”

Other long-term goals include a possible renovation.

“We want to build a dedicated roasting space here, and if not here, we hope we can expand to a different location, but that is a really long-term goal,” Coco said.

One of the biggest changes Coco is most proud of is the arrival of their new pastry chef Faith Marinelli.

“She is absolutely shredding it — she is incredible,” Coco said. “What she does is an art form, and it’s creative. She bakes with a passion.” 

Like many other coffee shops, The White Hart offers both gluten free and vegan food options, but according to Coco, there is something unique about their food options. 

“They don’t taste vegan — they taste like pastries,” Coco said. “Other places that offer gluten free or vegan options just aren’t as good. She is a crucial part of the success of this business.”

In addition to bringing in new staff and sprucing up the coffee, the shop also received a face-lift in the form of a new paint job. 

The White Hart has also been seeking out performers and live talent to perform at the café. They hold weekly shows and open mics for people to come out and enjoy the coffee and music. 

Coco says the past year has been chaotic and filled with change but there is nothing else he would rather be doing.

“It has been a wild ride to be honest, but most definitely the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done,” Coco said.