Troy Spotlight: Cafe Euphoria

Cafe Euphoria in Troy, New York, is a groundbreaking establishment that goes far beyond being just a coffee shop, serving as a vital community hub and a model for progressive business practices.

Here is a comprehensive overview of the cafe, its unique features, history, and more.

What Makes it Unique

Cafe Euphoria is distinguished by its core mission and cooperative business model:

• Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Worker-Owned Cooperative: The cafe is owned and operated by a collective of transgender and gender non-conforming workers. This structure makes it a radical workplace dedicated to worker empowerment, where all members currently make the same wage and have a say in the business’s direction.
• The Sliding Scale Pricing Model: In alignment with its mission of food accessibility, the cafe uses a self-declared, 3:1 sliding scale (2:1 on most merchandise) for all food items.
  • Sustain/Standard Price: The full price, for those who can comfortably afford it.
  • Community Price: The middle, 2/3rds price, for those who make less.
  • Solidarity Price: The lowest, 1/3rd price, intended primarily for members of the transgender and gender non-conforming community who face financial hardship. No explanation is required to select a price tier.
• Community Space and Thrift: The cafe is a bright, airy community space that hosts a curated thrift store, offering a safe environment for exploring identity and style.

History

The concept for Cafe Euphoria was born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trans activist and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) professor, Atsushi Akera, was inspired by a Discord server for trans people in the Capital District. The original idea was to create a tangible, safe, brick-and-mortar space to bring the trans and gender non-conforming community back together safely. The cafe held its grand opening in April 2022, quickly becoming a fixture in downtown Troy.

Significant Events & Community Programming

As a dedicated community hub, Cafe Euphoria hosts a variety of regular events:

• Drag Brunches: Held regularly (e.g., every 3rd Sunday of the month).
• Open Mic Nights
• Meetups and Peer Support Events
• Q-MoB Queer Men’s Coffee Klatch

The cafe’s unique business model and commitment to its community gained national attention when the progressive magazine, Yes! Magazine, published a feature about the space titled, “The Cafe That’s Upending Capitalism.”

Highlight Menu Items and Customer Feedback

The menu features comforting, mostly vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian cuisine. Many items are vegan or can be made vegan with suitable alternatives, rather than just omitting animal products.

Must-Try Menu Items

• Breakfast sandwiches
• Omelets
• Tofu rice bowls
• Kimchi gyoza
• Miso soup
• Vegan chili
• Caramel latte
• Non-alcoholic cocktails

Customer Feedback

Customers overwhelmingly praise the cafe for its welcoming atmosphere and its importance as a safe space where TGNC individuals are consistently respected and affirmed. Reviewers frequently describe the vibe as “relaxed” and “sunny,” with high ceilings and natural light.

The food is noted for its quality, with patrons specifically highlighting the:

• “Best vegan chili” they’ve ever had.
• “Best caramel latte in town.”
• High quality of their coffee and the fact that they do not charge extra for alternative milks, which is a welcome feature for many.

While some online discussions have included debates about the volunteer and operational aspects of its cooperative model, the general consensus from patrons is that the owners and staff are “absolute gems” whose core intent is to foster a thriving, affordable, and accessible community space.

Location and Contact Information

Hours of Operation

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday – Wednesday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Thursday – Friday: 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
• Saturday: 8:30 am – 10:00 pm
• Sunday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm