Originally from San Francisco, Cambodia’s first Spinelli opened on Street 63 just back from Sihanouk Boulevard at the corner of Street 282 in November, 2011.
There are a total of 35 Spinelli outlets so far in the world with most of them located in Singapore, with the remainder in Indonesia, China and one in Cambodia.
According to Deputy Director So Vantha of Ing Merit Enterprise, the Master Franchisee of Spinelli Coffee Company in Cambodia, the public response to Spinelli has been increasing since the 2011 opening.
Another Spinelli will be opened early next year in the Riverside area.
“We target the Cambodian customers and the expats. We focus on quality and taste. The freshness of the coffee is one of our unique things. We only use high grade Arabica coffee beans under the rain forest alliance that helps the poor and the farmers grow the coffee.”
People can also buy coffee for $11.90 for each 250 gram bag at Spinelli in seven different blends including original, decaf, Sumatra, House Blend, Mocha Java, Extra Dark French and Bambino Blend and Mrs. D’s blend.
Most of the coffee beans come from Central American and Papua New Guinea.
“We source the coffee from all around the world. Mrs. D’s is the bean from high grown central American and PNG coffee.”
The first Spinelli outlet ever was opened in San Francisco in 1983, by Christopher Calkins and Arnold Spinelli.
In addition to the main business of coffee, Spinelli also has a selection of fresh foods and sandwiches.
There’s a breakfast of two eggs, sausage, ham, bacon and multi cereal bread. Spinelli opens at 6:30 am and closes at 9 pm.
So Vantha says the most popular sandwich is the tandoori chicken on focaccia bread which sells for $3.50, and can also be served as a wrap for $3.30.
Also on the menu is the smoked duck quesadilla for $3.90 and the ham and cheese quesadilla for $3.30.
Salads include Caesar and Greek for $3.45.
Other lunch items on offer are pasta dishes like spaghetti carbonara or spaghetti with chicken tomato basil for $3.50 each. Another is ragu bolognaise or the Amartriciana with bacon, bay leaves, tomato sauce, white wine and onion for the same price.
Chicken and beef stew are both on the menu along with gourmet rice dishes with chicken and pork.
The Spinelli drinks menu includes a variety called a Spin, which is an ice blended beverage with coffee.
A Twist, by contrast, is a non-coffee beverage with ice.
So Vantha says most people go with a Spin, including flavors like chocolate, hazelnut and banana, ranging in price from $3.50 to $4.20, while twists cost $3.10 or $4.10.
Latte and cappuccino are the two most popular coffee drinks, So Vantha says.
Customers at Spinelli can use the large-screen apple computers free of charge.
“Firstly people can come to breakfast, and get coffee and go to the office,” So Vantha said.
“They also can come and meet business partners here over coffee and good food. Students can come to surf the internet and do researching. We have a huge space upstairs, and people can use it for a mobile office, and a lot of customers bring their laptops and sit up stairs.”
Spinelli uses only high grade Arabica coffee, which is roasted in Singapore.
"With Rainforest Alliance coffee, we can feel good because it is socially responsible coffee and we start from classic special beverages like espresso, latte and cappuccino, to ice blended beverages, spins and twists.," So Vantha said.
"We focus the quality and we like to use fresh fruit that relates to the flavor our customers select.”
Ing Merit Enterprise, the Spinelli franchisee in Cambodia is owned by SarunVithoura. “She used to study in Singapore, saw the Spinelli brand name and developed a passion for coffee and went there, and met some coffee companies, and tasted the Spinelli coffee and became the master franchise,” So Vantha said. She also has Bysi fashion chain on Sihanouk Boulevard, next to Ministry of Environment.
