Darling’s Coffee
Tucked just a few blocks from the ocean, Darling’s Coffee (19 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, 926-0267, darlingscoffeenh.com) is a cozy, welcoming café that blends beach-town charm with a passion for quality food and great coffee. Owner and Hampton Falls native Madison Hughes opened Darling’s last year, drawing on her lifelong experience in the restaurant industry. A lover of coffee, Hughes enjoys frequently exploring new coffee shops with her husband, trying different sandwiches and brews. When the opportunity to take over her current space arose, she jumped at the chance. “It was just so cute,” she said of the storefront. “It was like, ‘how could you not make it into a little coffee shop?’” Darling’s is named after Hughes’ grandmother’s affectionate nickname. “She would call everyone ‘darling,’ and my little brother picked up on that when he was about 2 and started calling her that,” Hughes said. “Now we all call her ‘darling.’ I thought it was the perfect name for this place.” Alongside a full espresso bar featuring beans roasted in Peabody, Mass., Darling’s offers a menu of breakfast sandwiches, pastries, subs, paninis, burgers, milkshakes and more, all made with fresh, from-scratch ingredients. The Scene recently caught up with Hughes to discuss her journey from the restaurant industry to owning a coffee shop, and how her sophomore season is shaping up.
How long has Darling’s Coffee been around?
We opened up on June 12 of last year. … We closed this past winter, [but] my goal is for us to be open year-round.
What makes Darling’s Coffee unique?
I like to keep things homemade, so I make my own tuna salad, meatballs and chicken salad. I bake most of my pastries as well — I mostly do muffins, but I dabble in other stuff, like brownies and cookies. … I like to be accommodating to customers, and so I’ve been doing some gluten-free stuff as well.
What is your favorite thing on your own menu?
A favorite coffee for me would be our hazelnut roast, iced. … I also have a breakfast sandwich called the breakfast panini wrap — it’s bacon, egg, cheese and a hash brown all wrapped up and pressed. … It’s like one big breakfast all in a sandwich for you. That would be my favorite.
What is something that everyone should try?
If they are up for it, I would say the tuna sub. I’m really proud of the tuna that we make, and the people who get it just love it. … It’s lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and then the tuna salad itself that is a top secret recipe!
Name a celebrity you would like to see eating at Darling’s Coffee.
I can picture Stanley Tucci sitting in here having a cup of coffee. I just think he would be a fun character to have around.
What’s one essential skill needed to successfully run a coffee shop?
I think innovation is a big one, and also multitasking all day long. You’ve got to keep things fresh, you’ve got to be innovative with what you have, and you’ve got to be able to multitask, all at the same time. There are so many hats you have to wear.
What is your favorite thing about being on the Seacoast?
It’s definitely the changing of the seasons. In the summer the beach is full of life with people everywhere, but in the winter it quiets down and you can have the beach all to yourself for a walk. It’s really cool to experience both sides in the same place.
— Matt Ingersoll
Featured Photo: Courtesy Photo.
