By: Sydney Chan, Syracuse University B.S. Broadcast and Digital Journalism
It’s no secret that Lake Placid is cold — really cold. This weekend especially, competing in events and cheering on athletes in temperatures as low as -6 degrees requires some delicious fuel! Found in the Athletes’ Village, grab a warm drink and a tasty snack from Upstate Coffee and Waffle Cabin.
A New-York-based business in Gloversville by Sacandaga Lake, Upstate Coffee was born about four years ago. The brewer behind the beans? Kevin Chamberlain, a long-time coffee fanatic who loves interacting with the community. “We started the company to make good coffee but also to be involved in really fun events!” Chamberlain exclaims.
“We started as a local co-op, and we’ve just been growing from there,” he adds. Upstate currently has its own roastery and is building a cafe in conjunction this summer. This weekend, Chamberlain and his crew are serving a variety of customizable coffee drinks, hot chocolate and Italian sodas.
The Waffle Cabin was originally known as “Leo’s – Gaufres de Liège,” a small pushcart operating in Boston’s Quincy Market in 1998. After a little over a year in Quincy Market and Boston Common Park, the waffle company landed on a different audience: snow sport fanatics craving a sweet treat after skiing and snowboarding. The rest is history.
Now owning several locations on mountains across the country — including Whiteface Mountain, where alpine skiing among other events are held — Waffle Cabin shares its simple menu with the community: a steaming Belgian waffle with the option to add a chocolate topping. “We do one thing, and we do it the best,” employee Joss Jakubowski says. “It’s all about the smell, the delicious taste of the waffle and the authenticity of it.”
When the two food vendors were asked if they would share their goods during the 2025 Empire State Winter Games, “I said, sign us up!” Chamberlain says. “I’m so excited to be here. We’ve done some events in the past, [such as the] Mountain Bike World Expo; and we’re in queue to do the Bobsled World Cup and some Big Sky events too,” he continues.
Jakubowski agrees, “[We said] absolutely. [Adirondack Sports Council Director of Marketing] Mike’s [Martineau] the best person for the job, and we’ll do anything to support him. Last year, we did the Opening Ceremony and served waffles inside the oval.”
“Good luck to [the athletes]!” Jakubowski concludes. Whether you’re craving a comforting cup or a satisfying sweet treat — or both! — check out Upstate Coffee and Waffle Cabin for your daily fix.