New Italian shop brings ‘coffee and’ concept to Bradenton. Take a look inside
Two words displayed on a wall are tucked inside the Bradenton shop.
It reads, “Coffee and …”
It’s a welcoming saying that started in Rhode Island for Marissa and Isabella Nastasi.
“Growing up, it was my house was the revolving door,” Marissa Nastasi said. “Everybody and anybody came there. People from Italy. Cousins, family, neighbors. It was just someone always stopping by. And so the phrase ‘coffee and’ became a thing.”
Nastasi said the ‘and’ could be sweets, it could be cheese and crackers. She said it could be whatever was on the table that was shared with the community.
Marissa and Isabella are bringing their family recipes to the Manatee County community with Bellabean Coffee & Confections. Located at 3549 53rd Ave. W., the coffee and confections shop opens Friday.
Bellabean Coffee & Confections set to open
Some signature menu items include pizzelles, rainbow cookies, egg biscuits, brownies, cream cheese tarts and cannolis.
The cannoli shells are imported from Sicily.
“Those are made to order,” Isabella Nastasi said.
Isabella previously worked for about eight years at Pastry Land, an Italian bakery, in Rhode Island. She contacted her old boss to get in contact with the vendor for the cannoli shells they had shipped from Italy.
“We set it up and we got them shipped here, and then (Marissa) makes the cannoli cream,” Isabella said.
The mother and daughter combo flew through cannolis at a recent preview event they held.
“Very popular,” Marissa said. “So part of them will dip in the little mini chocolate chips and part in the pistachio. Two different kinds. But at least the cream is fresh, it’s ready to go in the fridge.”
The duo partnered with local vendors such as Jersey Girl Bagels for bagels, Breadsmith of Bradenton for Italian bread and Bread Bandits, a Sarasota bakery, for baguettes.
They also serve gelato, bagel sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, oatmeal, cookies and other Italian baked goods.
Bellabean Coffee’s drink menu
In addition to the food, Bellabean has an Italian coffee brand with a variety of coffee flavors from espresso-based to drip coffee and cold brew.
“The people (at the preview event) loved the coffee,” Isabella said. “Said it’s strong. It has a different kind of flavor.”
Various coffees range in price from $3.75 to $6.45. Cannolis cost $5.45 and cookies range in price from $1.25 to $5.25.
Taking a look inside
Inside Bellabean, there are tables for seating as well as a couple of couches with a coffee table next to a fireplace and family photos displayed on another wall.
“So my dad passed away four years ago,” Marissa said. “He passed away three weeks after I moved from Rhode Island. So that whole year was a blur … so we had to honor him with his “coffee and” (saying). And so that’s the inspiration with that. … And we’re all about family, so (the pictures are) just generations of everyone gathering … around kitchen table parties.”
Bellabean also has a toaster dating back to the 1920s displayed on a shelf.
What are the hours?
The shop’s name is a nickname Isabella’s friend Apryll, who worked with her at the Rhode Island bakery, bestowed her.
The roughly 1,300-square-foot space features Wi-Fi and seating for dine-in. Bellabean’s hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit www.BellaBeanCo.com.
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
