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While the world’s best golfers are grinding it out on the greens at Bethpage Black, something just as strong is keeping pace behind the scenes — espresso.
Aldo’s Coffee, the Greenport mainstay, is pouring its signature blends and North Fork charm at the Ryder Cup.
For six days, Aldo’s hand-roasted beans and house-made biscotti have traveled from Front Street on the East End to the international stage. Set up inside the media hospitality lounge, their pop-up coffee bar has quickly become a go-to for more than 400 journalists from across the world.
“Some of the European media has told us we are the only good coffee in America,” Aldo’s owner Josh Sommer told Greater Long Island. “They said to us, ‘oh my god, this is amazing.’”
The road to Bethpage
Aldo's of Greenport is making a splash at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, and the Europeans are loving it. pic.twitter.com/dlJ5R9kl6g
— Greater Long Island (@Greater_LI) September 25, 2025
Sommer, who purchased Aldo’s two years ago, says the Ryder Cup invite came by email — and at first, he didn’t believe it.
“We thought it was a prank when I first saw it. But then I read the whole email and it was a no brainer for us,” he said. “We figured they wanted just drip coffee.”
Instead, PGA of America officials wanted the whole menu: cappuccinos, chai lattes, Americanos, cortados — the works.
“Thank goodness my camera wasn’t on during the conference call when they decided they wanted a full espresso bar,” head roaster Rae McMahon said. “My initial thought was, how? We don’t have the equipment and there was no way we were going to get it that fast.”
McMahon started working the phones, and a Houston-based coffee company agreed to ship the gear.
“It got to Greenport at 12 noon, the day of setup, but we were already in Farmingdale,” Sommer recalled. “So we dropped everything off, took the 90-minute trip out east, got the stuff, and then came all the way back.”
Brewing success
The scramble was worth it.
“It’s nice to have a big red sign and our cups floating around, but with coffee, it’s all about taste,” said Sommer. “Now everyone gets to taste our quality.”
McMahon, who has been roasting and brewing nonstop all week, says it’s been exhausting — but rewarding.
“As long as everyone likes our coffee, I’m happy,” she said.
Top: Aldo’s head roaster Rae McMahon at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Thursday, Sept. 25. (Credit: Andrew Rappaport)
