Some people start a business to get rich. Gabby Loubiere opened a coffee shop because she wanted to work and still be a full-time mom. That was September 2004, and Brew Ha-Ha has been pouring coffee for Baton Rouge ever since.

From coffee counter to cake ball destination

The shop's signature arrived in 2006, when Brew Ha-Ha rolled out its cake balls. They caught on, and the coffee shop grew into a full bakery with plenty of other desserts and even an art gallery. In August 2019, Loubiere checked off another dream by roasting her own beans under the name Brew Ha-Ha Roast & Co.

She writes that she loves supporting local artists, neighboring businesses and community programs, and that watching Mid City grow has been a joy. She also owns the gym next door.

Pick your ball

The year-round list is long. The most popular include the 225, which is yellow cake dipped in chocolate, plus Devil's Food, Red Velvet, Star Crunch and the Bonafide, a butter and brown sugar flavor. Fruit fans can go with Banana Pudding, Lemon Blueberry or Chantilly. There's a nutty lineup with Turtle, Nutella and Italian Cream, and a wild-card group with the Ball Buster, Cinnamon Roll, Pumpkin Spice and King Cake. Holiday and seasonal flavors rotate in too, so ask what's new as the season turns.

What to drink with it

The coffee menu covers lattes, cafe au lait, dirty chai, matcha and Vietnamese iced coffee, plus BHH Roast & Co. cold brew sold in 16-ounce bottles and 64-ounce jugs with refills. Frozen Ha-Ha drinks and flavors like pumpkin, toasted marshmallow, butter pecan and peppermint fit right into fall.

Brew Ha-Ha is at 711 Jefferson Highway, Suite 2-A, and is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Call 225-923-1923 to ask about orders. Holiday party coming up? A box of cake balls tends to disappear fast.

Photo courtesy of Brew Ha-Ha Coffee & Cake Balls.