Downtown Brentwood is set to get its newest coffee shop with the grand opening of Chrome Coffee on October 7 during the farmer’s market.
Located at 637 1st Street in Brentwood, it will have been a nearly 3-year journey from coffee cart to brick-and-mortar business in the downtown area for Moriah Mesina. The coffee shop will offer a full menu of drinks and also offer up pastries while supporting local cottage food bakers.
Although Mesina admits it was never the plan to go brick-and-mortar, and stick with the coffee truck, she opened up to the idea after circumstances changed when the pandemic restrictions eased and seeing the reaction after being able to join the Brentwood Farmers Market.
“I have been trying to get into downtown Brentwood Farmers Market since we started in 2020 and finally got into the farmers market last February after 2 ½ years,” explained Mesina. “We had non-stop lines so I feel blessed for the support. It was tough in the beginning because it was so new, long lines, we were getting orders wrong, the pace was slow for those long lines, but people stood in the rain and stuck it out with us. It was amazing!”
She shared even after having a business for several years that long lines still give her anxiety because she dislikes when people have to wait—sometimes her lines were 40-50 people deep, and even in the rain.
“I get nervous anytime someone has to wait because I think the culture we live in is all about instant gratification and instantaneous. That is why drive-thru’ s work well, but it’s also an experience. With specialty craft coffee, there is something about the wait and the anticipation for a great cup of coffee. I would like to think we are one of the great options, but lines do scare me a bit,” explained Mesina.
Looking back to the beginning, however, she acknowledges coffee was never her plan, but rather a hobby with home brewing, saying she would just drink Starbucks like everyone else before the pandemic and when it hit, that is when she decided to take the leap and tern her passion into a business reality.
“Really, coffee was a passion hobby for me and I was always going to different coffee shops because I like café hopping and trying different restaurants to get the different experiences that are offered,” explained Mesina. “Whether it’s a friendly warm inviting environment or a specialty craft that is taken seriously, there is different levels.”
She said after college while living in San Diego is when she saw the different cultures of coffee and combined coffee and beach–she then fell in love with it. When she moved back to the Bay Area, she was working at a children’s camp when the pandemic hit—which she lost the job because no one was holding camp services.
Losing her job helped her realize she wanted to pursue her passion in coffee and turn it into a business while deciding she didn’t want to work for anyone else ever again.
That is when she came up with her plan and took steps to achieve it.
“While I was getting unemployment, instead of doing random things with the money, I decided to put the money into starting my business while getting the coffee cart and equipment paid,” shared Mesina. “Once I got my first espresso machine, we set it up in the garage and started practicing daily and making my family coffee all the time. That is how it started.”
Still, Mesina was fine growing her business through the coffee food truck noting she had no intention of opening a shop because of all the rules and impacts the pandemic was having on everyone. Her plan was to actually stay away because of indoor and outdoor dining regulations changing all the time.
“The pandemic was a shift for my thought process and really put things in perspective that if I really want to do this, I need to do it now,” stated Mesina.
When those regulations changed by easing, so did Mesina’s mindset because as she was growing, she realized she needed more space and something more stable because couldn’t continue as a one person coffee shop—with her family also helping.
“With growth came a need for space and the opportunity to open in the City of Antioch was offered,” stated Mesina. “Antioch has been good. It’s a great response and people continue to walk in for the first time daily, they love the courtyard we have and the specialty coffee options because there is nothing down there for coffee.”
Photo by Chrome Coffee
For Mesina, she acknowledges getting into downtown Brentwood became a reality only after opening her Antioch location (625 W 4th Street) and seeing what worked and didn’t work. The landlord saw what was going on when space became available, she knew she could make the roughly 500 square foot space work.
“She has been wonderful tenant of ours in Antioch and when we saw her following and how well she runs her business, plus how great her coffee is, our group just bought into it,” stated Sean McCauley, of SMI. “Wherever she wanted to be we wanted to help get there. What I like about Moriah is she generally cares about her clients. This carries over to her employees so they care. Its different than going to other coffee shops and a machine. Chrome Coffee just loves to serve people and its what is needed in these coffee shops and small businesses versus being another number.”
According to Mesina, she began working on the paperwork in March and after city approvals is when construction started—noting it has been a six-month process which included them having to make building improvements to get into code, as well as adding a ADA restroom. The efforts will come to fruition this week the coffee shop opening.
Amy Tilley, executive director of the Downtown Brentwood Coalition, is thrilled to have another business opening in Brentwood.
“Big things are happening in small spaces within downtown Brentwood and Chrome Coffee just adds to that with another quality option for people to visit downtown Brentwood,” said Tilley. “I am excited they are opening because it’s a great addition to 1st Street and nearby shops. Its going to create additional foot traffic and this helps everyone and positively impact everyone while bringing new faces to Brentwood.”
“It’s amazing to think I grew up walking these streets and now I have a coffee shop,” said Mesina. “I want to thank everyone for the support.”
Fun Facts About Moriah
Started a Coffee Business: she was 21 she opened a coffee cart and began in Stockton Farmers Market and doing pop-up events
Favorite Coffee to Drink: black drip coffee and ice latte or cold brew in afternoon, but has to have a black cup of coffee in the morning.
Her Favorite Coffee Shops include:
- The Coffee Movement (2-locations in San Francisco)
- Saint Frank Coffee (San Francisco
- The Crown (Oakland)
- Steady State Coffee (Carlsbad)
- Bird Rock Roasters (San Diego)
Partnering With Local Farms: She will be incorporating coffee/tea with our local farmers produce. Has talked with Hailey Nunn about working together. The two have come up with ideas for drinks and hope to execute it now that she is downtown – such as peach ice tea or anything with their strawberries or pumpkins.
Oakley Location: If all goes well, building would begin in November and hope to be open by February 2024.
Chrome Coffee Locations:
- 625 W 4th Street, Antioch CA
- 631 1st Street, Brentwood CA (opens Sept. 7, 2023)
For more information on Chrome Coffee, visit them at www.chromecoffeeco.com
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