"Cafe Suspiro, grand opening in October but open for limited service now, is named after Sanchez’s grandfather’s tiny shop (a tiendita) in Colotlan, Mexico, in the state of Jalisco. It translates as a sigh of relief. Sanchez was a barista at Vega Coffee, which doled out espressos in the exact same location, 13 years ago — he was the shop’s first hire. “I want to keep that familiarity with the folks in the neighborhood,” Sanchez says of this next chapter. Before this business venture, he left Vega to try out digital marketing (not quite as satisfying as the cafe world) before returning in 2014. When Vega owners John Quintos and Kirk Harper decided to offer Sanchez the keys to the shop this summer, he rose to the occasion. Now, he’s proud to open an outdoor coffee bar right on the sidewalk under the new moniker and with an updated approach. Coffee goes for $4, the location’s well-loved drink the Macau Iced Coffee goes for $5.75, and new additions such as Raul’s Mexican Mocha and a horchata latte will run you $6. As for the beans, Cento Coffee, which Vega used for eight years, is a San Francisco-based roaster Sanchez likes because the small company is personable. “It’s a really nice roast. The medium blend is a great, chocolate-y profile,” Sanchez says." - Paolo Bicchieri
