Feliz Coffee Club Opens New Cafe in San Diego’s South Bay With Mexican Coffee | Eater San Diego

"Born during the pandemic as an on-demand coffee service, the business has just opened its first storefront in Otay Mesa: Feliz Coffee Club transitioned from taking online and phone orders out of a South Bay kitchen with customers picking up drinks at scheduled times to a permanent shop. I learned founder Felipe Meraz—who previously worked at Katy’s Cafe in Imperial Beach and Grindhouse in Chula Vista—originally planned a mobile cart at a high-traffic venue but opted to open a storefront. The cafe offers coffee made with Mexican beans sourced from Tijuana roastery Cafe Etrusca and espresso-based drinks using a blend from Chiapas and Veracruz, and it plans to serve single-origin Mexican drip; Meraz said he’s trying to include as many good Mexican ingredients as he can, featuring Oaxacan chocolate, mazapan, and a non-dairy rice milk brought in from Tijuana. Popular beverages include honey cinnamon cortados, matcha lattes, mazapan lattes, and classic Mexican mochas, and the shop also serves chamangos and similar slushy-like Mexican drinks flavored with mango, watermelon, and tamarind dressed with chamoy from local manufacturer Barrio Chamoy; Meraz will stock more traditional Mexican treats and candies as operations pick up. Future plans include artist pop-ups and a consignment wall to showcase and sell work from South Bay artists and creatives, reflecting the shop’s community-based mission." - Mario A. Cortez