This natural processed coffee is sourced from smallholder farmers near the village of Gigesa, just outside Shakiso in Guji Zone, Ethiopia, at 1900-2000 meters elevation. The Heirloom variety beans are hand-picked at peak ripeness, floated for quality, and dried on raised beds in the sun for up to three weeks. The natural process allows the beans to absorb the fruit's sugars and aromatics, producing an expressive and sweet cup.
Steve and Elena Chang founded Copa Vida in 2013 in Pasadena, California, after the sale of the family noodle business they had managed for over a decade. Their first cafe opened at 70 South Raymond Avenue in Old Town Pasadena, and in May 2015 they formally launched a roastery on a Diedrich, located five minutes from the flagship shop. The menu follows a three tiered system — GO for classic approachable cups, ENJOY for lively fruit forward profiles, and EXPERIENCE for rare and storied lots. Copa Vida has since expanded to Glendale and San Marcos, and a wholesale division serves accounts throughout Southern California.
