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.