⏱ 1 min read
The Short Version
Forget intimidating coffee jargon; chef Vatche Moukhtarian is trading "snob vocabulary" for custom Cup Rings in his new Clovis tasting lounge. Tucked behind a working warehouse, this speakeasy-style sanctuary uses culinary precision to turn professional cupping into an approachable, slow-paced refuge.
In Clovis, California, chef and roaster Vatche Moukhtarian is redefining hospitality by setting a slower tempo. His new tasting lounge, tucked inside the Sanctuary Coffee Roasting production facility, offers a quiet environment designed to strip away the intimidation often found in specialty coffee circles.
The idea was a speakeasy behind a working warehouse.
Sensory Accessibility via Cup Rings
The space functions like a speakeasy hidden behind a working warehouse. While guests walk past industrial pallets and active roasting equipment, they enter a room defined by leather ottomans, brass lamps, and Chesterfield sofas. To bridge the gap between professional cupping and casual enjoyment, Moukhtarian developed Cup Rings. These custom coasters serve as visual aids that use plain language to describe flavor and intensity, replacing “coffee snob vocabulary” with approachable cues. The idea was a speakeasy behind a working warehouse.
For those looking to participate, the lounge hosts free public cupping sessions every Wednesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each 45-minute session is limited to eight guests, and reservations can be made via text.
A Culinary Approach to Roasting
Moukhtarian’s transition from a celebrated chef—founder of Fresno’s Cracked Pepper Bistro—to a roaster is an evolution of craft. He approaches roast profiles with technical rigor on his Primo roaster, using Cropster software to manage 24-pound batches. Whether he utilizes Eversys machines at his cafe or a manual ECM setup in the tasting room, his goal remains rooted in the concept of dolce far niente: finding sweetness in doing nothing. For Moukhtarian, coffee is a refuge intended to help people slow down in a busy world.
Do you prefer your coffee education through formal technical training or intuitive sensory tools?
Questions & Answers
What are Cup Rings and how do they help coffee drinkers?
Cup Rings are custom coasters designed to act as visual aids for describing flavor and intensity in a way that is easy to understand. These tools bridge the gap between professional cupping and casual enjoyment by replacing intimidating specialty coffee vocabulary with plain, approachable language. By using these sensory cues, Vatche Moukhtarian aims to make the tasting experience more accessible to everyone and strip away the intimidation often found in high-end coffee circles.
When can people attend public coffee cupping sessions at Sanctuary Coffee Roasting?
Public cupping sessions are held every Wednesday and Thursday at both 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each of these sensory tasting sessions lasts for 45 minutes and is limited to a small group of eight guests to ensure a quality experience. Interested participants can secure their spot by making reservations via text. These sessions provide a unique opportunity for community members to explore coffee profiles in a guided, educational environment within the tasting lounge.
How does Vatche Moukhtarian use his culinary background in coffee roasting?
Vatche Moukhtarian applies technical rigor and a chef's precision to the roasting process by treating roast profiles as an evolution of culinary craft. He utilizes professional tools like the Primo roaster and Cropster software to carefully manage 24-pound batches. This transition from founding Cracked Pepper Bistro to running a roasting facility allows him to bring a high level of technical expertise to specialty coffee. His ultimate goal is to create a sensory refuge that encourages people to slow down.
Where is the Sanctuary Coffee Roasting tasting lounge located?
The Sanctuary Coffee Roasting tasting lounge is located inside the production facility in Clovis, California. The space is designed to feel like a hidden speakeasy tucked behind an active working warehouse filled with industrial pallets and roasting equipment. Once inside, guests encounter a sophisticated environment featuring leather ottomans, brass lamps, and Chesterfield sofas. This unique setting provides a quiet, comfortable atmosphere that contrasts with the industrial nature of the surrounding coffee production area.
Originally reported by Daily Coffee News.
