⏱ 2 min read
The Short Version
Forget Ethiopia and Colombia; Casa Libre is proving Mexico’s single-origin beans are the next specialty frontier. This Costa Mesa roastery spotlights rare Chiapas profiles and mole-inspired flavors to bridge the gap between local drinkers and authentic Mexican producers.
In This Article
Mexico powers a massive industry of nearly 500,000 coffee farmers, yet many drinkers still look toward Ethiopia or Colombia for specialty profiles. Natalie Taormina and Jeremy Creighton—founders of Common Room Roasters and Freelance Coffee Project—are working to change that narrative at Casa Libre. Located within Mercado González in Costa Mesa, the new venture is a partnership between the Taormina/Creighton families and the González family, whose legacy includes opening Anaheim’s first Northgate Market in 1980. Mexican coffee is really coming on the scene.
Mexican coffee is really coming on the scene.
Highlighting Chiapas and Beyond
The shop functions as both a cafe and a roastery, with beans roasted and packed on-site to engage customers through aroma and education. While the menu offers standard lattes and cappuccinos, the core mission is spotlighting specific Mexican origins like Huatusco and Motozintla. Currently, the focus rests on coffee from Doña Duglas Molina and her family at El Cielo in Villa Corzo, Chiapas. Molina’s farm participates in the Café Delas program, which specifically supports women producers. By centering these names, Casa Libre aims to bridge the gap between local consumers and the authentic stories behind the bean.
Flavors Rooted in Tradition
The beverage program leans heavily into regional ingredients to create a distinct sense of place. Instead of generic sweeteners, the baristas use house-made syrups designed to mimic traditional Mexican flavor profiles. The El Jaguar latte utilizes a custom corn, cacao, and chile syrup that evokes the warm spices of mole, while the El Colibrí incorporates café de olla syrup inspired by cinnamon-spiced coffee traditions. To complement the drinks, guests can pair their orders with pastries from Pastelería González or the shop’s own signature colibrí galleta, a gingerbread cookie sweetened with piloncillo.
Whether you are grabbing a chocolate chip galleta or a bag of whole beans for home brewing, the space serves as a specialized outpost within the larger market ecosystem. It fills a specific void Taormina identified during the two years spent planning the concept: the lack of high-quality specialty coffee inside the mercado. Through this partnership, the goal is to prove that incredible origins are often right next door.
Does your preference for single-origin coffee lean toward established regions like Ethiopia, or are you looking to explore emerging producers in Mexico?
Questions & Answers
Where is Casa Libre located and what is its connection to Mercado González?
Casa Libre is located within Mercado González in Costa Mesa, California. The coffee shop is a collaborative partnership between the Taormina and Creighton families and the González family, who have a long history in the area after opening Anaheim's first Northgate Market in 1980. This unique placement allows the cafe to serve as a specialized outpost within the larger market ecosystem, providing high-quality specialty coffee to local shoppers and community members.
What makes the beverage menu at Casa Libre unique?
The beverage menu at Casa Libre is unique because it uses house-made syrups designed to mimic traditional Mexican flavor profiles rather than generic sweeteners. For example, the El Jaguar latte features a custom corn, cacao, and chile syrup that evokes the warm spices of mole. Another option, the El Colibrí, incorporates a café de olla syrup inspired by classic cinnamon-spiced coffee traditions, ensuring that every drink offers a distinct sense of regional place and culture.
How does Casa Libre support Mexican coffee producers?
Casa Libre supports Mexican coffee producers by spotlighting specific single-origin beans and sharing the authentic stories of the farmers behind them. The shop currently focuses on coffee from Doña Duglas Molina and her family at El Cielo in Villa Corzo, Chiapas. This specific farm participates in the Café Delas program, which is an initiative designed to support women producers. By centering these individual names, the cafe helps bridge the gap between local consumers and small-scale farmers.
What kind of food items can be paired with coffee at Casa Libre?
Guests can pair their coffee orders with various traditional treats such as pastries from Pastelería González or the shop's own signature colibrí galleta. The colibrí galleta is a specialty gingerbread cookie that is uniquely sweetened with piloncillo to complement the coffee flavors. Whether customers are visiting for a quick latte or purchasing whole beans for home brewing, these regional sweets provide a cohesive culinary experience that celebrates Mexican traditions and flavors.
Originally reported by latimes.com.
