About Us

Our Story, Our People

From a sun-drenched corner lot in Echo Park to your favorite morning ritual. This is how Bloom & Brew came to be.

The Beginning

Crafted with Care,
Served with Heart

Bloom & Brew started in 2023 with a simple idea: what if your morning coffee could feel like a ritual instead of a rush? Founders Maya Chen and Diego Reyes — one a third-wave coffee obsessive, the other a ceramicist with a matcha habit — found a sun-drenched corner lot in Echo Park and knew it was the one.

They spent six months renovating the space by hand, keeping the original terrazzo floors and adding floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the room with golden light. The name came naturally: bloom for the plants that line every shelf, brew for the craft that fills every cup.

Three years later, Bloom & Brew is still a neighborhood spot at heart. We know our regulars by name, their orders by muscle memory, and their dogs by treat preference.

Cozy cafe interior with warm natural light, wooden tables, and green plants

Sourcing & Sustainability

From Seed to Cup

We believe great coffee starts at the source. Every bean we serve is single-origin, traceable, and purchased through direct trade relationships with smallholder farmers in Colombia, Ethiopia, and Guatemala.

We pay well above market rate — not because it's trendy, but because it's right. Our partners invest that premium in soil health, education, and diversified income for their communities.

Direct Trade

We visit our farm partners annually and negotiate prices face-to-face.

Compostable Cups

All to-go packaging breaks down within 90 days in commercial composting.

Zero-Waste Goal

Coffee grounds go to local gardens. We're at 87% waste diversion and climbing.

Local First

Pastries, milk, honey, and syrups are all sourced from LA-area producers.

Maya Chen

Co-Founder & Head Roaster

Former software engineer turned coffee obsessive. Maya oversees our roasting program and travels to origin farms twice a year. She can identify 40+ flavor notes blindfolded.

Diego Reyes

Co-Founder & Experience Lead

Ceramicist, designer, and self-taught matcha nerd. Diego shapes the look and feel of Bloom & Brew — from the custom mugs to the playlist. Yes, he made those mugs.

Priya Sharma

Lead Barista

Two-time LA latte art champion and the person behind our seasonal drink menu. Priya trains every new barista and can steam milk to exactly 145 degrees by feel.

Community

More Than a Cafe

Bloom & Brew is about more than what's in the cup. We're a gathering place, a workspace, a gallery, and sometimes a living room — just with better espresso.

Here's what we've been up to in the neighborhood:

Weekly open-mic nights every Thursday at 7 PM
Rotating gallery walls featuring LA-based artists
Community bookshelf by the window — take one, leave one
Monthly coffee workshops (brewing, latte art, tasting)
Partnership with Echo Park Food Bank for meal donations

Customers enjoying coffee and conversation in the cafe