The Orange County coffee scene is popping off right now, with notable new additions like Bear Coast Coffee, Hopper and Burr, and this project we’re featuring today: new digs Hidden House Coffee Roasters of San Juan Capistrano. They’ve been roasting coffee and making drinks in a house originally built in the 1890s, but a major upgrade is coming thanks to their sizable new space in the OC city of Santa Ana.
As told to Sprudge by Ben Briggs. Photos by Stefan Junir.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
Hidden House Coffee Roasters’ goal is to be able to make the best coffee we can, but keeping it for everyone, just not coffee people. We are actively sourcing, roasting, and brewing coffees to the best of our ability. We started in a old house in the Historic District of San Juan Capistrano in a house that was built in 1890. We have our roaster, coffee bar, and pastry kitchen all under 1,100 sq. ft.
Our mission statement:
“Our vision is simple—hospitality and an ongoing pursuit of quality. From sourcing green coffee, roasting, to the final cup. Each step of the process is meticulously handled to bring our customers stellar coffee.”
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
Our new space is a 2,400-sq.-ft. building that sits on a 6,000-sq.-ft. lot, it was built in 1914. Original brick walls, with high exposed wood ceilings. So you can tell we like old buildings. This space, we will be doing everything we do currently in San Juan, but bigger, and hopefully better, including roasting, a coffee bar, and pastry kitchen.
What’s your approach to coffee?
Our approach to coffee is simply trying to create the best cup we can. We like to roast to a light to medium, and typically only offer single origins, except for our espresso.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
We bought a 18k U.S. Roaster that will become the main roaster for this store, and we are going to be running Synesso espresso machines, and Mahlkönig grinders.
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
We are hoping, PRAYING, to be open by September.
