Help Us Invest in a Coffee Trailer

Hi, I’m Mary! Since October of 2023, I’ve been serving specialty coffee at pop-ups and events, sharing my love for smooth, delicious coffee with my community. But there’s one problem: it’s hard to find me!

I hear it all the time:

“Where will you be next?” 
“Do you have a shop?”

I always direct people to my Instagram, where I usually post where I'll be at.

But I want to change that!

That’s why I am building a coffee trailer! With your support, I can build a mobile cafe to set up in a regular spot where you can always count on amazing coffee, warm community, and a welcoming vibe.

Why This Trailer Matters

Right now, my setup is limited. I’ve been working on 3 folding tables under a pop-up tent for almost a full year! 

My tent at my biggest event in 2024, the Father's Day Car Show at Juilliard Park.

A trailer means:

• Easier set-up - I can just pull in and set up anywhere!
• A consistent place to find me! No more guessing where I’ll pop up next! I am planning to have a parked spot Monday-Friday to serve you, and then take the trailer to weekend markets and events.
• More drink options! I will finally have space for better equipment, including an espresso machine, blenders, grinders, and more. 

How You Can Help

I’m raising $20,000 to cover:

• The trailer build-out (trailer shell, plumbing, counters, electrical)

• Essential equipment (grinder, brewers, refrigeration, espresso machine) 

• Permits & licensing to get fully up and running
 

Why This Will Succeed

I’ve already built a community following with my pop-ups, and this trailer will allow me to serve you more consistently. Having a mobile setup means I can be at markets, events, and even bring coffee directly to workplaces and special gatherings. I can also bring more product with me, meaning I won't sell out at big events, and can take on bigger events than I have in the past.

Drinks served at The Best Buck in the Bay (Gay Rodeo) in Duncan's Mills.

With the trailer, I would feel comfortable expanding my menu to include hot espresso drinks (lattes, cappuccinos, hot chai), and adding smoothies to the menu. 

With your support, we can make this dream a reality. Let’s build something special together, one cup at a time!

About Me

I grew up in Santa Rosa and have lived here my entire life (minus my crazy 1 year stint in Galveston, Texas, and 3 years off-and-on in Istanbul, Turkey). Even then, Santa Rosa has always been home base.

I graduated from Montgomery High School in 2015, and moved away to go to Texas A&M University at Galveston, majoring in marine science. I have always loved science, but I couldn't afford my tuition and I wasn't feeling all that dedicated to it.

So I moved back to Santa Rosa in 2016, and since then I have been working in coffee shops and roasteries. The best part of coffee is that it satisfies my science mind - roasting, brewing, and bringing together an excellent drink is a lot like chemistry, as it turns out! 

Starbucks Barista Championship, 2018

In 2017, I started traveling. My life took me all over the world, and I got the opportunity to visit various countries in Europe, as well as Morocco, Turkey, Georgia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Everywhere I went, I fell in love a little more with the beauty and simplicity of coffee. It truly is the one thing that everyone loves! 

Visiting Mexico where I met one of my best friends, Chuy.

I lived in Istanbul off-and-on for about 3 years. I would visit for 3 months (the duration of my visa), then travel all the way back to California and get back to work saving up money while I waited for my visa to renew. In total, I think I went to Turkey 6 different times in 3 years.

Showing my mom around Istanbul. We are at Sultanahmet Camii.

While I was in Istanbul, I saw how coffeehouses have become hubs for young people, especially students who came to Istanbul for university. This piqued my interest in the coffee shop - these weren't just shops selling cups to go; their intent really was for people to stay a while. Drinking tea in Morocco.

I also fell in love with Istanbul's bakeries. Baked breads are a staple in Turkey, and their sweet pastries are so different from anything we have in the US. One of my goals with expanding my menu is to experiment more with Turkish recipes and bring some of my favorites to life here - particularly poğaça, su börek, and acıbadem kurabiyesi.

Drinking coffee from a traditional sock brew in Costa Rica.

After leaving Turkey, I decided to settle back home for a bit. I eventually met my now-husband, Alejandro, who is from El Salvador. After the pandemic, he sent me to El Salvador to meet my father-in-law and experience his home country. Of course, El Salvador is a major coffee producing country, so I fell even more in love with coffee there! 

Alejandro and I in Berkeley, CA.

Alejandro introduced me to quesadillas salvadoreñas - a sweet cheese bread that I of course decided to recreate at home. I have since mastered my recipe and occasionally sell them (as long as my husband doesn't eat them all first). 

All this to say - I love coffee shops, I love pastries, I love recreating traditional goodies that you typically don't find here. I believe coffee shops have the opportunity to be a bit more interesting than croissants, muffins, and vanilla syrup! 

Bonus: 

Step back in time. My grandparents owned a bakery in Sonoma County - first in Guerneville as River Bakery, then in Montgomery Village as Village Bakery, and later in Coddingtown as Coddingtown Bakery. I still have their old recipes and have been testing some of them out with help from my mom and dad. You could say it's in my blood! 

Stumptown Parade (Guerneville) in the 1970s, with my family's bakery in the background. My dad and uncle are up on the roof watching the show! 

Here's my mom, dad, grandma, and uncle in the Press Democrat for Coddingtown Bakery.

About Lovey Coffee Co.

Back in 2023, I started sourcing and roasting my own coffees and selling them at markets. I realized very quickly that selling beans is hard. So, I started preparing iced drinks and selling them alongside my beans. My menu started with basic cold brew lattes and lemonades, and has grown to include iced teas, pour-over drip coffee, pastries, and more. I love what I do, and I want to see this business grow to be a community partner in Santa Rosa. 

My original setup, which was literally just a tablecloth I hand painted on my livingroom floor.

Lovey Coffee Company has become something that I hope more and more people will recognize and feel some sort of connection to. I named the company after my son, who I have called Lovey since he was a newborn. I have had countless people come to me and share their connection. Here's some cute examples:

• "My kids call their grandma Lovey." 
• "I grew up watching Gilligan's Island - one of the women is named Lovey!"
• "My grandma's cat is named Lovey!"
• "My grandpa always called me Lovey, and we have it tattooed for him"