A exhausted widen of Claremont Ave. in Berkeley will shortly accept a jar of caffeine, with a further of Souvenir Coffee. The coffeeshop will pierce into a space before assigned by Semifreddi’s, that sealed final tumble and was a buttress in a area for residents in hunt of coffee, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. The space also shares a retard with Star Grocery, Jutta’s Flowers, and Dark Carnival (a scholarship novella bookstore), creation it a heart for a ‘hood.
The new coffee emporium and spit will be a step adult from Semifreddi’s, who charity coffee as a messenger to their categorical business: bread and pastries. Souvenir owners Jeremy Bled is some-more meddlesome in coffee, with concomitant pastries (purveyors TBD). As a Berkeley local and son of a French cook (formerly of Metropole Restaurant), Bled is anticipating to move behind a “Berkeley spirit” to a neighborhood, though with good coffee. “We wouldn’t be here though Peets,” pronounced Bled. “They done coffee accessible, and that’s what third call coffee is missing.” To that end, Bled skeleton to offer daily cuppings (or tastings) of coffee in a shop.
And, Souvenir will offer a accumulation of roasts (not only third wave’s dear and rarely acidic light roast) that Bled roasts during a trickery in Berkeley. “We wish to be inclusive,” pronounced Bled, who is keenly wakeful of a tastes of a surrounding neighborhood’s comparison demographic. “Think third wave, with second call heart.” Espresso drinks will be a categorical offering, with flow overs charity during a reduction bustling hours; cold brew, and nitro cold decoction will be on a menu as well. Unlike Semifreddi’s, there will be no kitchen—prepared salads and sandwiches will be offered, and some Semifreddi’s bread and pastries from a third party.
Additionally, Bled’s devise is to yield full-time employees with bearable salaries and healthcare. “Our sign is ‘People first, afterwards coffee,’” Bled told Eater SF. A credentials in tech during Kaiser Permanente has helped figure his plan, that he hopes to exercise immediately.
Laptops will be welcome, though Bled says his vigilant is not to bay a “laptop farm,” and hopes to encourage a European-style cafeteria where guest indeed speak to any other. Souvenir will entrance in June, open 7 days a week til 5 p.m. with skeleton for village events in a evenings.
- Souvenir Coffee [Facebook]