A new coffee shop has opened in Coronado. As of November 1, 2016, Luxury Farms, located at 918 Orange Ave, opened its coffee and espresso bar to the public.
“The European-inspired Retail + Coffee Concept Store invites guests to step into Luxury Farms and experience a gallery-like setting and never ending assortment of unique lifestyle products,” says Melissa Scott Clark, Co-Founder of Luxury Farms. “We offer cookware and kitchen gadgets, home décor, both vintage and new, gourmet pantry, custom gift baskets, wine, cheese and charcuterie galore.”
“Through travel and discovery, I regularly curate new products and brands, making Luxury Farms a ‘unique finds’ retail destination,” says Clark. “This is the Luxury Farms experience I wanted to bring to the community; a place to bring people together to share, savor, and remember; whether to shop or simply sit awhile and sip on my signature Lavender Latté.”
The lavender latté has been the talk of the town since the coffee bar opened. So of course I wanted to see what all the buzz was about. From being greeted by friendly staff, to smelling a lingering aroma of coffee beans and cooking oils, my experience at Luxury Farms was a quality one. I knew I wanted to test out the lavender latté because I have heard so many positive things about it; but I was interested in knowing what the four other people ahead of me in line were ordering. I should have known…all four customers ordered 12 ounce signature lavender lattés.
The line moved quickly, and within minutes it was my turn to order. Before I placed my order I asked the cashier what drink she recommends to new customers. Before she could even answer my question, a lady in the back of the line yelled, “order a lavender latté.” According to her it would be “the best decision I would make all day.”
The cashier grinned and explained that the signature drink has been very popular amongst Islanders; but of course there are several other drinks that are geared toward different tastes. I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the pricing was as well. My 12 ounce coffee was a little more than $4.00. I would definitely spend more than that at Starbucks, and probably spend the same amount of money buying a cup o’ joe at other local cafés.
“The fact that we specialize in ‘experiences,’ not just coffee, sets us apart,” says Clark. “I like to share my experiences from around the world with the community, and the syrups I experienced and curated in France definitely set us apart. We are not trying to compete with Starbucks. We are simply bringing something delicious for our guests to enjoy while perusing our collection of fine goods.”
I have to admit that the coffee I ordered was simply heavenly to drink. The temperature was perfect, and the coffee was surprisingly earthy and not too sweet. I can see why people become addicted to it. But, what made the latté at Luxury Farms even more unique, was the fact that the coffee beans are roasted locally and the signature syrups are imported from France.
“Our fair trade coffee and espresso beans are hand roasted in Point Loma by our sister company, Swell Coffee Roasters,” says Clark. “It’s the most delicious and fresh coffee in San Diego. We also serve novelty coffee drinks made with very special French syrups that have been handmade by a family in France since 1912.”
And the lavender latté isn’t the only noteworthy item at Luxury Farms. Clark says that even one of Oprah Winfrey’s favorite things can be found at the store. “I have recently collaborated with Alisa Barry, founder of Bella Cucina, to launch our signature collection of gourmet food products, ‘Bella Cucina for Luxury Farms’ – the Artichoke Lemon Pesto is amongst Oprah’s Favorite Things,” says Clark.
Luxury Farms is also in the process of launching a line of grab and go foods, such as fresh salads and cold pastas as well as “Cultivate” juices which are fresh pressed by its sister company.
Have you tried the signature lavender latté yet?