Meet Natalia, Owner, and Creator of Blythe Coffee!
I remember my very first sip of coffee and the feelings it evoked for me. I felt a sense of calm & goodness all over. As a little girl, I remember driving to see my grandmother. On Saturday mornings she always opened up all the windows and shades in her home to let the sunshine in. Two things I could expect, natural lighting and the scent of freshly brewed coffee. Since childhood, I’ve always associated the smell of freshly brewed coffee with a calming, sunny Saturday morning.
The Bay Area is arguably one of the best places to find local, independently owned coffee shops. There was a time when I lived about 45 minutes from Oakland and every Saturday morning, I’d get up and drive just to have a cup of coffee while working on my laptop. Since COVID, it’s been hard not being able to go and enjoy a cup of my favorite coffee while gazing out of the window. So, imagine my joy the day I stumbled upon Natalia on Instagram.
Born and raised in a small town right outside of the Bay Area, Natalia’s love for coffee began while living in New York City. As the beloved, public-facing Founder and Creator of Blythe Coffee, Natalia has created something truly magical with her brand. I always wonder if she is aware of the lives she has changed since opening up her Blythe Coffee stand. The moment I tried her iced, Rose Petal coffee I knew that I’d be a forever customer.
But it goes beyond the flavor of her deliciously, perfect coffee. The moment I met Natalia, she had a warm, welcoming, loving presence. It was her joy for what she does and her willingness to connect with me as a new customer that made me proud I chose to support her. It’s something magical about seeing a Black woman effortlessly carve her own lane and dominate an industry overpowered by her white-counterparts.
Due to COVID regulations, getting a cup of Blythe Coffee is only possible by scheduling an appointment at the Blk Girl Greenhouse. But once you have your appointment, upon entry there are two things that you notice. The beautiful welcoming ambiance of the plant-filled space, and a warm welcoming smile from Natalia that is detectable even behind a mask.
I had the honor and pleasure of interviewing Natalia for DvnOasis. As you read through the interview and get to know her, one of the things Natalia and I have in common is a very fond memory of what coffee was like for us growing up & where the love for it all began. I am excited for you all to learn more about her, her brand, and why you should become a coffee lover if you aren’t already.
Tell us about yourself, your name, where are you from, where do you currently reside, and any other cool facts you want our audience to know.
I'm Natalia, owner, and creator of Blythe Coffee! Born and raised in Sacramento, CA but currently living in the beautiful city of Oakland, CA. Fun Facts about me? There’s way too many, to be honest, so, I’ll keep it simple, I love traveling, I’m obsessed with the beach, I'm a HUGE water baby and when I’m not thinking about coffee, I’m thinking about all the new donut shops I can visit in Oakland!
When did your love for coffee begin? How did you get into coffee?
It all started when I moved to New York City. New Yorkers are known for walking down the street drinking their hot cup of “kawfee” in one hand, a newspaper in the other, with ambition and hustle on the brain. I really wanted to embody being a New Yorker, so that's when I started drinking it and now it’s an every morning ritual.
What inspired you to start Blythe Coffee?
It came from all of the incredible coffee shops I would go to in NYC. I remember saying to myself, “Wouldn't it be dope to have a coffee shop of my own? I can do this...I can open my own shop...this will be easy!” And man was I WRONG! It’s a lot of HARD work! And although I don't own my full shop yet, my inspiration definitely came from visiting coffee shops in NYC - In particular, the inspiration derived from the shops in Brooklyn and Bed Stuy. They're sensational.
Before launching a successful coffee business, what were doing career-wise?
Well, I still have a main career - I'm an Executive Assistant in Legal and Patents at Square, Inc. Definitely a different world from coffee, but they support my “coffee life” so much. Very grateful for that.
Your coffee cart is currently based in Oakland at Blk Girls Greenhouse, how did that partnership come about?
One of the owners of BGGH, Kalu Gabreyohannes, hosted a few events in Oakland that I participated in by serving my coffee. One afternoon we were on the phone just having “girl chat” and she says “Nat, keep this on the low but I’m in the process of opening up a nursery!” I thought it was such a cool idea because I was into plants, so I’m thinking “Oh cool a new plant shop...” As we’re chatting I jokingly said “Maybe I should sell my coffee there??” She goes OMG YES! Ok, if you wanna join in with us, you have 6 weeks to plan!” To be honest I thought she was CRAZY! I was SO SCARED and I didn't really want to participate because I felt like I didn't have enough experience in the coffee scene, we were newly navigating the COVID world so, that was going to present a lot of scary challenges. Also, I had a full-time job. But thankfully, Kalu has ALWAYS been one of my biggest cheerleaders. She’s always pushed me to “keep going” with my coffee dreams and has always been very supportive. You NEED people like that on your team. So we started August 1, 2019, in a fully outdoor space and the rest is history!
Why Oakland? There are tons of places to run a business but why was it important for you to build this venture in Oakland?
I used to travel to Oakland quite a bit when I lived on the East Coast but really wasn't sure about moving here. Then my personal life changed to where it was the best decision to relocate to Oakland and in the process, I really fell in love with “The Town”. So I thought this would be a great place to add another coffee shop to the already wonderful coffee shops that Oakland has to offer. The weather is AMAZING in Oakland and the people I REALLY appreciate how supportive they are of small businesses. It’s an immense joy to experience.
When you think of coffee what comes to mind for you?
I think of my grandmother's house on the weekends. It always smelled like “fresh brewed black coffee”. I recently launched a candle called “Sunday Morning Coffee” in ode to that nostalgic feeling. Also, some of the BEST conversations I’ve ever had, have been over a cup of coffee. It really is the universal beverage that brings people together.
How do you decide on coffee flavors for your brand? Do you currently have a favorite?
A lot of experimenting! I’m all about presentation, scent, and taste. You eat with your eyes first, so I think about what kind of drink would be aesthetically beautiful to the eyes, I then start playing around with different flavors. My current favorite is my “Peppermint Latte”. It’s SO tasty! But my Rosemary Honey has a special place in my heart. I make the simple syrup on that one at home, so indeed it’s special.
For you, what is the best part of running your business?
My returning customers. It is one of the BEST feelings to start recognizing faces - even thru a mask - remembering names of people who come back over and over again for my coffee and who really enjoy it! It’s an incredible feeling and it makes me feel good to have a product that people come back over and over again to enjoy.
How do you hope to see your brand evolve over the next couple of months/years?
I hope to have a full standing coffee shop in Oakland. I want it to be that “go-to” coffee spot. Where the music is poppin’, the coffee is amazing, the baristas are fly and a place where people feel like “HOME” when they come in. That's the end goal.
Are there plans to have your coffee available for purchase online someday?
Definitely in the works. Hopefully for this year of 2021
3 things you hope to manifest in 2021?
Good health for my family, friends, and myself
To be continuously gentle with myself
Perfecting my latte art! It’s a challenge lol
Tell us how we can find and shop with you in-person & online!
You can find me on IG at @blythecoffee and on my website, you can shop and vibe at www.blythecoffee.com
If you are ever in the Oakland area, I strongly encourage you to visit Blk Girl Greenhouse to grab a cup of Blythe Coffee. The only thing better than supporting independently owned coffee spots is supporting Black Owned independent coffee spots. If you’re not local and can’t visit in person, be sure to shop the Blythe Coffee merch and support our girl, Natalia.