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FresYes!

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Visit these local coffee spots in Fresno and Clovis

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Jason Farris

Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES

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Don’t want to hit up that chain coffee spot? No problem! The Fresno and Clovis area has more than enough local coffee spots to suit your needs wherever you are in town.

If you see something I’ve missed, let me know and I’ll add it to the list.

Tower District

local coffee spots

Revue in the Tower District [photo: Natali Carrera]

Revue
620 E. Olive Ave, Fresno, CA 93728
M-Sat 7a-9p, Sun 8a-8p
Read more 

Hi-Top Coffee
1306 N. Wishon Ave, Fresno, CA 93728
M-F 7a-8p, Sat-Sun 8a-8p
Read more

Kuppa Joy
1900 N. Echo Ave, Fresno, CA 93704
M-Sat 7a-9p
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Café Van Ness
3204 N Van Ness Blvd, Fresno, CA 93704 (at Gazebo Gardens Nursery)
M-F 7a-2p, Sat-Sun 8a-2p
Read more

Downtown Fresno

local coffee spots

Fulton Street Coffee co-founder, Octavio Vargas, and manager, Elizabeth Moreno [photo: Natali Carrera]

8th Notch Coffee & Gifts
744 P St. #102, Fresno, CA 93721
M-F 7a-4p, Sat 9a-1p
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Fulton Street Coffee
2011 Tuolumne St, Fresno, CA 93721
M-F 8a-5p
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Cornerstone Coffee
1463 Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93721
M-F 7a-5p, Sun 7a-1p
Read more 

USBean Brew Station
700 Van Ness Ave. (at Bitwise South Stadium)
M-Th 8a-7:30p, Fri 8a-5p
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Central Fresno

Collect Coffee 
3142 E. Campus Pointe Dr, Fresno, 93710
M-F 7a-8p, Sat 9a-9p, Sun 10a-6p
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North Fresno

local coffee spots

Yellow Mug employees dressed as Luke from “Gilmore Girls” during a special event [photo: Joanne Lui]

Yellow Mug Coffee
1137 E. Champlain, Fresno, 93720
M-Sat 6a-6p, Sun 6a-7p 
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Clovis

Kuppa Joy
518 Clovis Ave, Clovis, CA 93612
M-Sat 7a-9p
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Two Cities Coffee Roasters
608 4th St, Clovis, CA 93612
M-F 6a-10p, Sat 7a-10p
Read more

On The Edge Coffeehouse
412 Pollasky Ave, Clovis, CA 93612
M-W 6:30a-5p, Th 6:30a-9p, Fr-Sat 8a-10p, Sun 8a-5p
Read more

Brew Your Own

Lanna Coffee Co.
617 Broadway St, Fresno, California 93721
M-F 8:30a-4p
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The Revue celebrates one-year anniversary with new mural

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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Locally owned and operated coffee house, The Revue, located at 620 E. Olive in the heart of Fresno’s Tower District, will be celebrating its one-year anniversary this Saturday, Aug. 25, with a special celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I caught up with one of their awesome owners, Bryan Feil, to learn more about the event and what’s new at Revue. A lot has changed in just a year!

Revue one year anniversary

FresYes: Tell us what you love about your location and about having been a part of the Tower community for the last year.

The Revue: We honestly just love engaging and connecting with our community through coffee and delicious products. Having the ability to offer products that are locally sourced and thoughtfully prepared is what gets us excited.

When you opened, you offered something no other local coffeehouse could—Ampersand ice cream! Since then, you’ve added new and unique offerings to your menu. Tell us about what’s new.

We have seasonal menu changes which bring about great excitement, from our soda offerings to house-made syrups or the crowd favorite, our Horchatte (a cinnamon-infused horchata-inspired latte). It’s been fun to keep people fueled with products that are unique to the Central Valley.

It seems like your back room has been hopping with cool, community events lately! Tell us a little about that.

Our desire to connect the community through beverages is exciting but, just as much, are the events that bring everyone together. We do Vendor Fairs every two months which showcase craft makers from around the valley.

We have partnered with Tower Yoga to do a Sunday Yoga Reads session and incredible weekly yoga events that bring health and connectivity together. We also offer kombucha workshops, coffee cuppings, open mic nights (every Monday night), and other regular music events.

It’s also been an event space community members can rent for their own events, which is another neat community engagement opportunity for us.

Revue one year anniversary

Cozy interior invites you to pull up a seat

Revue one year anniversary

The Revue’s back room is home to yoga, music, and more!

You guys recently commissioned an awesome mural for the side of your building, can you tell us more about it?

It was created by two incredible artists, Quinn Bowman and Julia Woli Scott, who have really pulled out all the stops to put together this 90-foot, five panel mural that is incredible, beautiful, and unique. We are doing a celebration of this on Aug. 25 as well.

What else would you like readers to know about your upcoming event or The Revue in general?

Come on the 25th ready to celebrate our community and great beverages, and enjoy a unique, one-time opportunity to enjoy a “steal the glass” nitro float drink. We are so thankful for our city and the Tower for allowing us to serve this year, and hope to continue bringing our best daily. If you haven’t had the opportunity to come down, please come and visit with us and the community this Saturday, it will be fun!

Revue one year anniversary

Come see The Revue’s wall mural at their anniversary party this weekend!

Lanna Coffee Co. launches “Valley Children’s Blend” to raise funds for hospital

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Sarah Soghomonian

TV Producer and fan of all things fabulous.Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred!

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Fresno-based Lanna Coffee Co. has launched a new product designed to raise funds for Valley Children’s Hospital.

“Valley Children’s Blend” is a medium roast with vanilla undertones and a lingering nutty finish. Five dollars from every bag sold will be donated to the hospital’s Children’s Fund, which goes to improving care and services for patients, recruiting pediatric surgeons, and providing the most advanced technology.

“Lanna Coffee Co. wanted to provide an opportunity to use their product as a means to fundraise and give back to our community,” says Kelly Mitchinson, Administrative Director of Lanna Coffee Co. “With the daily ritual of drinking coffee, this new blend gives consumers another great reason to choose Lanna Coffee and make a difference in their community.”

Valley Children's Blend

Hospital serves over a million children in the area

For more than 65 years, Valley Children’s has provided care for our community. With more than 575 physicians and 3,400 staff members, the hospital serves 1.3 million children in their 12-county service area.

“We are so grateful to have the support of local businesses like Lanna Coffee,” says Zara Arboleda, Valley Children’s spokesperson. “We are humbled by their generosity and will use funds raised to continue providing the best pediatric care to Valley families.”

Valley Children’s Blend is sold in 12 oz. bags and will be available through Dec. 31. It sells for $15 and can be purchased online or at the Lanna warehouse at 617 Broadway St. in downtown Fresno. It’s also available at the cafeteria of Valley Children’s Hospital.

Valley Children's Blend

The team at Lanna Coffee Co. says they’re excited to support Valley Children’s mission to provide high-quality, comprehensive care. This isn’t the only way the company gives back. They use beans from Northern Thailand, and a portion of every sale is sent back to that region. The funds are helping build gravity feed water tanks in remote villages.

To learn more about Lanna Coffee’s mission, check out this FresYes article.

Tower District’s Hi-Top launches line of branded coffee

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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This month, Hi-Top Coffee in the Tower District officially began selling its own line of coffee featuring beans from Colombia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Peru—roasted right here in Fresno. According to Hi-Top’s owners, “The coffee beans have been picked, processed, and shipped from around the world during optimal times, as the seasonality of the product is taken into thoughtful consideration, and the beans are roasted for peak freshness and flavor.”

[Read my post on Hi-Top’s grand opening here.]

hi top branded coffee

Aaron Bagato, co-founder, presents new, locally roasted Hi-Top coffee for purchase

Hi-Top Coffee’s roasting procedures “highlight the complexity of each region, for optimal natural sweetness.” These coffees will be especially intriguing to coffee connoisseurs, as the flavors will expand beyond typical roast varieties like light, medium, and dark, offering more nuances in flavor. However, they will also aim to be approachable and enjoyable for all coffee drinkers.

hi top branded coffee

Each Hi-Top Coffee package presents tasting notes

“The way in which we roast the beans is for optimal enjoyment, and the result is coffee that is juicy, bright, and exciting,” says Aaron Bagato, co-owner at Hi-Top Coffee. Just eight months after opening Hi-Top, the team, including Bagato and co-owners Spencer and Karsyn Suvanto, began the local roasting process behind the scenes, and are now proud to bring the final product to market.

Familiar artwork on packaging

Hi-Top Coffee is packaged in compostable bags, and the familiar artwork on the packaging (like that seen adorning the walls of the Hi-Top shop) was designed by local artist Quinn Bowman with help from shop employee Lexie Fabbian.

hi top branded coffee

Hi-Top Coffee is now available for purchase

“This is an important milestone for me personally, as well as for everyone in our shop,” says Bagato, whose work experience includes several specialty coffee establishments both locally and abroad. “This is something we’ve been working towards for a while, and it’s fun for us to be bringing our take on the current coffee scene to the Central Valley.”

The roasted beans are sold in 10 oz bags and range in price from $13 to $17. The coffee can be purchased in the shop at 1306 N. Wishon Ave. in the Tower District, or online. Wholesale purchases are also available. For more information, visit www.hi-topcoffee.com.

All images courtesy Hi-Top Coffee

10 reasons to visit Sierra Nut House Wine Bar and Bistro

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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If you’ve lived in the Fresno area for any length of time, chances are you’ve either given or received a gift of delicious dried fruit or nuts from Sierra Nut House at least once.

Sierra Nut House has been in operation since 1969. The business began on the family’s almond farm in Clovis, CA, and it was followed by a gift shop that was built at Chestnut and Sierra. Sierra Nut House’s Wine Bar and Bistro is the most recent addition, located in the Villagio Shopping Center across from River Park on Blackstone and Nees.

Sierra Nut House

Sierra Nut House Wine Bar and Bistro located on Blackstone and Nees in the Villagio Shopping Center

This week, I had a meeting at the Wine Bar and Bistro—my first visit there—and I was blown away by how much it offers customers. I felt compelled to share with you, dear readers, some of the amazing things beyond fruit and nuts that await you upon your visit.

Here are my 10 reasons to visit the Sierra Nut House Bistro and Wine Bar.

1. Comfort foods

They make amazing breakfast pastries, frittatas, and hearty panini (wrap-style grilled sandwiches) from scratch. I tried the Apple Bread Pudding with slivered almonds and local raisins, which was served warm. It was heavenly!

2. All-you-can-drink coffee

Multiple roasts of coffee are served with free refills for dine-in guests, all day.

Sierra Nut House

Enjoy espresso beverages of drip coffee at the Sierra Nut House Bistro and Wine Bar’s café counter

3. Soup du Jour

Sierra Nut House Wine Bar and Bistro offers amazing soups each day, made with flavorful, fresh, and healthy ingredients. All of the soups listed on the Soup du Jour board were unique and mouth-watering, no standard-issue chicken soup to be seen.

4. Healthy and hearty options

If you like delicious salads, chicken bowls, and cheese plates, they’ve got ’em!

Sierra Nut House

Yummy, fresh lunch options on display in the Sierra Nut House café

5. Sugar-free selection

Once upon a time, Fresno used to have a Sugarless Shack store that offered sugarless candies and treats that even diabetics could enjoy. Sierra Nut House now fills that void, offering a wide selection of sugarless sweets.

Sierra Nut House

Sierra Nut House’s selection of sugar-free candies

6. CHEESE

Sierra Nut House offers a wide selection of gourmet cheeses, Italian snacks (including my family’s personal favorite, taralli, which are like savory, crispy, pretzels) and spreads—all items that make a wonderful snack or hostess gift combination.

Sierra Nut House

Just a few of the amazing cheeses available for purchase

7. Gift selection

Speaking of hostess gifts, Sierra Nut House offers a huge selection of wine, chocolates, local honey, jams, and nuts that can be purchased pre-wrapped or as a custom, you-fill-it gift basket.

Sierra Nut House

Just a fraction of the wine selection

Sierra Nut House

Local honeys for sale 

Sierra Nut House

Chocolate lovers rejoice: there’s a full aisle of gourmet goodies for you.

Sierra Nut House

A few examples of prepared gift items available for purchase

8. Chocolate

If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll find hand-dipped truffles, fruits, and nougats in the cold case at the wine bar.

Sierra Nut House

Hand-dipped chocolates

9. Great staff

Sierra Nut House is known for customer service and knowledgeable staff who are happy to help customers select excellent gifts and wrap them expertly.

10. Fantastic atmosphere

Sierra Nut House’s Wine Bar and Bistro offers pleasant, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a glass of wine with a friend or loved one.

Sierra Nut House

Interior view

Sierra Nut House

Outdoor seating

For more about what the Sierra Nut House has to offer, and to order online, visit their website here, and make sure to follow them on Facebook for updates.

Dale Bros. Coffee has a new name, new menu items

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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As your resident coffee writer (self-appointed, mainly due to my extreme love for the life-giving substance) I wanted to provide you with some updates on Dale Bros. Coffee, which I initially wrote about when they opened.

The downtown coffee spot is now called 8th Notch Coffee & Gifts and it’s offering a lot of new things for their customers. I interviewed co-owner Melanie Unguez, who provided me with insight on all the exciting changes.

dale bros new name

Dale Bros. Coffee in downtown Fresno is now 8th Notch Coffee & Gifts

FresYes: Dale Bros. Coffee is now 8th Notch. Can you let us in on the name change decision, and the meaning of your new name?

8th Notch: We (Mike and Melanie Unguez) took over as sole owners of the coffee shop and renamed it 8th Notch, a nod to the location (near the Santa Fe tracks and Amtrak station) and to our 3-year-old son who is obsessed with trains. The 8th notch on a train means full power.
 
FY: The name isn’t the only thing that’s new. You’re now serving more food, and you’ve expanded your hours. Tell us all about that.
 
8th Notch: We are now serving breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Mike, who is a graduate of California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, has curated a small menu of delicious sandwiches. We start serving them at 8 a.m. and the kitchen closes at 3:30 p.m. (for now …). We still offer our toast menu and Corazon Baking Co. pastries, and owner Liz’s new scones are to die for!
 
FY: What’s your most popular drink, and what are your three favorite menu items?
 
8th Notch: Our Nitro Cold Brew continues to be our most popular drink over all. All of our coffees are made with Verve, a roaster based in Santa Cruz. The cold brew is made using an in-house special technique that we believe really brings out the flavor, while limiting the acidity and bitterness. A close second would have to be the honey-cinnamon latte, especially when it comes to hot drinks.
 
dale bros new name

8th Notch frothing milk for a delicious coffee drink

 
Our sandwich menu does change occasionally, depending on what’s in season. Right now my personal favorites are: The Vegan Chickpea. Imagine a tuna salad or egg salad but with chickpeas as the protein, making it perfect for vegetarians and vegans alike. This sandwich has become a favorite of many carnivores as well. Served with vegan mayo, avocado, sprouts, and shaved carrots on Max’s Artisan Bakery focaccia bread.
 
A weekend special that was so popular we decided to add it to the everyday menu is the Green Eggs & Ham breakfast sandwich. Pesto, arugula, eggs, ham, and provolone also served on toasted Max’s focaccia. And, roll your eyes or joke if you must, but our avocado toast—mashed avocado on toasted Basque sourdough, served with our house-made piri-piri chili oil, is delicious.
 
dale bros new name

The Green Eggs & Ham Sandwich was made a permanent offering due to high demand

 
FY: Can you tell us a little about the boutique items you’ll be carrying this spring? Anything brand new to the shelves or best-sellers you’d like to highlight?
 
8th Notch: This spring season, we have really expanded our clothing and accessories. We are bringing in some really fun tops, wraps, shawls, and lightweight scarves. Somehow it seems we have become the unicorn headquarters. Everything unicorn you can imagine: pens, piggy banks, socks, headbands, wallets, stuffed animals, we have them, and more! We also just got our first shipment of 3-foot by 5-foot Fresno flags. Perfect for marching with the Zorros Fire Squad! We’re almost sold out, but more are on the way.
 
dale bros new name

8th Notch offers a wide selection of gift items in addition to delicious coffee and food items

FY: What are your current hours and is there any other info you’d like FresYes readers to know?

8th Notch: We’re currently open Monday–Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Keep a look out for beer, wine, and extended hours in the months ahead!
 
…
 
8th Notch is located next to Quesadilla Gorilla on P Street, just north of Ventura. My personal 8th Notch menu recommendation, for those who love cinnamon, is to try the Snickerdoodle Latte. It’s so good! 
 
Make sure to follow them on Facebook for all the latest updates.

Hate a certain pumpkin spice coffee drink? Drink these local lattes instead

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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It’s Pumpkin Spice Season! Or… you know, fall.

If the thought of a certain pumpkin spice-flavored coffee drink makes you want to smash jack-o-lanterns (don’t do that, it’s mean!) fear not. I’ve gathered for you a delicious list of the best local and lovingly-made fall coffee drinks from around Fresno—none of which contain pumpkin.

Enjoy and happy sipping!

1. Nutella Latte

Where to find it: Dale Bros. Coffee, 744 P St. Fresno, 93721

Owner Melanie Unguez is proud to offer a smooth and comforting Nutella Latte ($4 for 12 oz, $4.50 for 16 oz). You love Nutella, you love coffee. There’s nothing but goodness here. (Check out my write-up on Dale Bros. here.)

local lattes

Dale Bros. Coffee Nutella Latte [photo: Dale Bros.]

2. Five Spice Latte

Where to find it: The Revue, 620 E. Olive Ave., Fresno, 93728

The Revue’s Bryan Feil recommends their Five Spice Latte. “It’s super incredible and includes nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, clove, and Madagascan vanilla. It’s the perfect balance of fall in a cup—not overly sweet, but hits the nail on the head for flavor and makes you want to fall in a pile of leaves.” ($4.50 for a small, $5 for a large)

local lattes

The Revue’s Five Spice Latte [photo: The Revue]

If you haven’t already tried it, I’d also add their Whiskey Caramel Latte to your must-try list, even if it’s not seasonally-specific. The whiskey adds a depth to the caramel that is above and beyond most caramel coffee drinks I’ve tasted. (Check out my review of Revue here.)

3. Chai Latte

Where to find it: Hi-Top Coffee, 1306 N. Wishon Ave. Fresno, 93728

Hi-Top recommends their chai latte. “It basically tastes like fall feels. You can get it hot, 12 oz for $4.25, 16 oz for $4.75, or iced for $4.25. Our signature drink, the Low Top, also contains cinnamon and cardamom so it has some of those familiar fall flavors in it and that is $4.25.”

As an added bonus, Hi-Top also offers seasonal toasts, including a fall toast they’ll be serving as of this week. “We’ll have a caramel apple toast with a cheese spread on the bottom, followed by a layer of thin sliced green apples, and topped with caramel, brown sugar and crumbled nuts.” (Check out my write-up on the newly opened Hi-Top here.)

Hi-Top Coffee’s Chai Latte [photo: Hi-Top Coffee]

4. Gingerbread Man Latte

Where to find it: Yellow Mug Coffee, 1137 E. Champlain, Fresno, 93720

Yellow Mug has a number of seasonal offerings. “We have the Casper, which is an espresso drink flavored with brown sugar cinnamon and white chocolate; the Gingerbread Man Latte, which is flavored with gingerbread and hazelnut; the Spooked Cider, which is apple cider with a gingerbread twist; and Witches Brew, which is a cold brew swirled with condensed milk.” (Check out the FresYes review of Yellow Mug Coffee here.)

local lattes

Clockwise from left: The Casper, Spooked Cider, and Witches Brew from Yellow Mug Coffee. [photo: Yellow Mug Coffee]

5. Amaretto Latte

Where to find it: Collect Coffee Bar, 3142 E. Campus Pointe Dr, Fresno, 93710

Barista Vincent recommends Collect Coffee’s Amaretto Latte. “It’s amaretto with coconut, garnished with chocolate. We also have a nutmeg cinnamon spiced chai for the non-coffee drinkers.”

local lattes

Collect Coffee Bar’s beautiful Amaretto Latte [photo: Collect Coffee Bar]

And there you have it. Five local lattes with not a pumpkin in sight! If you have a favorite fall coffee drink, let me know about it in the comments.

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Hi-Top Coffee sets up shop in the Tower District

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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Hi. I’m Natali, and I’m a coffee addict.

There, now that that fact has been made abundantly clear, I am happy to share with you that Fresno now has one more awesome place to grab a really great cup o’ Joe. Everyone, please welcome Hi-Top Coffee to Wishon Ave. in the Tower District.

I stopped by Hi-Top for the first time last Friday morning on my way to work and for having been open just eight days, it sure seemed like a popular place to be already! The whole place was filled with people enjoying the beautifully redecorated space, but despite that, the service was fast, friendly, and attentive. Long story short: my mocha was phenomenal, and it kept me energized until late in the afternoon, which was awesome.

Hi-Top Coffee

Hi-Top Coffee’s owners at work [photo: Hi-Top Coffee]

Hi-Top origins

Hi-Top Coffee is the product of a friendship formed originally at MetalMark climbing gym in Fresno. Hi-Top co-founders Aaron Bagato, Spencer Suvanto, and Karsyn Suvanto have a passion for coffee, from picking the beans to pouring a cup to every drink they serve.

Bagato started as a barista in Montana, and after moving back to his hometown, worked for Raizana Tea and helped Kuppa Joy open their Fresno location. Most recently, Bagato worked at Lanna Coffee Co. He traveled to Thailand and learned the full circle of third wave coffee, from sourcing to roasting, brewing, and serving.

Hi-Top Coffee

Hi-Top offers an open, friendly, and inviting space [photo: Hi-Top Coffee]

A Commitment to craft coffee

The Suvantos purchased a La Marzocco Strada EP, a rare, custom espresso machine that provided a catalyst for their coffee shop plans. Construction on the shop began in May with the help of Karsyn’s father, Joe Parker, owner of Karsyn Construction. The shop, formerly Café Corazon, was remodeled into a comfortable space with natural concrete floors, wooden tabletops, hexagonal tiles, large windows, and a custom mural by local artist Quinn Bowman.

“Our goal with Hi-Top Coffee is to create a quality experience from beginning to end; from the moment it is picked all the way to the final product served,” says Bagato, who considers himself a barista above a business owner. “Although we are providing a top-quality experience, we are not pretentious about the end cup of coffee, mainly because we realize there are so many hands along the way that helped create that single cup.”

Hi-Top Coffee sells and serves craft coffee from primary roasters Cat & Cloud, a shop based in Santa Cruz that was started by a team of national barista champions whose values and mission mirror those of Hi-Top’s founders. Hi-Top will feature Cat & Cloud’s flagship blend “The Answer” for espresso drinks, and will rotate in single origin coffees as they become seasonally available. Hi-Top Coffee also plans to be a multi-roaster shop, bringing in guest roasters on its pour-over menu each month.

Artisan teas will be offered from Kilogram Tea, an offshoot of Intelligentsia, and gourmet toasts will feature local, fresh-baked bread. A Hi-Top Coffee mobile cart is also in the works, which will be available for private event catering.

“We are intentionally hiring friendly people and are eager to share our love and knowledge of coffee to any customers who want to learn,” says Bagato. “Above all else, we want to create a place that offers people a great cup of coffee, a smile, and hopefully a better day.”

Hi-Top Coffee

What to try if you go

  • Hi-Top Coffee’s specialty drink, the “Low-Top”: a one-and-one split shot of espresso, one half plain and one shaken with almond milk, honey, cinnamon, and cardamom
  • A Flat Churro: toast with cinnamon and sugar, like you had when you were a kid… oh nostalgia…
  • Sweet Greens: avocado toast topped with lemon basil pesto, micro greens, and olive oil

Hours and location

Shop hours are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hi-Top Coffee is located at 1306 N. Wishon Ave. For more information, visit www.hi-topcoffee.com or follow them on Facebook.