Something’s brewing at Casetta Group. The California-based brand and hospitality management company has launched its own coffee brand, Other People’s Coffee (OPC). We spoke with Casetta Group Cofounder Carolyn Schneider more about the delicious venture:
Where did the idea for your own coffee brand originate? Where did the name Other People’s Coffee come from?
We loved the idea of creating a signature blend for all of our Casetta hotels. There is consistency for the guests—they know when they stay with us, they’ll always have a great cup of coffee. We also appreciate that sharing a cup of coffee is the ultimate form of hospitality. Casetta hotels and coffee go hand in hand. Other People’s Coffee is an homage to the daily cup and every hand it touches along the way. We wanted to create a name that spoke to the craft of making coffee, the many people involved and the universal bond shared over a cup.
What inspired the blend? What exactly is available to guests?
We wanted to create a blend that we felt would be well-liked by many palates. It’s a flavorful profile, but not too wild. Both our Custom Blend and Espresso are perfect for all milk-based drinks and are available to guests.
Where is the blend available?
Guests can purchase at our properties: Casa Cody in Palm Springs, CA; Marina Riviera in Big Bear Lake, CA; and The Pearl Hotel in San Diego, CA, as well as through our online retail shop at casetta.com.
How does the blend reflect the Casetta Group brand?
Our blend is smooth with notes of dark chocolate, jam and tropical acidity. Casetta hotels are residential in nature and feel like a home away from home. And alternatively, when sipping OPC at home, we hope you feel that essence of vacation and relaxation.
How do you think coffee, travel and hospitality are connected? How does Other People’s Coffee honor that?
They are all integrated. We love that guests can smell OPC brewing in the morning and have that sensory connection to our other hotels. Travel is about exploring and getting outside of your element, but there’s something so comforting about knowing that you can always have a delicious cup of coffee in the morning. OPC honors this and connects the dots between all of our properties.
Who’s involved in the coffee production? What’s the process like?
We have partnered with Pulley Collective in Downtown Los Angeles to roast our beans from farms in Nicaragua, Peru and Brazil. Our beans are roasted frequently and to-order for the properties, so you’re always getting the freshest cup.
How does the blend honor Casetta’s sustainability efforts?
We hope to build a deeper sense of community within the coffee industry by bridging the gap between farmers, roasters and consumers. In addition, our bags are made from recycled paper, and we incorporate surplus coffee in recipes whenever possible. At The Pearl Hotel in San Diego, we’re serving an incredible espresso martini and tiramisu with OPC beans.
Can you detail how Other People’s Coffee shares the stories of others? Why is this important to Casetta’s company ethos and culture?
All green coffee is sustainably sourced through our roaster/importer network, where we only work with farms that prioritize fair wages, humane treatment and eco-friendly practices. Our Single Origin Espresso is sourced from the Mogiana region of Brazil, known for full-bodied and fruity coffees. Family-run farms provide delicious quality beans due to the excellent climate, altitude and soil in the area.
Our Custom Blend combines coffee from the Mierisch Family Farms in Nicaragua with harvest from the Roger Chilcon Flores farm in Peru. Mierisch’s coffee offers notes of silky and full-bodied dark chocolate, harmonized with the fruit-forward cherry notes of its Peruvian complement.
As a small business, it is important to us to support other small businesses and to understand their practices. We try to be as thoughtful as we can from a guest perspective and be conscious of the resources we are utilizing to serve our guests. We are excited to introduce Other People’s Coffee to our guests and hope that coffee drinkers discover Casetta hotels in turn. Tag us in your daily cup: #otherpeoplescoffee #dailycup.
