San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
College area coffee shop creates community
Ultreya Coffee and Tea on College Avenue is serving more than caffeine — it wants to be a safe space for all, wherever they’re at in life.
“(‘Ultreya’ means) ‘I wish you well on your journey,” said Danielle Riggins, the shop’s owner. “I thought San Diego would be the perfect place (for my coffee shop), being such a transient place.”
Established by Riggins in 2018, the coffee shop was inspired by Riggins’ passion for coffee and traveling. In fact, Ultreya’s name comes from the book “The Camino: The Journey of a Spirit,” by Shirley Maclaine, a story about a pilgrimage along the Santiago de Compostela Camino in Spain.
Ultreya Coffee and Tea ultreyacoffeeandtea.com
Ultreya roasts its beans in house, sourcing them from women co-ops in Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Kenya and Papua, New Guinea. The shop’s specialty menu includes unique coffee drinks like “The Daytripper,” made with reishi and chaga, two types of mushrooms with health benefits. A vegan menu with breakfast and lunch items is also available.
Opening her own coffee shop has been a life-long dream of Riggins, who has worked in the San Diego coffee industry for 18 years at places such as the now defunct Lazy Hummingbird Coffee and Tea House. She says she’s always been drawn to the intimacy and sense of community offered at coffee shops. This year, Ultreya won the business of the year award by the College Area Business District.
As a woman- and Lgbtq-owned shop, Riggins says Ultreya is meant to foster an inclusive environment for everyone. Events like mocktail night and queer open mic are hosted monthly, free of charge.
“(Ultreya) is a safe queer-owned space focused on quality coffee, from farm to cup,” Riggins said. “There aren’t a lot of women or queer-owned businesses taking space in the industry so knowing we’re here…(hopefully will) inspire the community...”