Bay Area coffee roaster creates ‘Kamala Blend’
It’s not about politics, says Fabrice Moschetti. It’s about history.
When the founder of Moschetti Coffee in Vallejo created “Obama Blend” in 2008, it was about Barack Obama becoming the first African American president. Unveiling “Kamala Blend” last week, Moschetti said it’s a coffee homage to Vice President- elect Kamala Harris’ pending position as the first female VP.
“It’s celebrating important events,” Moschetti said, emphasizing that while Obama and Harris secured their place as pioneers, there wasn’t the historical achievement of Donald Trump or President- elect Joe Biden worthy of their own namesake coffee.
Thus, no “Biden Blend.”
“When President Obama was running for his election, someone asked us to make a blend. It was interesting because his father was from Kenya and he had links to Hawaii, which is a good place for coffee,” said Moschetti.
Obama Blend was so successful, it’s still being sold at Moschetti’s retail shop on Curtola Parkway and Sixth Street.
The coffee entrepreneur hopes Kamala Blend is equally successful, with Harris’ heritage — India and Jamaica — represented in the mix. The remaining blend, Brazil, is to “mellow it out,” said Marie Concepcion, who bagged the first batch of the new blend.
“As the father of a teenage girl, I think (Harris’ achievement) was very important,” Moschetti said. It’s also noteworthy that Harris is from Oakland, “a less-wealthy place in the Bay Area. I think that’s a signal to all the little girls: Go to school, study hard and you may be able to one day be the vice president — and one day even remove the ‘ vice’ and be president.”
Moschetti isn’t planning to ship a pound of Kamala Blend to the woman herself, but “if I did, I’m sure the Secret Service would have to have the first taste.” He’s not expecting Kamala Blend’s namesake to put in an appearance at the Vallejo shop anytime soon.
“I think she’s really busy now,” he said.
A 1-pound bag of Kamala Blend goes for $18, the same price as Obama Blend. And no, Moschetti added, he’s not offering discounts for Democrats.