MOSCHETTI CREATES ‘KAMALA BLEND’ COFFEE
Honors historical aspect of VP-elect
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.
And now, unveiling “Kamala Blend” on Thursday, Moschetti said it’s about Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harris’ position as the pending 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.
“A lot of people got used to it and really like it. Some don’t know about it. It’s really a novelty,” Moschetti said.
The coffee entrepreneur hopes “Kamala Blend” is equally successful, with Harris’ heritage — India and Jamaica — one fourth each of the mix. The remaining blend, Brazil, is to “mellow it out,” said Marie Concepcion, who bagged the first batch of the new blend on Thursday.
“As the father of a teenage girl, I think it (Harris’ role as vice president) was very important,” Moschetti said. “It’s for all the women in this country … and showing that you can be a little girl and now the sky is the limit. A lot of women experience the opposition in this country. I think it’s more difficult for women to achieve a position of power and quality in terms of pay.”
“The fact that Ms. Harris will be vice president is important for this democracy and the fact she’s a woman of color is most important,” Moschetti continued.
It’s also noteworthy that Harris is from Oakland, said Moschetti, “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 said that combining Harris’ cultural background of India and Jamaica — the latter producing “some of the best coffee in the world” — added with Brazil “is an interesting combination.”
Moschetti has no plans to ship a pound of Kamala Blend to the woman herself.
“If I did, I’m sure the secret service would have to have the first taste,” Moschetti said smiling, adding that it’s unlikely the namesake of “Kamala Blend” will ever show up at Moschetti’s.
“I think she’s really busy now,” he said. “If she did, that would be an honor. I would give her a bag — if it’s not a conflict with the IRS.”
The new coffee blend will be launched Saturday at Moschetti’s usual free coffee tastings, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A one-pound bag of Kamala Blend goes for $18 — the same price as Obama Blend.
“We don’t want to discriminate,” he said.
And no, Moschetti added, no discount for Democrats.