Jedidiah Coffee Keeps Laguna Caffeinated
When Steve Munsey picked up his future wife, Embry, at John Wayne Airport in Orange County he took her straight to Laguna’s Orange Inn for a breakfast burrito and then to the beach at Cleo. They had met in Australia during bible college and knew their love was the real deal.
Fast forward a decade-and-a-half later and the two are 15 years into their marriage with 3 kids and a business which they named after their second child, Jedidiah, which they lost at childbirth.
Today, Jedidiah Coffee is a staple in Laguna Beach.
The couple is at every community event with their Mobile Bar and can be found brewing their locally-loved blends daily at their roasting facility in Laguna Canyon.
They’ve adopted the motto “Keep Laguna Caffeinated,” and are known for doing just that.
Having hosted both open houses and holiday markets at their own facility, as well as pop-ups at Another Kind Cafe and their current one at Marine Room, they are a trusted presence throughout town, on a mission to share their love of coffee with as many people as possible.
“We see every partnership, beach cleanup, and teacher appreciation coffee bar as a heartfelt experience with the community,” shares Embry. “While our goal is not to be omnipresent, we love popping up because we see it as a chance to hear the stories of our town… and that is truly priceless! We cannot stress enough how much we value the people that trust us, not only with their coffee experience, but with their story.
Coffee is the tool, people are our heart!”
The husband and wife duo has found great joy in their collaborations with other small businesses in town. “My personal favorite thing about owning a small business,” admits Embry, “is partnering with other like-minded business owners to offer something great! It feels like second nature to say ‘Hey, I love what you’re doing, how we can we join forces?’”
In the past year alone Jedidiah Coffee has partnered with Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Boys & Girls Club, MOPS Laguna, Waymakers Youth Shelter, Rylie’s Angels, Locals for Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach School District, Laguna Beach Police, the Hobie team, Laguna Ocean Foundation, and Amenah (who is their first wholesale partner in town).
Experts in coffee, they have roasted beans from Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala and recently added Mexico and Ethiopia to their rotation this last Spring. “Ethiopia is the first coffee we’ve cupped where there has been such an obvious flavor note like blueberry. It’s our most recommended for black coffee lovers because there is absolutely no need to add anything to taste all the fruity vibrant notes,” shares Steve, whose love for coffee is tangible. “Mexico and Colombia are our safe-bet coffees... but don’t get us wrong, they are perfection also! They don’t have the strong fruity notes like Ethiopia and Guatemala so our wholesale partners tend to go for them because we all know there is a market for cream and sugar lovers, and these roasts take best to added products!”
Blends are a new thing for the team, who just got their own roaster (in Jedidiah Coffee’s signature color, teal).
“After we roasted for over two years we felt good about creating blends because we became so familiar with the different roasts and what would compliment another,” explains Steve.
Indeed, their Thanksgiving Blend was so popular they’ve come out with a Christmas Blend, in addition to their Ethiopia Sidama, Honduras Copan, Guatemala Huehuetenango, Colombia Jerico, and Decaf Columbia.
Jedidiah Coffee’s subscription service is the best way to try all of their different rotations, ensuring you’ll always have a (legit) cup of joe on tap.
Subscriptions are filled every two weeks, and subscribers receive a 25% discount and free local delivery.
And it doesn’t end at just coffee alone. The couple has put their marketing skills to use and has teamed up with a variety of talented local artists to create a slew of coffee-centric products. Their latest is a 12oz Coffee Traveler that they commissioned local artist, Falon Brianne to create, which is something every Laguna local will want to have, and also something close to their hearts.
“We see it as a nod to our heart for community and how much Laguna is embedded into everything we do as a company,” says Embry.
“The Main Beach Lifeguard Tower is such a town staple so we combined our tagline and logo to represent how we want to be another go-to in town. The rock design on the opposite side was added in honor of Jedidiah as Crescent Bay Beach and Park have always been where we go to connect with him as a family.”
It’s the personal touches of the family that have made Jedidiah Coffee such a trusted mainstay in town. And they have big plans on the horizon.
The couple has always dreamed of opening an actual cafe in town and feel their vision for a physical location is getting closer and closer. “We’re ready to have you in our space, to sit down and listen to your passions, pains, and how we can come alongside you,” says a hopeful Embry. “All the opportunities we get are such a picture of the generous heart of Laguna Beach, and a daily reminder of why we keep pushing. Thank you for drinking our coffee and cheering us on. We’re ready for a big 2022, and believe with all of our hearts, it’s the year our dream comes true!”
Lindsay DeLong is the Editor-in-Chief of Laguna Beach Living. A brand strategist and web designer who specializes in a quick 2-week start-to-finish process, she is well-versed at building brands from the ground up, establishing online identity, and setting up a game plan to make your biz run smoothly. Reach out to her at lindsay@lagunabeachliving.com or on her personal site, iLikeLindsay.com.
Photos by: Mari Verdugo.