Torque Coffee Opening First Brick-and-Mortar in North Park

Torque Coffee, a new people-first coffee company, is getting ready to open a new cafe and kitchen later this year in North Park at 3459 El Cajon Blvd.

The company, led by owners Andy and Nanelle Newbom, recently submitted plans to move into the former home of Electrolab. Andy tells What Now San Diego that while they are at the mercy of the city of San Diego and its permitting process, they hope to have a soft opening in May 2024, although an exact opening date can’t be determined. When the cafe and kitchen opens later this year, customers can expect a welcoming environment with a new approach to coffee.

The Newboms are no strangers to the coffee world, calling themselves coffee lifers. The duo has experience as baristas, barbacks, cashiers, roasters, machine techs, green coffee buyers, coffee trainers, barista & roaster competitors, cuppers, judges, wet & dry mill operators, exporters, importers, and coffee brokers. From co-founding the Barista Guild of America, Barefoot Coffee Roasters, and IPCoffees Mexico Importers to directing the coffee programs for multiple coffee companies, there’s not much these two don’t know about coffee after being in the industry for over two decades.

“We have done many things in coffee while visiting and even living in coffee-producing countries and having a multitude of amazing life-changing experiences,” according to the company’s website. “The one true constant is people. Coffee people, to be exact. Coffee people are simply the best people, period. If you know us, you already know that we are both madly in love with coffee. But you also know that our true love, our deepest heart, is our love for all the wonderful, crazy misfits and dreamers we call coffee people. And if you don’t know us yet, but you are here now, then we will gladly call you coffee people. Let’s get to know each other through coffee.

When they open this new brick-and-mortar, customers can expect a variety of super sweet coffee made by some of the best coffee producers anywhere, who also share in the equity of every coffee you buy. Unlike many coffee companies, Torque Coffee believes in putting people before the product. As a result, with every type of coffee, the company spotlights its producers, including Edwin Martinez, Francisca Cubillo, Juan Diego De La Cerda, Emmanuel Enciso, and more. There will also be food options, but it’s yet to be determined exactly what that will be.

“At Torque, we intentionally lead with people first,” according to the company’s website. “So instead of listing our coffees by blends or single origins, we start with the Coffee Producers. We are fully transparent so you can see not only every single origin from a producer but also every blend that uses their beans as well.”