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Choose Oakland: Cafe Sidamo
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Oakbook
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Last Updated on October, 13 2008 at 02:28 PM
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| It’s easy to miss Café Sidamo. It’s tucked away in a corner on
Telegraph Avenue that doesn’t get much foot traffic. It isn’t downtown
and it isn’t in Temescal. And if you’re driving, it’s so small that you
would easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it. |
It’s easy to miss Café Sidamo. It’s tucked away in a corner on Telegraph Avenue that doesn’t get much foot traffic. It isn’t downtown and it isn’t in Temescal. And if you’re driving, it’s so small that you would easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it.
But whether you’re walking, biking, or driving, this café is worth making a stop at. The owner, Meron Temesgen, has created a warm and welcoming space in what used to be a garment store. She’s put out comfortable sofas, pictures from her homeland, Ethiopia, on the wall, and lots of appealing coffee-related tschotkes on the shelves and tables.
But the main reason that anyone would stop by this cafe is the coffee. Meron, who is also called Mimi, roasts her coffee by hand everyday. And she does some mixing and blending to create flavors that aren’t very common. Her favorite is what she calls Sidamo coffee. It’s high flavored and sweet. It’s a blend of coffee beans from two distinct regions in Ethiopia: Sidamo and Harar.
It isn’t just the beans that are blended together. You’ve heard of ginger tea, but have you ever tried ginger coffee? Have Meron brew a cup for you. She also serves smoothies, sandwiches, and pastries.
This is Meron’s first business venture, but according to her husband, Tewelde Debresion, business is in her blood. Her family used to run a hotel business in Ethiopia. Her sister, who Meron lived with when she first came to Oakland 10 years ago, runs her own hair salon -- Mame salon.
Tewelde and Meron with their kids
Meron spent the last ten years first working at hotels like Radisson and the Sheraton. She then had two kids, and stayed home for four years. When the younger kid began going to pre-school, she was ready with a business plan. She has big plans for her little cafe. Her goal is to be able to supply coffee to large retailers and other cafes. She wants Sidamo to become a brand.
For that to happen, her coffee needs to find a lot more drinkers. Until now, people have primarily discovered her café, which is just a couple of months old, through word of mouth. She’s also becoming a destination for those who live in the neighborhood. "It's not bad," she says. "On a scale of 1 to 10, it's 5."
The next time you're going down Telegraph, and feel like you need a shot of caffeine, consider a Sidamo stop.
Cafe Sidamo
3624 Telegraph (between 36th Street and 37th Street).
510-594-9007 |
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