Brooklyn Gets Second Partners Coffee
Partners Coffee opened its second Bedford cafe in Brooklyn, cementing the brand's presence in the borough and offering new gathering spots for locals and visitors. In the East Bay, two new cafes—Santana Blue Drip and Cafe Santana—opened to help fuel morning routines, while Cal's rebranded as Cali Grill. Starbucks is also piloting new menu options to attract afternoon customers beyond the morning rush.
- Partners Coffee was founded in 2012 by two childhood friends, Amber Jacobsen and Adam Boyd, and started with a flagship roastery and cafe on North 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The company, which was originally named Toby's Estate, also has locations in the West Village and Long Island City. - The new 50-seat Bedford Avenue cafe is designed to encourage customers to linger and will feature an expanded single-origin coffee menu, including exclusive offerings from the Partners' roasting team. It will also have an expanded kitchen serving brunch items like "Col's Big Breakfast" and Buttermilk Pancakes. - Cafe Santana, an Oakland-based roastery that started 13 years ago, has opened its second location on MacArthur Boulevard. The founder, Richard Santana, began by roasting coffee in a popcorn maker and built a following at the Jack London Square farmers market. - The new Blue Drip Co. Cafe is located inside the Storehouse Lofts, a live/work space in West Alameda. In addition to coffee and Italian sodas, the shop also sells soy candles and diffusers. - In downtown Berkeley, Cal's Fried Chicken and Burgers has rebranded to Cali Grill, maintaining a similar menu. - Starbucks' new afternoon menu is part of a broader strategy to attract customers outside of the morning rush, a time when visits are often more spontaneous. The initiative is part of a turnaround plan under CEO Brian Niccol. - The new Starbucks offerings include energy drinks called "Refreshers" that use caffeine from green coffee extract, positioning them as a cleaner alternative to traditional energy drinks. The menu will also feature a dedicated matcha selection, a revamped chai with customizable sweetness, and globally-inspired baked goods. - To test new products, Starbucks has implemented a "Starting 5" program, where five stores trial new menu items before a wider rollout, involving baristas in the feedback process to ensure operational efficiency.
