Yakima Valley coffee enthusiasts found a new favorite spot when Aventura Coffee opened its doors on Fifth Avenue in July of 2023. The local Latinx-owned coffee roastery and café already serve up some of the best espresso and house-made pastries that Yakima has to offer– and there’s even more to look forward to in the new year with the grand opening of their second location on First Street.
Meet the Owners of Aventura Coffee
Co-owners Chris and Rogelio initially began Aventura Coffee in Salinas, California, after noticing that much of the third-wave coffee culture was built on the foundations of regional recipes and cultural symbolism but lacked clear recognition of the cultures they drew inspiration from. As coffee aficionados and entrepreneurs, Chris and Rogelio decided to create a space where third-wave specialty coffee meets generational roots and cultural identity – and Aventura Coffee was born.
The business initially functioned as a micro-roastery, with the team packaging, labeling, and delivering individual bags of coffee beans by hand. This commitment to quality has only grown along with the business.
Today, the Aventura team makes each syrup used in their drinks from scratch and, of course, continues to roast their own beans for espresso. “We don’t want to open a package and then serve the package,” Rogelio explains. “At the end of the day, everything we serve has been made and handled by us.” Whether you order a simple cortado or decide to try one of the seasonal menu items, every element of your drink is carefully crafted to give you the best of the best.
“To us, coffee is a cultural touchpoint,” Rogelio shares. “Our goal is to connect with the valley. To us, coffee is not a commodity, but an experience.” In an era of drive-through coffee, Chris and Rogelio know it takes intentionality to visit a walk-in-only cafe, and they strive to make the experience more than worth the effort. “Our customers are our friends,” Chris said. “If we don’t know them yet, well, we’ll get to know them!”
A Second Location for Aventura Coffee
As the new year approaches, Aventura is looking forward to opening the doors of its second location, which will occupy the space previously filled by the local favorite Game & Grog. In keeping with the Aventura mission, Chris and Rogelio are excited to honor the history and impact of the old bar through decor in their new café space.
“The spot that we’re moving into was such a pillar in the community, and we would never want people to feel that we’re ignoring the impact that it had,” Rogelio says. “We want to incorporate different areas of the space as nods to the old cafe or things that we hold near and dear to our hearts. We’ll also have a market area where we showcase other curated goods to the Yakima community.”
Aventura is already the place to be if you’re looking for a great coffee community, and the new location will lean into that sense of fellowship and culture even more.
Menu Favorites at Aventura Coffee
If you haven’t had a chance to visit Aventura, stop by to try the newly-released winter menu. Both specialty coffees and pastries change seasonally, so there’s always something new to love for the adventurous coffee connoisseur.
“For people who want to try something a little different, our menu is perfect,” Rogelio says. “We want to create a space at Aventura where both people who drink straight espresso and people who love white chocolate mochas can feel comfortable with our menu.”
The classic cortado or vanilla latte is always available to order, but if you’d like to “step out of your comfort zone and into a new experience,” as Chris put it, there are plenty of options on the menu that blend familiar and complex flavors to create a uniquely delicious drink.
Rogelio’s current favorite is the Rummy, a cardamom and vanilla rooibos latte available for a limited time on the 2024 winter menu. “It feels so nice and cozy, just like the weather right now!” Aventura also offers Lotus and tea options, like the Kolibrí, a nitro-charged Lotus that marries saffron with prickly pear syrup for an elevated and subtle sweetness.
While the official opening date for Aventura’s second location is still to be determined, you can follow the team on Instagram at @aventura_coffee to stay updated on any announcements as the new year approaches.
From new menus to new merch, there’s always something to look forward to at Aventura, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of the vibrant coffee community here in Yakima Valley.
“We could never say thank you enough to the people who come into our doors,” Chris says. “The fact that people choose us for our daily coffee will never stop meaning what it means to us.” Treat yourself and find your new favorite café at Aventura Coffee.
