Situated on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, Brew Wave Coffee is winning over hearts and palates with locally sourced coffee, hand-rolled teas, and pastries along with a menu that eventually includes hot, fresh breakfast and panini sandwiches.
“We run a medium, dark, and different-flavored coffee every day,” said new owner Robert Brandy, who purchased the coffee shop at 4967 Newport Ave., from the retiring previous owners a year ago, after bidding against two competitors. He changed the name from Your Mama’s Mug but decided to enhance, not alter its basic appeal. “We have done some improvements,” noted Brandy. “We did introduce hand-rolled teas, which has become one of our specialties.”
Brandy has a long history of owning what he describes as “hard-charging” corporate nonprofits. But he was ready for a career change. “This is the first time I’ve done something I’ve researched,” he said adding he was looking for something to hit the ground running with. “It gave me a chance to really sit down and say, ‘What do I really want to do from this point forward?’ he said. “And everything showed that coffee shops were going to come back when COVID was over and that everything else would start to follow – and it was true.”
Local is the focal point of Brandy’s new business. “All of our vendors are local,” he noted. “They’re conscious of where they source their beans from. We have a number of organic, certified fair-trade, and women-owned growers. And we look for those vendors.”
Brandy is also quick to tell you about his other focus. “Our key is our staff,” he said. “I’ve been blessed with the best staff you could ever have.”
Artwork is another highlight at Brew Wave Coffee, with several artists, all local, featured. One of them is photographer Clifford Black, whom Brandy noted has “been here every day for almost 20 years having a cup of coffee.”
The motto on Brew Wave’s website (brewwavecoffee.com) is “‘live life be happy drink coffee be happier.’ We offer non-dairy milk alternatives and work with local bakeries to source the freshest, tastiest pastries. We select some of the finest beans from around the world and through our bulk sales, we can offer you the same coffee we serve in-store to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.”
Brew Wave has an extensive list of coffee and tea drinks served to wash down a wide assortment of pastries. Drinks available include house-brewed coffee and iced coffee, cold brew, nitro cold brew, espresso, cortado, macchiato, cappuccino, mochas, and lattes. Alternative milk served includes oat, almond, soy, coconut, and non-fat.
Teas featured include English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Moroccan Mint, Green, and Chamomile. Pastry offerings feature acai bowls, Danish pastries and spinach and cheese, ham and cheese, chocolate almond, and chocolate chip cookie croissants. Bagels served are plain, everything, jalapeno and cheese, cinnamon and raisin, and blueberry.
“What made me feel really comfortable coming in was this was a proven location,” noted Brandy. “It was a successful coffee shop for over 20 years. If it didn’t work – it wasn’t the location.”
As expected, Brew Wave gets a lot of tourists but Brandy noted they’re winning over locals too. “Workers are choosing to stop in on their way to work or eat their lunches here,” he said. “We are getting more and more of the people who know all the places to go, and they’re choosing us. We’re trying to give them a good source, a good value.”
BREW WAVE COFFEE
Where: 4967 Newport Ave.
Contact: brewwavecoffee.com, 619-403-1244.
