In a town where corporate owned coffee shops are vehemently opposed and locally-owned cafés are vigorously supported, Val’s Coffee Corner in Ocean Beach has emerged as a neighborhood favorite. Owned and operated by Valeria (Val) Fiorini, an experienced barista who has prepared the brewed concoctions for Obecian’s since 2001, Val’s, located at 2244 Bacon St., represents a dream come true for the Brazilian born coffee entrepreneur. “I had wanted to buy this place for years, but when it came up for sale I was not ready, and I had a 9 month old baby,” Forini said. “I thought it was a crazy idea, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to own my own shop, so I bought it.” With limited financial resources and an abundance of creativity, the Sao Paolo native set out to create a unique coffee shop, where she could highlight Brazilian food products and culture. Fiorini said that she only uses Brazilian beans to make her distinctive coffee and espresso beverages. She promises customers that her popular acai bowls are authentically made with pure, wild-harvested and 100 percent organic acai that does not include fillers, and is harvested in the rainforest using sustainable methods. The rest of Val’s menu includes fruit and green smoothies, pastries, bagels, croissants and a number of savory options that are healthy and easy to eat on the run. “I’m proud to be Brazilian and I enjoy the things that I grew up eating,” Fiorini said. “I can now make all of the decisions and serve a good product that I’m proud of.”
According to Fiorini, many coffee shops, such as Starbucks, use a super automatic espresso machine that with a press of a button, makes a premeasured cup of coffee, which she feels contains too much water, and lacks flavor. She added that corporate coffee shops are more expensive and impersonal. She said that when locals go to a café that many want to stop and talk with a barista who knows their name and what they drink. “I’m very personal with people,” she said. “I try to make everyone’s day a little better by talking to them as a friend, and making them laugh, so that they can leave with a great cup of coffee and a smile on their face.”
Although she only intended on staying in the United States for a few months, Fiorini’s coffee career started in OB at a place called Ciggi’s on Voltaire, which is now Tiki Port. In 2004, she left to work at Café Bella, which is located a block away from Val’s Coffee Corner. In January, she left to open her own shop and began doing business in April. After leaving Café Bella, rumors began circulating that Val had retired and moved back to Brazil. She said that long-time customers come up to her almost on a daily basis to say hello, and that they have been searching everywhere for her. “The Brazilian attitude and happy vibes of my café is a good fit for OB,” she said. “My customers will always get the freshest and highest quality coffee, the most authentic acai bowls, low prices and warm friendly service.”
Val’s Coffee Corner is open daily including weekends. Hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The shop closes at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Val’s offers drive up service and free wifi. Val’s Coffee Corner Where: 2244 Bacon St.
Hours: Open daily including weekends. Mondays through Fridays from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The shop closes at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. What: Val’s offers drive up service and free wifi.