Sisters Melia and Lilly Spooner have assumed ownership of Alta Organic Coffee, a Santa Cruz café founded by their grandmother Patti Spooner in 1984. The business, which moved to its current location in 1998, emphasizes organic beans and community interaction. The handover occurred in January, preserving a family legacy focused on sustainable practices.
Alta Organic Coffee, located on Santa Cruz's Westside, traces its origins to 1984 when Patti Spooner established the café. It relocated to 2712 Mission Street in 1998, becoming a staple for organic coffee enthusiasts. In January, Patti's granddaughters, Melia and Lilly Spooner, became co-owners, continuing the family-run operation.
Both sisters have deep ties to the business. They worked there intermittently during their childhood and early adulthood. Melia gained experience in veterinarian hospitals, while Lilly obtained a degree in Sustainable Food Systems from Cal Poly Humboldt. The transition happened when circumstances aligned, allowing them to step into leadership roles.
Melia Spooner describes the café's atmosphere as homey and rustic, with a timeless, nostalgic feel that avoids pretension. It serves as a community hub, offering small-batch roasted coffee from around ten single-origin sources worldwide, roasted daily. Favorites include Melia's espresso made with Ethiopian sun-dried beans for a rich natural crema, Sumatran dark roast with chocolate undertones and low acidity, and Peruvian beans that are nutty, fruity, and balanced. Lilly prefers the single-origin Ethiopian Washed, featuring robust bittersweet chocolate and dark cherry notes.
The menu includes chemical-free decaf, specialty coffees, alternative creamers, locally sourced pastries, and breakfast burritos. Plans are underway to expand food options, with a Friday pop-up by Huda offering Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine led by chef Fadi Dabs.
Alta maintains its no-Wi-Fi policy to promote face-to-face connections. Melia Spooner explained, "Our legacy is a big part of why we choose not to offer wi-fi. Historically, Alta has been all about community gathering and interaction. As Lilly and I step into this business, we are intent on honoring these traditions. In general, we feel that wi-fi disrupts interpersonal communication and we are trying to encourage people to get away from their screens and foster more face-to-face human connection."
The sisters highlight the importance of organic coffee. Melia noted, "People often think about the term ‘organic’ and those farming practices in relation to food, but not as often when it comes to coffee. As a product that many consume multiple times daily, it’s just as important to be making a conscious choice to buy organic for personal and planetary health. We are the only certified organic roaster in Santa Cruz County and that is something we really pride ourselves on."