East Village welcomes Achilles Coffee Roasters to the neighborhood

Cortez Hill-based Achilles Coffee Roasters recently spilled the beans on a future East Village location. With an expected open-date of August, the space will be located across the street from Petco Park, on the bottom floor of the newly built Park 12 – The Collection Greystar apartment complex. The coffee shop will neighbor other existing retail tenants such as the second location of North Park café Holy Matcha, and F45 Training’s sixth San Diego fitness studio.

Locally owned and operated, Achilles Coffee Roaster is known for its large selection of pour over coffee. It sources beans from all over the world but keeps its company close to home by naming products after San Diego neighborhoods and landmarks. Windansea (light roast), Torrey Pines (medium roast), Sunset Cliffs (dark roast) and Balboa Park (decaf) are just a few pour over offerings, which are also offered as whole beans.

“With an emphasis on sustainability and high-quality specialty coffee, Achilles Coffee Roasters has earned its popularity,” Greystar representative Jerry Brand said in a press release. “We look forward to introducing our residents and neighbors to this exceptional cafe.”

The ballpark-adjacent space will be Achilles Coffee’s third location in downtown. After opening its first cafe at 703 Ash St. in Cortez Hill, which doubles as its roaster, Achilles expanded to central downtown at 800 B. St. (Achilles Coffee Outdoor Cafe @ The Rey). Both locations are open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. during weekends.

The East Village cafe will have extended hours, allowing Achilles lovers to enjoy their roast longer with a tentative schedule of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Additionally, a larger kitchen in the new 1,200-square-foot retail space will offer a wider selection of food items than the current breakfast and lunch menus.

Specific design elements of the space are still being determined, but both indoor and outdoor seating has been confirmed.

Before opening his roaster in 2016, Achilles Coffee owner Chad Bell got his start in the industry by running a Gaslamp-based coffee cart, Roast Coach. Bell sold the cart to a former employee in 2017 — which still serves Achilles Coffee — and said he is excited to return to his East Village roots.

“When I started the business (Achilles), I had a coffee cart in the Gaslamp at Sixth and J (streets), on the other side of the ballpark,” Bell said. “As the business expanded and we moved to other locations, I always wanted to find a way to get back into the East Village. We’re excited about the area’s recent growth, and look forward to being close once again to the Convention Center and Petco Park.”

The coffee company’s Park 12 location is slated to open its doors in August.
Achilles Coffee Roasters, Park 12 — The Collection, 100 Park Plaza, Suite 175, East Village, achillescoffeeroasters.com

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