The Story of Pittador Brews

 

Our journey began with an unexpected love affair—with coffee. A scorching morning in San Diego led us into Ryan Bros. Coffee, where the rich aroma of cold brews on nitro taps captivated us. For five days straight, we indulged in their craft, savoring the experience like patrons at a brewery. As we headed home to Sacramento, a question lingered: Did our city have anything like this? A quick search told us, no. And just like that, a spark ignited—why not bring this unique coffee experience to our hometown?

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Excited, we shared our idea with friends, family, and colleagues. While they appreciated our enthusiasm, they couldn't imagine us leaving stable jobs for the unknown. What they didn't know was that we had long dreamed of becoming our own bosses; we just needed the right opportunity. Then came the pandemic—an era of uncertainty, yet it gifted us time. I recalled a Microsoft engineer who roasted coffee at home, so I reached out, eager to learn. He advised me to start small: a popcorn popper, some raw beans from SweetMarias.com, and a willingness to experiment. Soon, my backyard was covered in chaff, and my curiosity turned into obsession.

Back at work, I eagerly shared my roasted batches with colleagues. The feedback?

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Overwhelmingly positive, but with one caveat—they wanted darker roasts, something the popcorn popper just couldn't deliver. Determined, I sought a better roaster, funding the upgrade by offering fresh coffee in exchange for support. This led to the purchase of a Behmor 1600+ home coffee roaster, marking a pivotal step forward. Meanwhile, Liliette documented our journey on social media, drawing in a growing network of supporters eager to taste and give feedback.

 

 

The Moment Everything Changed

 

Then, a call from our former employer, Hina, and her husband, Gerd, changed everything. Over the years, we had worked with them in the tea industry, honing skills we hadn’t realized would shape our future. When they asked about our aspirations, we laid it all out: a coffee business now, a meadery and brewery in the future. Their response? “You should add tea to your offerings.” They believed in us so much that they offered mentorship and silent investment—if we could present a business plan and formally establish our company.

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Thus, Pittador Brews was born

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We launched as an online brand, leveraging a mailing list of over 700 former customers. With our permits, food handler certifications, and domain secured, we set our website launch for October 31, 2020. But we quickly realized that passion alone wasn’t enough; we needed a team. Liliette’s sisters, Nanette and Carrie, stepped in, managing social media, marketing, and product design. Meanwhile, we focused on pricing, email campaigns, and logistics.

The website launch was a roaring success, drawing in orders, social media buzz, and phone calls. However, we underestimated demand. Two months in, we knew we needed a commercial roaster to keep up. Enter the Kaldi New Wide 400g from South Korea, a machine that gave us the capacity to grow.

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From Pop-Ups to a Full-Blown Movement

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By early 2021, we hit a slow season. Sales dipped, and anxiety set in. Then, an opportunity presented itself—a pop-up event in midtown Sacramento. On a cold, windy day, we set up shop, struggling against the elements. But when customers showed up and we covered our vendor fees, we realized something: pop-ups were the key to survival.

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From that point on, we embraced the hustle. We set up at markets, fairs, and festivals, pouring drinks and sharing our story. By 2023, Pittador Brews was everywhere—from major events like Foodieland at CAL EXPO to catering contracts with Elk Grove elementary schools and Cosumnes River College. We expanded our menu, upgraded our equipment, and built a reputation. Farmers' market customers sought us out by name.

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However, success brought its own set of challenges. By late 2021, we had spread ourselves too thin, taking on more events than we could handle. We had to invest in more equipment, a larger vehicle, and additional staff. Our family business meetings became intense discussions about sustainability, strategy, and the future.

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The Path to a Permanent Home

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In 2022, we realized it was time for stability. The most common question we received was: "Do you have a brick-and-mortar location?" The constant movement between markets made it hard for customers to find us, so we made a critical decision: we needed a permanent presence. After evaluating options, we chose the Oak Park Farmers’ Market, where we could build real relationships with the community. Over time, we became a staple. If we missed a day, customers noticed. If we got moved to a different spot, it disrupted the market flow. We weren’t just vendors—we were part of the ecosystem.

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But by 2024, uncertainty loomed. The pandemic-era business boom was fading. Small markets were closing, costs were rising, and many businesses we once vended alongside were disappearing. We needed to pivot. Catering became our next evolution—prepaid drinks meant guaranteed revenue, and we secured major contracts with schools and colleges. Then came our biggest opportunity yet: an invitation to the California State Fair.

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Initially hesitant due to restrictions on beverage sales, we took a chance by offering samples and selling packaged teas and coffees. It was a massive success. Lines formed, word spread, and our brand awareness skyrocketed. We replicated this model at the Home and Garden Show and other large events, proving that engaging customers through taste was a winning strategy.

 

 

The Turning Point: Calling All Dreamers

 

As the farmers' market season ended in late 2024, we faced a decision: What’s next? Relying solely on online sales wouldn’t cut it in an era of inflation and cautious consumer spending. We needed a commercial space. The challenge? Raising capital.

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That’s when we met Ny’Acies from Gold Business Center. He introduced us to business strategies we hadn’t considered and helped us refine our plan. Through his guidance, we discovered the Calling All Dreamers competition—a prestigious program that grants $20,000 to promising businesses looking to open a storefront in Sacramento.

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We barely made the deadline, submitting our entry one minute before midnight. A week later, we received the news—we had made it to the semi-finals. Over the next few months, we worked tirelessly on business projections, financial plans, and video pitches. It was grueling, but it forced us to sharpen our vision. Then, came the final round.

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For our ultimate pitch, we took a bold step: we secured a lease in Old Sacramento’s historic Heywood Building. This was the space we had dreamed about for two years, and now, it was ours. When the Calling All Dreamers winners were announced on February 24, 2025, we couldn’t believe it—we had won.

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The Future of Pittador Brews

 

Now, as we enter 2025, our vision is clear. Our Old Sacramento storefront will be more than a coffee shop—it will be a cultural hub where history, innovation, and community meet. From pop-ups to permanent space, from backyard roasting to wholesale partnerships, our journey has been fueled by passion, resilience, and the belief that coffee and tea bring people together.

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And this is just the beginning...