Opened by local Realtor and entrepreneur Amy de Leon, Cala officially began its soft opening on April 29 after a rapid transformation of the longtime Peet’s storefront, which became available following the chain’s recent corporate downsizing after acquisition by Keurig Dr Pepper. According to de Leon, her adjacent office at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties gave her an unusually early heads-up that the location would soon be vacant.
Already operating another coffee business on the UC San Diego campus called Art of Espresso, de Leon quickly moved to secure the space and build something that feels distinctly more personal, artistic, and experiential than a traditional grab-and-go café.
While Cala serves the expected lineup of espresso drinks, matcha, fresh pastries, and elevated café fare, the centerpiece of the concept may ultimately become its coffee omakase program, a format still relatively rare in San Diego’s coffee scene.
Borrowed from the Japanese dining tradition where chefs curate a personalized tasting journey for guests, omakase coffee service shifts the experience away from simply ordering a latte and toward guided coffee exploration. At Cala, select seating times will allow guests to experience curated pour-overs and specialty preparations designed to highlight origin, roast profile, brewing technique, and flavor nuances in a more intentional setting.
While Cala serves the expected lineup of espresso drinks, matcha, fresh pastries, and elevated café fare, the centerpiece of the concept may ultimately become its coffee omakase program, a format still relatively rare in San Diego’s coffee scene.
Borrowed from the Japanese dining tradition where chefs curate a personalized tasting journey for guests, omakase coffee service shifts the experience away from simply ordering a latte and toward guided coffee exploration. At Cala, select seating times will allow guests to experience curated pour-overs and specialty preparations designed to highlight origin, roast profile, brewing technique, and flavor nuances in a more intentional setting.
The concept reflects a broader global trend where specialty coffee increasingly overlaps with fine dining culture, tasting menus, and culinary storytelling. Rather than treating coffee as a commodity, omakase-style service positions it more like wine or sushi - something to be studied, discussed, and experienced course by course.
Inside, de Leon refreshed the former Peet’s space with lighter coastal tones and hand-painted artwork inspired by nearby La Jolla Cove, which also influenced the café’s name. “Cala” translates to “cove” in both Spanish and Italian, a nod to the shop’s proximity to the coastline and the relaxed aesthetic de Leon wanted to create.
Beyond coffee, Cala also plans to incorporate live performances from local musicians on weekends, further leaning into the idea of the café as a community-driven gathering space rather than simply a caffeine stop. For now, Cala remains in soft opening mode as the team fine-tunes operations and expands offerings ahead of a broader formal launch.
Cala La Jolla Café is open daily from 6am to 6pm. For more information, follow @calalajolla on Instagram.
Originally published on May 12, 2026.
Inside, de Leon refreshed the former Peet’s space with lighter coastal tones and hand-painted artwork inspired by nearby La Jolla Cove, which also influenced the café’s name. “Cala” translates to “cove” in both Spanish and Italian, a nod to the shop’s proximity to the coastline and the relaxed aesthetic de Leon wanted to create.
Beyond coffee, Cala also plans to incorporate live performances from local musicians on weekends, further leaning into the idea of the café as a community-driven gathering space rather than simply a caffeine stop. For now, Cala remains in soft opening mode as the team fine-tunes operations and expands offerings ahead of a broader formal launch.
Cala La Jolla Café is open daily from 6am to 6pm. For more information, follow @calalajolla on Instagram.
Originally published on May 12, 2026.
