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San Mateo resident Joe Witherspoon has never roasted coffee beans before. So naturally, he decided to start his own roastery.
A self-described serial entrepreneur, Witherspoon ran bicycle and motorcycle store Motostrano in Redwood City for nearly two decades. Now, he and business partner Cecilia Chu are taking over the shipping container that formerly housed Mini Cafe and are transforming it into Cappucho, a micro coffee roastery and kiosk cafe.
“I’m the kind of person who loves to try new things, whether or not I know how to do them,” Witherspoon said. “I just appreciate a challenge.”
Opening Oct. 17, Capuccho is an Italian espresso bar concept with some Swiss twists, inspired by Witherspoon’s Swiss Italian background. On the coffee menu, you won’t find any syrups or whipped cream (“I’m really a traditionalist,” he said), but instead a succinct selection of classic espresso beverages and pour-overs ($4-$8). For those not in the mood for coffee, Cappucho also offers a water menu with three varieties of sparkling mineral water ($4-$6), as well as gazzosa Italian herb lemonade ($5), which Witherspoon described as “a very healthy Sprite or Mountain Dew on steroids.”
Instead of typical coffee shop croissants, Cappucho is offering panettone slices ($4). While often thought of as a Christmas fruit bread in the United States, it’s something Witherspoon grew up eating year-round for breakfast. Other food options include Swiss muesli with milk and yogurt ($9), which is made with “a few family secrets and ingredients,” Witherspoon said.
Cappucho will be using a Bellwether Electric Roaster to roast its beans. Because it doesn’t use gas, it’s more environmentally friendly and allows Witherspoon to roast inside a small space, he said. Since the roaster won’t arrive until the end of the month, Witherspoon will be using beans supplied by Bellwether in the meantime. He hopes to eventually offer six varieties of house-roasted beans.
Witherspoon said Cappucho was “a long time in the making,” tracing its origins back 30 years ago when he worked as a barista at a cafe in downtown Burlingame. Working with beans from around the world ignited his passion for coffee, and he even had intended to introduce a small coffeeshop within Motostrano. Two years ago, he registered the domain for Cappucho, a shortened version of the word cappuccino.
But actually opening a coffee shop would not have happened without the owners of Cyclismo Cafe and Mini Cafe, Witherspoon said. Cyclismo Cafe, a bicycle-themed coffee shop, opened in Redwood City in 2016, downsizing and reopening as Mini Cafe in 2023. Witherspoon connected with the owners over a shared love of biking and coffee, and he particularly likes the location of Cappucho because it’s popular with pedestrians, cyclists, joggers and people on scooters.
“I really want to attract the kind of person that’s on two wheels,” he said.
Witherspoon sold his car two years ago and has been relying on other modes of transportation since. One aspect he really likes about Cappucho’s location is it reminds him of a hikers’ hut, where hikers in the mountains can go for a coffee and respite.
“It’s this really nice feeling of hospitality and comfort that you’re out there in the wilderness,” he said. “And I realize that that location is not exactly in the woods, but because there’s no parking, people are gonna be walking up.”
Fixed benches are available for seating, as well as stools at a stainless steel bar. Witherspoon hopes to eventually set up tables and umbrellas as well. A red Vespa sits in front of the cafe.
He said his main goal with Cappucho “is just to bring this to fruition, just to give birth to it, to get the idea, the dream, off of my dream shelf and into the real world.”
If the concept is successful, he’d be interested in opening a brick-and-mortar with local artwork, poetry readings and roasting classes, or he’d even consider replicating the container concept at different office parks.
“If it lasts two years, I will be happy,” he said. “Cafes come and go, so I’m ready for all of it.”
Cappucho, 111 Elm St., Redwood City; 415-343-5245, Instagram: @cappuchocafe. Beginning Oct. 17, open Monday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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