Walking into Carpinteria’s Brass Bird Coffee, you may see someone drinking a warm lavender latte, sipping a glass of Provence rosé, diving into a pesto chicken panini oozing fresh mozzarella, or taking photos of (and then promptly devouring) a freshly baked persimmon “Pop-Tart” seasonal toaster pastry. Maybe they’re working on a laptop, scribbling into a notebook, or chatting with a big group of family or friends around a firepit. The common thread: There’s something to make every type of person happy — and that’s exactly what owner Sarah Dandona dreamed up.
“I loved this idea of creating a space that I would want to be at,” said Dandona, who owns the shop on Carpinteria Avenue with husband, Juan Rodriguez. “It’s a place that makes me want to sit and relax. Almost like a European situation.”
Dandona grew up loving coffee shops and was inspired by the café culture in France. When I stopped by in early January, Brass Bird was bustling with a distinctly Parisian joie de vivre. The staff warmly invites you to linger, and the robust menu provides plenty of options to do just that. Start with one of their specialty drinks, such the honey lavender latte made with Ventura-based roasters Beacon Coffee. Or if you’re looking for a delicious way to improve focus and immunity, try a wellness beverage like their Mudwtr latte, a blend of organic mushroom, lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, chai spices, black tea, cocoa, Himalayan sea salt, maple, and milk. I was skeptical at first but quickly blown away by the rich flavors of cocoa and spice.