Our Story: Kakawa Coffee in Point Loma
Kakawa Coffee is a locally owned specialty coffee shop in Point Loma, San Diego, shaped by Syrian and Venezuelan roots and a love of coffee, cacao and community. Since opening on Voltaire Street in 2018, we’ve focused on distinctive flavors, thoughtfully crafted drinks and creating a welcoming neighborhood coffee shop.
Founder Gladys Moubayed comes from a family with strong Middle Eastern and Latin roots, bringing the spices, flavors and traditions that make Kakawa unique.
Why Kakawa?
Cacao has a deep history in Mesoamerica, where it was valued not only as food and drink, but also in ritual, trade and community life. For centuries, cacao held an important place in cultures including the Maya and Aztec.
The name Kakawa is inspired by kakaw, an ancient word for cacao that traveled across Mesoamerican languages over time. It connects us to the long cultural history behind one of the ingredients that continues to inspire many of our flavors today.
The cacao tree’s scientific name, Theobroma cacao, comes from Greek words meaning “food of the gods” — a fitting reflection of the extraordinary value people have placed on cacao for centuries.
