by Chelsea Jones

“It really is a maiden voyage,” sums up my conversation with Robert and Irene Vasquez about their newly opened Selma coffee shop, Maiden Voyage Coffee Roasters. They have brought downtown Selma its first specialty coffee shop, and their flavorful house-roasted coffees have definitely set a new standard in the Valley coffee scene. I met recently with them to get the low-down on their story, on their tasty menu, and on what they plan on doing next.

Maiden Voyage opened quietly this July, easing in with a soft opening before their official grand opening a month later. Lucky for me, the café is on my route to work, and as a lover of coffee, I had to give them a try. I was immediately blown away by the delicious drinks and food, inviting atmosphere, friendly staff, and obvious care put into every aspect of their business. I promptly became a regular, and after coming in enough times to get on a first-name basis with the whole staff, I decided it was time to write a review of this fabulous coffee shop and roastery.

One thing you notice when you come into the shop is how welcoming and helpful the staff are. They are happy to walk you through the menu and make recommendations based on your preferences. Maiden Voyage has the standard drinks one expects: mochas, cappuccinos, matcha lattes, and chai, but it also has unique drinks with house-made syrups, like the delicately cinnamon-y horchata latte, the lavender latte, and a mazapán latte made with actual Mexican mazapán candy for a creamy peanut-buttery taste that balances perfectly with bold espresso.

My absolute favorite drink on their menu is the banana-nut-bread latte which contains cold brew, oat milk, and yummy syrup made with real fresh bananas. They explained that this drink was a surprise hit––so many people loved it that it went from a limited time autumn special to a full-time menu item.

The food holds its own with delectable sandwiches and breakfast burritos. In keeping with its name, the café features treats inspired by the couple’s travels around the world. There is a Japanese-style crustless egg salad sandwich with the perfect hint of dill and a light sprinkling of green onion. The Italian caprese baguette sandwich is made with a freshly toasted baguette, thick slices of fresh mozzarella, lightly roasted and seasoned cherry tomatoes, arugula, and pesto, and finished with a drizzle of olive oil and a touch of Italian chili oil, or “olio santo.” The bagel breakfast sandwiches are extremely popular, made with a fried egg, aoli, and your choice of sausage or candied bacon. Food is freshly made-to-order in the café’s kitchen. I have never had to wait more than a few minutes for my order which arrives promptly with a ring of the counter bell. Classic standards like muffins, coffee cake, and bagels sit neatly in an attractive glass display case to the right of the register.

Robert graciously showed me how the coffee roaster works. The shop roasts medium, light, and dark coffees, and sells bags of the whole beans. Robert explained how, using data from a laptop hooked up to the roaster, and from subtle hints from sight and smell, one can tell when the coffee is ready. This method creates a quality product.

Some coffee you gulp down when you’re tired, while other coffee you drink slowly and savor. Maiden Voyage roasts coffee you savor. A lot of coffees taste bitter and burnt when you drink them straight as an espresso without any milk or flavoring. Good coffee has depth, complexity of flavor, and is enjoyable even without any added frills. Maiden Voyage Coffee Roasters excels with their roasts, allowing one to taste the fruit, herbal, and chocolatey flavors characteristic of each specific blend.

One of my most surprising discoveries was that neither Irene nor Robert worked in a coffee shop before creating their business. “We’re self-taught,” says Robert. “Everything we’ve learned has been, you know, asking questions, watching other people, YouTube videos, and just trial and error.” Considering how skillfully they pour latte art, how delicately balanced all their coffee roasts and blends are, I never would have guessed.

Robert initially fell in love with coffee via a chance encounter with a mind-blowing latte in the coffee mecca of Seattle. He then began researching everything he could about coffee and experimenting with roasting at home. (Did you know that you can roast coffee beans in a popcorn popper? I didn’t!) The couple’s home-roasting passion grew and grew until it eventually evolved into a small coffee-cart business, brewing up the home-roast at various local events and pop-ups. “The coffee shop was always what we were striving for,” says Robert. After a few years of waiting for the right moment, the couple plunged into uncharted waters and opened their very first storefront location.

While Robert is the Willy Wonka of the coffee factory, it is Irene’s keen stylistic sense that makes the space so visually inviting. She points out pieces that she thrifted and found at estate sales. The atmosphere seamlessly mixes a modern chic with cozy whimsy; the beautiful oceanic tile on the wall and sophisticated dark wood of the tables perfectly complement the model ships, world maps, and family photos dotting the walls and shelves. Robert says, “I’ve always loved seafaring. I love ships in a bottle. I’ve collected them since I was a boy. It’s kind of like what we wanted to share with people from our travels. You know, whether it be coffee that we’ve tried in different places and just been like really good. And we’re like, we got to share this with people we love.”

Not everything has been smooth sailing for these first-time business owners. They both agree “It really is a ‘maiden voyage.’ This is our first venture together.” One of their challenges has been balancing business operations while being parents to two children, ages 1 and 4. “It’s a challenge,” says Irene. “We’re finding our groove and figuring it out.” However, the kids do not seem to mind too much. “[To] our oldest, this is *his* coffee shop. ‘I’m going to my coffee shop,’ he says when he comes in.” At times, I’ve come in to buy a coffee and seen his small face peeking out from behind the counter. Robert adds, “If asked if I would do it again––of course. I would do it again in a heartbeat. We’re building something not only for ourselves, but for the kids.”

The work they have been putting in to get the business up and running has been paying off. The couple has been happily surprised by their early success. Irene says, “I think it’s honestly been better than I expected with the city itself and with the support from the community. I don’t think we were really expecting the support we’ve been getting. With the city wanting to revitalize downtown, it just couldn’t have happened in a better time.” Robert agrees. “I think people are really excited that we’ve made something to where we can build a little bit of a community here, you know? Whether that just be offering a place for someone to come and have a quick conversation, or come and read a book, or just come and do some homework and jam out with some good music. We’ve kind of created this space that downtown didn’t have, so I think there’s a lot of people who are really grateful. And, of course, we’re grateful for their patronage and for their support.”

Part of being involved in the community includes participating in local celebrations, having special events, and hosting live music. “We’ve had a few locals who have been here on some Saturdays and played some great music. It’s something we definitely will continue to do,” says Robert. “It’s an open invite for people to reach out to us if they would like to secure a time slot for music here.” Anyone interested in playing live music at Maiden Voyage is encouraged to stop by and talk to staff, as they are currently looking to book more acts.

As it is the middle of the holiday season, Maiden Voyage Coffee Roasters has plenty of stocking stuffers, and seasonal food and drink specials. The shelves are stocked with cute giftable items like local honey, cute Maiden Voyage logo coffee mugs, shirts, and bags of freshly-roasted coffee beans. Gift cards are available as well. The menu is currently in the process of being updated with winter specials–think the classic peppermint mocha, the more decadent raspberry mocha, and a variety of new hot teas perfect for those chilly days. If that’s not enough to satisfy your taste buds, even more yummy holiday-themed food and drinks will be rolling out soon. “We’re only four months in,” Robert emphasizes. “Get ready and buckle up because we have a lot of cool things coming your way.”

Central Valley, if you’ve been looking for your new favorite coffee shop, this is it. I cannot recommend Maiden Voyage Coffee Roasters enough. I hope you stop by there soon and grab a cup of coffee with a friend or two.

You can find more information about Maiden Voyage Coffee Roasters and keep up with their event schedule on their Instagram, @maidenvoyagecoffee. The shop is located at 2000 High Street in downtown Selma, CA. It is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8.p.m.

Chelsea Jones is a multimedia artist and musician from Kingsburg, CA. They have an MFA in Digital Arts and New Media from UC Santa Cruz. Chelsea has been published in Black Napkin Press, Abridged Magazine, Noctua Review, and others. More of their work can be found at chelseaevangelinej.wixsite.com/chelsea and chelseajones.bandcamp.com.