By Richard Eber
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA – Going back more than half a century, when iconic fictional characters Juan Valdez and Mrs. Olson espoused the virtues of premium coffee, this topic has been front and center in advertising lore.
Since that time, Mr. Valdez has apparently retired to his plantation in Colombia. Mrs. Olson no longer dispenses advice to newlyweds, touting the problem-solving abilities of consuming a pot of mountain-grown Folgers.
In the mid-1970s, Americans were drinking from two to three cups of “Joe” per day. This figure went down for a couple of decades but has been on the upswing for the last quarter century. Coffee has made a huge comeback. Among the reasons are:
Locally, every community is full of these franchises. Even though their popularity continues to grow, limited space and privacy concerns have left an opportunity for small businesses to fill an important niche in this growing market.
Concord is no exception. Contra Costa County’s largest city has several alternatives to the national chains.
Gratitude Coffee Lounge
The poster child for individuals and larger groups to congregate is Gratitude Coffee Lounge. It is located at the far end of the Park & Shop strip mall on Willow Pass. Amber Winslow, her husband Jake, and partner Chuck McCallum have created a relaxed environment like no other.
In Gratitude’s serving area, tables are set several feet apart to allow for privacy and create a more relaxed atmosphere. Their customers, equipped with PCs, consume coffee drinks with beans sourced from Theory Custom Roasters in Redding.
Over a cup of Colombian Red Bourbon, Tres Fuertes Espresso Blend, or Swiss Water Decaf, computer nerds can work uninterrupted in peace. To augment drink selections served in ceramic mugs, Gratitude offers pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and other drinks from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
In addition to their main service area, Winslow and her associates provide a lounge space where larger groups can congregate. Both the Concord and Hispanic Chambers hold meetings there each month. Several businesses, civic groups, and other organizations are offered a diverse breakfast menu that Gratitude provides for their gatherings.
In the near future, Winslow plans to expand this space with a wine bar slated to operate later in the day. Already holding a liquor license, she intends to provide a venue where customers can sample different vintages in Gratitude’s peaceful surroundings.
Qamaria Coffee Co.
On the other side of Park & Shop can be found this lounge that opened at the end of February 2026. Qamaria features coffee beans imported from Yemen. It is believed the origin of this popular drink goes back over 600 years, when Yemeni monks drank coffee to stay awake during lengthy prayer sessions.
Qamaria, much like Gratitude, offers a spacious area where customers can congregate until late at night in well-appointed surroundings. Their coffee tends to be rich in flavor, with a taste profile similar to what is found in the Middle East.
I tried the Qamaria Latte. It had flavorings of cardamom and cinnamon. Remaining alert was not a problem after consuming this beverage.
In addition to their coffee drinks, Qamaria sells a large array of refreshers and smoothies. They vary from strawberry lemonade to concoctions utilizing mango and dragon fruit. Also featured are assorted pastries and other Middle Eastern specialties.
Qamaria is a franchise with nearby locations in Pleasanton and Fremont. Look out, Starbucks and Peet’s!
Berk’s Beans
Located in a business park at 1717 Solano Way, Suite 12, near Highway 4 in Concord, this is a no-frills operation dedicated to providing the finest roasted coffee beans on the market.
It is the brainchild of Moraga native Greg Berkowitz. An electrical engineer by trade, he worked at conglomerates such as Westinghouse and G.E. Greg was an avid smoker of meat before later taking up the hobby of roasting his own coffee beans.
Berkowitz started utilizing an apparatus procured at MoreBeer in Concord. It could handle only five pounds of beans at a time. He endeavored to create a product full of flavor while not being over-roasted. Friends enjoyed Greg’s efforts so much that they suggested opening his own business.
Eventually this led to the founding of Berk’s Beans. He said, “This enterprise has been dedicated to quality, service, and price.” With no advertising budget, he used social media, including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, to spread the word. This led to orders coming in locally and online from coffee lovers throughout the United States.
Soon Greg and his family could not handle the increased volume while operating out of their Pleasant Hill residence. During COVID, he opened his own facility in North Concord. His knowledgeable staff roasts coffee in small batches, offering a wide array of some 80 varieties of beans.
They sell their product both retail and wholesale. Total gross receipts are expected to be close to a million dollars in 2026.
Berk’s Beans can be enjoyed locally at restaurants such as Alpine Bakery in Concord and Hideout Kitchen in Lafayette. In addition, they offer coffee tastings at their Solano Way location and for larger groups, such as a recent gathering of doctors at Kaiser Walnut Creek.
Customers stopping by the store can sample different varieties of beans prepared in glass cone beakers utilizing Melitta filters. A helpful staff of coffee aficionados is eager to answer questions and discuss the attributes of the product they love.
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