Mercado González, Northgate González Market‘s Mexican food and cultural destination in Costa Mesa, California, has added Casa Libre, a specialty coffee concept dedicated to roasting Mexican-grown coffees on-site. The café opened Sept. 24.
The concept brings together the González and Taormina/Creighton families and extends Mercado González’s mix of makers, food concepts and experiences rooted in Mexican food, culture and community. Opening daily at 6 a.m. and running into the evening, Casa Libre also extends the Mercado’s reach into the morning daypart.
“Casa Libre is another way we can bring the spirit of a Mexican mercado to life,” said Joshua Gonzalez, VP of business development at Northgate González Market. “Mercado González was created as a place where people can discover exceptional food and products while gathering as a community. Casa Libre adds a new experience centered around Mexican coffee, its growers and the traditions behind it.”
Roastery and Bean Market anchor the café
At the heart of the café is Casa Libre’s Roastery and Bean Market, an interactive retail and roasting experience where guests can explore coffees by region and producer, sample different profiles and watch beans roasted on-site before having them packed to order. Opening selections include coffees from Chiapas and Veracruz.
The menu features espresso and brewed coffee along with signature beverages inspired by Mexican ingredients and traditions, including café de olla and the El Jaguar Latte, made with a house-made corn, cacao and chile syrup. Fresh pan dulce from Pastelería La González connects the café to the Mercado’s culinary offerings.
“We’re excited for guests to discover that ‘Mexican coffee’ isn’t one single flavor or experience,” said Natalie Taormina, founding partner of Casa Libre. “These coffees are shaped by completely different landscapes, climates, families and traditions. Being able to roast them here and share those stories directly with guests is really the heart of Casa Libre.”
Founded in 1980, family-owned Northgate González Market operates more than 46 stores with 8,000 associates in Southern California. The González family introduced Mercado González in Costa Mesa in 2023, and a second Mercado concept is coming to the chain’s La Habra store.
Related: Mercado González Concept Coming To Northgate’s La Habra Store