Café con Sabor: 7 Latinx-owned coffee shops in Las Vegas

When it comes to coffee, Latin America and Las Vegas have something in common: A cup of joe isn’t just a habit, it’s part of our culture. 

So, it comes as no surprise that many of Sin City’s world-class coffee shops are Latinx-owned. 

Sometimes this Latin influence shines through in the beans and on the menu. Other times it takes a backseat. Either way, one thing is for sure — the following Latinx-owned neighborhood cafes in Las Vegas know that life is too short for a bad cup of coffee.

Sunrise Coffee

3130 E. Sunset Road, Suite A, Las Vegas

Sunrise Coffee is a neighborhood cafe with an eclectic customer base from all over the valley. Opened by business partners Juanny Romero and Joshua Walters in 2008, the menu includes a spectrum of drinks, all made with beans that are organic and ethically sourced from single-origin farms. The seasonal menu includes vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, bowls, and burritos, made from scratch daily.

With a drive-through, indoor seating, and a cute outdoor patio, Sunrise Coffee is great for gathering or on-the-go. A community ethos paired with healthy, housemade food and drinks, and a laid-back vibe, are among the reasons Sunrise Coffee is the longest-running independent coffee shop in Las Vegas.

Photo courtesy of Sunrise Coffee via Facebook.

Mothership Coffee

Las Vegas, Downtown Las Vegas, Henderson, Downtown Summerlin

Also owned by Juanny Romero and Joshua Walters, Mothership Coffee launched as a brick-and-mortar cafe in 2015. Today, the coffeehouse brews its rocket fuel and a community vibe at five locations. Each is unique, blending seamlessly into its neighborhood (a rooftop patio at Fergusons Downtown; a drive-through in the busy St. Rose strip mall) while providing consistency through single-origin coffee and a seasonal food menu.

“Mothership is your space … a place to be however you need to be,” says Romero, who recently received the Small Business Person of the Year award for Nevada. “It’s the background to the beautiful expression that makes us humans human.”

Photo courtesy of Mothership Coffee Roasters via Facebook.

Makers and Finders 

Las Vegas and Henderson 

The influence behind Makers & Finders is unmistakably Latin thanks to a menu of popular Hispanic dishes, specialty coffee, and upbeat energy. Opened in the Las Vegas 18b Arts District in 2014 by the son of Colombian immigrants, Josh Molina, the urban cafe has since expanded to three other locations, including a small space inside the AREA 15 entertainment complex.

Along with traditional and nontraditional coffee and tea items, Makers & Finders boasts an extensive specialty latte menu, with diverse flavors including Coconut Turmeric and Mexican Spice. The brunch menu is equally as diverse with Latin faves like arepas and empanadas as well as skillets, benedicts, salads, sides, and desserts. 

Photo courtesy of Makers & Finders via Facebook.

Take it Easy Roasters

3540 Wynn Road, Chinatown Las Vegas

Quaintly tucked off the beaten path on a side street in Chinatown Las Vegas, Take It Easy Roasters is another coffeehouse gem from Makers & Finders owner, Molina. The roastery and bakery, established in 2020, serves coffees from Colombia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, plus handmade savory and sweet treats like baked or fried empanadas, housemade Pop Tarts, pandebono, and pan con queso.

Along with traditional coffee and tea, drinks get quite crafty with inventive flavors like a Shaken Horchata or Tiramisu Latte (served with a housemade ladyfinger) and the Espresso Fizz (because everything is better with bubbles).

Photo courtesy of Take It Easy Roasters via Facebook.

Skimos Coffee Shop

1533 W. Sunset Road, Suite 200, Henderson

Named for a popular drink in Mexico City, Skimos is a busy cafe known for its smooth espresso and spicy snacks. Owner Veronica Croaker puts a twist on lattes, frappes, espresso, and teas, as well as a slew of toasts, ranging from avocado toast with serranos to the Vegas-inspired peanut butter Elvis with bananas, bacon and honey. The latte menu is extensive, with flavors spanning from banana sweet cream to spicy Mexican mocha; dirty chai to dirty Thai; churro to mazapan. And that’s not even mentioning the seasonal options.

Brewed with USDA-certified organic coffee beans, the coffee at Skimos is so beloved it was even picked to represent Nevada by wellness brand Eat This, Not That! in a listing of best coffee shops in the U.S. by state. 

Photo courtesy of Skimos Coffee via Facebook.

Sambalatte Torrefazione

Las Vegas and Summerlin

A coffee shop for worldly customers and connoisseurs, Sambalatte adds a touch of class to the city’s coffee culture. Brazilian owner Luiz C. Oliveira is a former 5-star hotel food and beverage executive who traveled to South America, Europe, and throughout the U.S. to learn the ins and outs of coffee before opening his Las Vegas lounge and espresso bar–with three locations including a two-story Boca Park cafe and a drive-through one on Jones.

Farm-to-table coffee drinks are delicious and artfully prepared with intricate touches like colorful latte art and the occasional flower garnish. Whether it’s a morning jolt, afternoon tea, breakfast, lunch, or dessert you seek, Sambalatte will serve it up with style.

Tru Bru Organic Coffee

855 Seven Hills Drive, Suite 100, Henderson

With two locations in Southern California, Tru Bru Organic Coffee came to Nevada in 2021. It was opened by a family from Sau Paulo, Brazil, aiming to recreate the community feel and slower pace of South America in the U.S. At the Seven Hills location in Henderson, the hope is to bring people together with daily-roasted coffee, freshly baked pastries, and other gastronomic delights.

Gather on a couch by the cozy fireplace with a mango match or sit on the outdoor patio and enjoy the sunny Vegas weather while sipping on an iced latter with housemade syrup. Come for breakfast, stay for lunch, make friends, and make yourself at home.

Photo courtesy of Tru Bru Organic Coffee via Instagram.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.