No, it’s not a joke. California is slowly starting to grow coffee beans. Something like two dozens or so farmers in southern California started to plant coffee bushes. Reasons are economy and climate.

First of all are Mexico imports threatening their existing avocado, passion fruit and cherimoya business and lack of water does not help either. It is definitely not possible to expect that US grown coffee will be as cheap as that from South America or Africa. But on the other hand there are many US customers, which are willing to spend from $8 to $12 for a cup of specialty coffee. So we can expect a new taste of coffee from California coffee beans.