HIDDEN GEM: LA CASITA ROSA COFFEE

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THE BUZZ

If you’ve been on social media lately, undoubtedly you’ve seen the buzz around this new little coffeehouse. Literally, this is a little house that has been turned into a coffee shop. It’s hard to imagine it previously being someone’s living quarters because it looks like it was designed to be exactly what it is today.

IS BUZZING…

I have been wanting to visit since I first heard about it, but in staying true to my rule to wait at least a month to visit a new establishment, I waited. Finally, on Sunday, I hopped in the car and drove 15 minutes from my house in Verrado, south on Verrado Way, right on MC 85 and then left on Watson.

At this point I could see the little pink house on the hill but it wasn’t until I got a bit closer that I found it to be a fiesta! It was packed! There were easily 20 cars and parking was wherever you could find it. For me that meant on the dirt road, next to the canal. (Note: it’s all dirt roads around the shop.)

At this point I was second-guessing my idea to visit on the weekend, but I truly wasn’t expecting this crowd. I mean, it’s kinda far and in the middle of nowhere… But, that my friends, is the power of social media. More on that below.

ONCE INSIDE

I climbed the steps with so much excitement because of the support they were already receiving. And, I knew it had to be good - the coffee I mean - because no one stands in line for terrible coffee.

I got in line and hoped it would move slowly because…. I had no idea what I was going to order. There is a digital screen (kinda of like a menu, but not) above the register but it flipped so fast that I couldn’t read it. I considered stepping out of line and trying to find a menu online… but it was soon my turn so I had to ask the girl at the register to point me in the right direction and I …

ROLLED THE DICE

I apologized for having no clue as to what I wanted. Well, except, I was going to order Chilaquiles Rojos but those had already sold out. I told Genesis what I liked, and that mainly I like my coffee to taste like coffee and not sweet. She made a fabulous suggestion of an Iced Horchata ($8.75) and added “less sweet” on the cup.

I mentioned to Genesis who I was and I why I was visiting. I was hoping to be able to talk to the owner, but I could see she was busy whipping up drinks and with so many people in line and waiting, I surely didn’t want to bother her.

I placed my order and set about finding a place to wait. As you can see, it’s a relaxing and peaceful place to sit and sip. What you can’t see in the photo above, is the massive crowd that was at a table behind me, the line snaking out the door, and the other guests mingling next to the house.

Despite the line, my coffee arrived fairly quickly. It was actually a good thing there was no menu, because this is not something I would have ever ordered on my own. It was perfect! Thank you for the suggestion, Genesis!

Also, Genesis somehow found time to pass along my card because I didn’t even sip my coffee before…

AN ÁNGEL APPEARED

I was surprised and delighted when Ángel appeared before me, with such presence and manners. He went on to say that he and his family - the Garzon-Vera Family - are the owners. It is his mom, Karina, his 15-year-old twin brother, Jesús, and their father helps out on the weekends and when he’s not working his regular job. They day I was there, he was passing out the coffee.

La Casita Rosa was his mom’s idea. Karina, is a serial entrepreneur and has had many other businesses. She and her sister dreamed of owning a coffee truck and had been preparing for years, even taking coffee classes in Mexico.

Then, recently needing employment and being met with the only option of working minimal hours for minimum wage at a fast food establishment, the family decided now was the time to go all in and the dream, which at the time was going to be a coffee truck.

In April 2025, they bought this property: a little house in the front (now La Casita Rosa) and another house in the back (their living quarters). As luck would have it, while packing for the move Karina found pieces of her dream she had back in 2020, and they decided to open a coffee shop instead of a coffee truck.

Then the family got to work! They purchased their espresso machine for $4,000 damaged, and fixed it, saving themselves $12,000! (Ángel told me new espresso machines like that are $16,000! No wonder the coffee tastes so good!)

And set about constructing….

THE VISION

What started out as a regular grey stucco house, has been transformed into this little pink place of happiness.

They remodeled the inside, removing a wall, opening up the interior. It already had an office and a bathroom, so surprisingly, not much was needed to make it what it is today. In fact, it feels like what it is today is what it was always meant to be!

Ángel said things started off slow and at first they had no customers, but then, thanks to…

THE SOCIALS

I told him that I had seen the buzz on social media and he chuckled. He said that he runs Instagram, his brother runs TikTok and his mom runs Facebook.

They have made it a contest to see who can get the most views and likes and as of the day I met with him, Ángel was winning (or so he said 😆 ).

Thanks to the power of social media, they’ve had visitors from as far away as Mesa!

You can find them on social media here:

La Casita Rosa on Instagram

La Casita Rosa on TikTok

La Casita Rosa on Facebook

THEIR PHILOSOPHY

I was telling Ángel how impressed I was by the bravery it takes to do something like this. Of course, it inspired me to keep pressing on, too.

When he said that their philosophy is simple - provide a great product and great service, and success will follow - it hit me in the heart. My meeting him and talking to him was the main reason I could barely wait to get back to my desk to start writing this.

Buckeye and the West Valley is built by people like this! This is what makes living here so special. And, because our community shows up for small businesses, small businesses have the chance to succeed and thrive!

So, thank you for being part of that!

THE MENU

I can’t find the menu! You may have to roll the dice like I did! 😂 

UPCOMING MERCADITO

They are having a pop-up “Mercadito” on Saturday, January 17th from 9 AM - 1 PM. This will be listed in The Buzz event listings calendar.

HOURS & LOCATION

These are their posted hours, but before you check on Instagram before heading out because sometimes they close early because they sell out and I’ve noticed the hours often change. They are closed today (Thursdays).

You can find them in the real world at 9312 S. Watson Road in Buckeye.

VERDICT

Would I go back? Absolutely! This family already holds a special place in my heart! I look forward to what the future holds for them. I also look forward to meeting and talking to Karina! That lady has got vision!

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