Carson native Erika Adams recently opened Brew Lyfe Coffee in the South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite #144, in Redondo Beach). Specializing in coffee made from organically farmed beans, her flavored coffee grounds are infused with natural herbs, fruits, and nuts. She also makes her own syrups using organic cinnamon sticks, lavender, and matcha.
When Adam’s daily coffee routine was interrupted due to the pandemic, the habitual coffee drinker noticed that she started having adverse reactions when she wasn’t routinely drinking coffee.
“I immediately noticed I was experiencing some symptoms that were feeling like withdrawal. It was abnormal for me. The headaches, sluggishness, acid reflux, and drowsiness all came at once as soon as I missed a day of coffee. Because of that experience, I made it a personal challenge to find better options for myself” she said.
“I started a deep dive into research about coffee and how it’s farmed and processed. I learned that many coffee farms use an overwhelming amount of pesticides on their crops and there’s a lot of bacterial buildup that’s passed on to us.”
With a background in toxicology and health care management, Adams went on to say, “Many of our favorite coffee flavors have a lot of preservatives and sugars which contributes to how unhealthy we are as a society. Once I found a coffee bean that was farmed organically, I began to experiment with healthy alternatives by incorporating different herbs, fruits, and nuts to flavor my coffee with.”
Adams hadn’t planned on being a coffee shop owner. Her initial idea was to have her bagged coffee available for online and retail purchases. However, “I’m a firm believer that God orchestrates everything so I just went with His flow and this is where it led me,” she said. Through Collab Community Development Corporation which provides networking events and technical assistance for small business owners, Adams made connections that gave her insight into how to open a business in the mall. She shares that it was approximately six months from ideation to opening.
“I was fortunate that my space was formerly a coffee shop. Nearly all of my equipment was either free, from Offer Up or Facebook Marketplace. I was very blessed during this process. My family, especially my mother Stephanie, and friends pitch in to help with cleaning and setting up. Everything was smooth, that’s how I knew that this was God-ordained because everything was seamless.”
In the two months since its formal opening, Brew Lyfe has been bustling with customers who love Adam’s handmade horchata iced coffee and her cinnamon vanilla iced macchiato with caramel drizzle. The wife and mother of three looks forward to opening two additional coffee shops for each of her children to own. She gives this insight into how she incorporates her family into the cafe and her daily schedule.
“My husband, Erin, and my children are very involved. They make coffee, they run the register, and they do inventory. My family always comes first. I drop my two older kids off at school every morning and my youngest homeschools with me at the cafe. I pick my kids up from school and still do my grocery shopping and cooking when I get home. My husband is a great support in making sure we’re balanced and working as a team. My family has access to me at any point and time of the day,” Adams said.
In regard to what’s next for her business, Adams says, “This is just the beginning for Brew Lyfe, we want to be a pillar in the community. We want to be able to be supportive of those who are unhoused by providing a hot cup of coffee. We also want to work with nonprofits that serve the community as well because a fresh cup of coffee can go a long way. Most people break their evening fast with coffee so we want to make sure it’s not only good for your soul but also good for your body. I want to keep my community healthy by providing accessible options for them.”
Visit Brew Lyfe Coffee on the first floor of the South Bay Galleria Sunday-Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Saturdays. Order online and stay up to date with their community events at BrewLyfeCoffee.com and Instagram @BrewLyfeCoffee