By Miranda La Londe

People create bonds with one another over a variety of different interests and preferences, but everyone seeks out a community like them.

In 1990, Debbie Goni founded House of Coffees in Lodi, a small coffee shop that would grow into one of the strongest and most welcoming communities in the area.

Today, House of Coffees is owned by 23 year-old Sami Terra, and she couldn’t be more in her element.

Terra found her calling while working at a little coffee shop in Arizona, so when her favorite place to grab some caffeine in her hometown of Lodi went up for sale in 2018, she was quick to put in an offer. Goni could not have asked for a better person to pass the store to. Though the House of Coffees menu has grown to feature different teas, beers, and even an assortment of olive oils, not much in the way of atmosphere has changed in the last couple of decades.

“Since taking over, I’ve tried not to change a whole lot,” said Terra. “Just because I know that the largest part of our customer base is people who have been coming here every day, getting the same drink, for 10 years, and I love that about it.”

Though many of Terra’s customers have been regulars for upwards of 10 years, this caffeinated community is made up of a wide range of Lodi residents from all stages of life. People meet regularly for coffee dates, study groups, trivia nights, or just to unwind.

With a major coffee corporation across the street and a plethora of other big business establishments nearby, House of Coffees has set itself apart with family-like community.

Board Game Corner

Customers are encouraged to pick out their favorite board game and play with a friend while they enjoy their beverages.

Crossword Time

House of Coffees barista Brennan Mallory adds her answers to the communal crossword puzzle that staff and customers complete together every day.

Nose to the Grind

House of Coffees Owner Samantha Terra grinds up some fresh coffee beans for the early morning customers.

Jr. Baristas

Young customers are encouraged to "make their own drinks" with this wooden model of an espresso machine.

House of Coffees Menu

New and old beverages collide on the ever evolving House of Coffees Beverage menu.

Merch Shelf

This wall in House of Coffees shows the wide variety of products offered by the store.

Before School Treats

Alyssa Oliver (far left) enjoys a before school treat with her grandsons, Michael (middle) and Oliver Estrada (far right).

Beer Menu

House of Coffees barista Samantha Dempsey prepared for the evening crowd and writes out the beers on tap.

Shop Small

This corner of House of Coffees is dedicated to promoting small businesses in the area and encouraging customers to keep shopping locally.

Surprise

One of House of Coffees many caffeinated beverages, the Surprise.

Kids Corner

There's something for every age at House of Coffees, and the little customers have plenty to play with from the toy bin.

“Lodi has a lot of other places to get coffee,” said longtime Lodi resident Frank Hargrove. “But here you are pretty much guaranteed to run into someone you know, and who knows and genuinely cares about you.”

House of Coffees features a corner of toys and board games for kids and families to enjoy, as well as a bulletin board full of different family friendly events going on in Lodi. There is even a special chalkboard dedicated to allowing customers buy drinks and treats for their friends an family members the next time they stop by. In addition, the shop hosts trivia nights and themed events with the purpose of bringing people and families together.

More than just bringing customers together, Terra looks for new ways to encourage and support the youth in the community. Many of the baristas are students at local high schools.

“Most of the [baristas] are just people from town who love this place and are looking for a job where they can get to know the community really,” said Terra.

“I like watching all the kids grow,” said House of Coffees barista, Brennan Mallory, “I remember some of the kids were in Utero when I started here, and now they’re like in the second grade.”

More than just students and families, there is a variety of different interest groups that convene at House of Coffees. Everyone from bicyclist groups to Bible studies can be found almost daily at the coffee shop and are always ready to bring in new members.

Small business owners such as Dan Arbuckle, owner of The Headwaters Kayak Shop in Lodi, are always present and eager to talk about their next event, or even give some advice in areas of expertise.

“We have a great product,” said Mallory. “I love our coffee in general, but also it’s a really fun place to come and actually hang out.”