Coffee and community

Grind celebrates 5th anniversary 

Omar E. Zapata | THE RIDER

Grind Coffee Co. celebrated its fifth year last Saturday by hosting an event with various vendors, live music, a food truck and, of course, coffee. 

The list of vendors ranged from thrift shops, such as Fossil Thrift and Modest Babe, plant sellers, including Sisterhood of the Traveling Plants, and El Sancho BBQ Food Truck, all while DJ QueenKillahBee added to the atmosphere by providing a reggaeton/cumbia/hiphop electronic-dance-style sound. 

Wearing face coverings and keeping a social distance, about 350 people came and bought drinks, tacos, brisket nachos, vegan options, with some sitting at tables and others standing. The crowd, ranging from college students to older adults and senior citizens, came together to celebrate with the coffee shop.  

Maryann Piñón, owner of the coffee shop, told The Rider that over the years, she always wanted to curate a market with different individuals showcasing their crafts that they enjoy making, just as Grind Coffee Co. prides itself in the craft of coffee. 

Grind, located east of the UTRGV Edinburg campus at 315 W. University Dr., was established on March  26, 2016. 

 Piñón said that picking a spot down the road from UTRGV was intentional. 

“When I was going to school [at the University of Texas-Pan American], I would have super-long gaps, like, I’m talking, like, four-hour-long gaps,” said the former English major. “And I would straight up, like, drive all the way to Mission to get a good cup of coffee and drive all the way back. That was my goal. It was always to be near the university, just because, like, you know, when I was in school, I was never really, like, having fun. Just staying there all day and there was nothing accessible.” 

Piñón then added that her love for coffee was another main driving force for her to open up her own shop. 

“I feel like I glamorize it a lot but it’s true,” she said. “I went to a coffee shop once, at Jitterz in Mission, and they were like, ‘Hey, try this AeroPress over ice, tell me what you think.” No sugar, no cream, and I tasted blueberries and ever since I tasted blueberries in the cup, I was, like, I need to know more. And then, I just, like, lunged to, like, full force into learning more about coffee, you know, ever since then.” 

She said the process of running Grind Coffee Co. and making coffee for the community centers her and that is why she loves doing what she does. 

“It still feels like day one and I don’t think that’s ever going to change, you know. … It’s surreal, that’s, like, the best word to describe it,” Piñón said. “This whole entire process, it’s just, you know, to see, like, will someone like what we’re doing. … That was always, like, a thing, like, will people support, you know, my dream, my vision and will they continue to support it, you know, over the years? And, you know, like, you have all those doubts and those fears.” 

Aaron Reyes, an outreach representative for UTRGV Undergraduate Recruitment who attended the event, told The Rider that he has been coming to Grind Coffee Co. for a few years. 

“When I was a student at UTRGV, I would come here to study,” Reyes said. “And after I graduated, this is where I studied for my GRE and applied for jobs. And now, as an employee, it’s how I stay awake at work.” 

He said he used to come every day before the pandemic but does not come that often since his office is at the UTRGV Brownsville campus but still finds time on the weekend to get a matcha latte. 

Asked how he felt about Grind Coffee Co. celebrating its fifth year, Reyes replied, “It’s an incredible achievement, especially in this smaller area where you think a lot of restaurants and businesses would kind of thrive being, like, near the university. But we’ve seen a lot of restaurants come and go, unfortunately, but for Grind to be able to come by and bring in their own aesthetic, their own flavor and to be here five years later is an incredible accomplishment.” 

He said the atmosphere, combined with the location of near the university, is exactly how it should be for a college student. 

Asked how it felt being the local coffee shop by UTRGV for college students, Piñón said it makes her happy and that it’s a great feeling to have people want to be there. 

“I think if we just, like, kind of stay true to the sentiment of, like, ‘Hey, how are you doing, like, how’s your day,’ I think that will help us, like, keep us as the place that people want to come to,” she said. 

Throughout the interview, people came and went inside the coffee shop. Most would stop by Piñón and congratulate her on her achievement, and she would reply by saying their first names and a thank you.

One was a young man named Vince,whom Piñón said Grind Coffee Co. named a drink after. 

“He was always ordering it,” she said. “It’s a Rosella tea with lemonade. He was like, ‘Did you really name a drink after me?’ Like, ‘Yeah, dude, you always get it’ and he’s like, ‘I’m so honored.’” 

Paulina Gonzalez, who graduated from UTRGV in Spring 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in materials management and logistics, told The Rider it was her first time at Grind Coffee Co. but that she liked it and would come back. 

“I like the coffee, so far, and this is the first drink that I’ve tried, and I’d like to try different things,” Gonzalez said. 

Asked what she thought about the atmosphere of Grind Coffee Co., she replied, “I like it, I think it’s really true to coffee like … the whole strong-drinks-with-a-strong-coffee vibe.” 

Gonzalez said she believes it is great that even with everything that has been going on, such as the pandemic, the coffee shop was able to go through it without closing and celebrate its fifth anniversary.  

Piñón said that anyone who has never been to Grind Coffee Co. will find it a friendly and welcoming  environment. On any regular day, you might catch a couple of “doggos” getting their pup cups, and after your first visit, the staff and owner will probably know your name.  

“If you haven’t stopped by, if you haven’t given it a chance, you know, like, just make it a date, like, make a date to, like, support local businesses,” she said. “Most of the time, you’ll see the owner, like, hustling … and it’s really exciting when you become a part of that community.” 

For more information on Grind Coffee Co. hours and how to order takeout or curbside, visit its Instagram page at grindcoffeetx.