ABOUT
My name is Andrew Antonio Brown and I'm a fourth year studying Journalism at Sacramento State University. I'm originally from Southern California. While growing up I developed a passion for sports and incorproate my love for basketball in various avenues of my life.
Feature: Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters
Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters is one of Sacramento’s most well known specialty coffee shops and roasters. The company was started in 2008 by husband and wife, Andy and Edie Baker. Andy Baker is originally from New Zealand, where espresso is a big part of people’s daily lives, and he wanted to bring that same coffee culture to Sacramento.
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The name chocolate fish comes from a fish shaped marshmallow covered chocolate candy from New Zealand, that is traditionally given as a “thank you” gift. It is definitely a unique name, and I think that is part of what makes it so memorable. In a 2025 Yelp review, one customer even said, “Chocolate Fish is such an odd but catchy name at the same time,” which shows how much the name stands out to people. The shop's mission has always been to make specialty coffee more approachable while serving high quality drinks and educating customers about coffee.
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Chocolate Fish first opened in downtown Sacramento in 2008. Since then, the business expanded and became known for roasting small batches to keep it fresh and bring out the best flavors in the beans. Unlike many coffee shops, Chocolate Fish builds direct relationships with coffee farmers in countries such as Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador. The team travels to these regions to learn about farming practices, quality control, and sustainable methods. By working directly with farmers, they are able to keep the quality of their coffee consistent.
The East Sacramento/Folsom Boulevard location is one their most popular stores. It has been operating since around 2017-2019, as it was featured in local publications by 2019. This location serves as both a cafe and a roastery, making it unique because customers can enjoy drinks while also seeing part of the roasting process. It is located at the corner of Folsom Boulevard and 48th Street and has become a neighborhood favorite for students, remote workers, and coffee lovers. This popularity may also be influenced by Sacramento’s growing population. According to a data visualization of California counties, Sacramento County has seen a population increase from 2020 to 2025, which helps explain the high demand for local spots like the one on the left of this page.
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Chocolate Fish continued expanding and opened a new location in Folsom California on September 1st 2020. This was a major expansion into the suburbs and showed the brand's growing popularity outside of Sacramento city limits. The company has also operated locations in Land Park, and downtown. In 2023, reports indicate that the Bakers sold the business to new owners, though the brand has continued to grow and maintain its reputation.
The cafe is highly rated by customers for both quality and atmosphere. The Folsom Boulevard location has a 4.2 star rating with hundreds of reviews. Some popular menu items include flat whites, cappuccinos, lattes, nitro coffee, avocado toast and pastries.
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Overall, over the years, Chocolate Fish has become one of the first places many Sacramento locals think of when they want quality coffee. Since opening in 2008, it has built a strong reputation through quality coffee, ethical sourcing, and community connections.
Along with myself, Amarah Bell, Avishi Nayak, Peyton Barnard.
