It’s a sunny, 70-degree February afternoon in Los Angeles, and a steady crowd is pouring into the home of Sidney Weiser and Isaac Watters.
A stereo system delivers music from the kitchen, dining area, and through the open door to the backyard. There, dozens of people drink coffee, chat in groups, and type on laptops.
Couples do more than just entertain friends and family. Mr. Weiser, 39, and Mr. Watters, 42, are the founders of Los Angeles’ hottest new coffee shop, Granada, which the couple operates from their home in Angelino Heights, Echo Park.
They’ve been in business for just over a month, but they say it’s their busiest day yet.
As usual, they opened their doors at 9am, and within hours their pastry selection was sold out, they had to DoorDash for more milk, and called on neighbors to go on an ice run. I arrived at 2:30pm, 30 minutes until closing, and there was still a line to order.
The fact that his home-based cafe was such a hit in a town with “so many incredible coffee shops” remains a shock to Weiser, who says he “didn’t expect this at all.”
“I think people really want community,” she says. “I think it’s just the private intimacy of being at home that feels so special.”
Granada is one of the latest small businesses to open through California’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) program, which allows residents to make and sell food at home.
Given this cafe’s instant success, it’s possible that more Angelenos will open their own micro-restaurants in the near future. That means the new most popular hangout spot could literally be your own backyard.
A homely coffee shop takes shape
Weiser and Watters first learned about the MEHKO program last summer thanks to reports from KCRW and the New York Times. The program was introduced in California in 2019 and authorized in Los Angeles County in 2024.
Weiser says he didn’t think much of it at first. Then she became obsessed.
The couple regularly attended neighborhood family-style dinners held in their garage during the pandemic. Weiser said it was like a pop-up restaurant in his home. They also designed their home, which they purchased in 2019, specifically for entertaining.
Sidney Weiser and Isaac Watters opened Granada, a home-run coffee shop, in January.
Talitha Block
As a new mom, Weiser said she was thinking about how to spend her days with her 3-year-old daughter, who is in kindergarten. As a musician, artist, and designer, she was eager to find new ways to utilize her skills. Jobs in film and television are up in the air, especially as the film industry struggles.
Weiser said she has spent her career producing shows, planning events, managing business finances and running LLCs for creative work. When you think about it, “I’ve been an entrepreneur all my life,” she says. “I didn’t really put it together, because it was always my art.”
She and her husband, both musicians and visual artists, have collaborated on design projects throughout their relationship, including their home. Running a coffee shop together seemed like a fun new challenge.
The couple went through a months-long process to obtain the MEHKO permit, which includes food safety certification, a business license and an inspection from the LA County Department of Public Health. They say their $597 application review fee was waived because they were among the first 1,000 companies in the program. The annual health permit for MEHKO businesses includes annual inspection and enforcement and costs $347.
The MEHKO program has an annual gross sales cap of $100,000. Businesses are limited to 30 meals per day or 90 meals per week. MEHKO operators will also be allowed to serve as kiosks for up to two food carts. This will expand the amount of meals it can serve per week and raise its maximum annual gross sales to $150,000.
I can imagine there are a lot of people who feel unqualified when they really are, but it’s great that this allows them to try something out and see how it works.
sidney weiser
co-founder of granada
Throughout the fall, Weiser and Watters worked to equip their kitchen with an espresso machine, additional dining and seating areas, custom pottery by local artist Amy Louise Johnson, and new artwork to fit the modern cafe. They asked a friend to introduce them to a “coffee wizard” and worked with Chad Aaron to create a coffee menu. We also hired local baker Sasha Piridjian for our pastry selection.
Granada officially opened in January 2026.
Emerging hotspots in nearby areas
Rapid sales growth is not Granada’s goal, as MEHKO has its limitations. Weiser said he would consider shortening business hours or limiting business days in order to stay open longer throughout the year.
Weiser said he has no plans to open a commercial coffee shop, other than possibly bringing in a coffee cart or two to boost MEHKO’s sales ceiling. “As soon as you get into a commercial space and the rents are so high, it’s no longer a community issue,” she says. “The reason this works is you don’t have to buy anything or you don’t have to. You can hang out in the garden as long as you want. We’re going to pay the mortgage no matter what.”
Granada offers a menu of classic espresso drinks, teas and pastries sourced from local baker Sasha Piligian.
Oscar Mendoza, Talitha Bullock, Amber Canterbury
Weiser said Granada’s visibility could lead to new business opportunities, such as inviting clients to host private events, concerts and art shows from their homes.
She also hopes the coffee shop’s success will inspire others to strike out on their own. There are currently approximately 265 MEHKO permit operations operating throughout Los Angeles County.
Weiser said the program wasn’t necessarily designed to encourage new parents, especially new moms, to start a business, but it had that impact on her. “It’s not often that you can launch a new business in such a short amount of time or on a condensed schedule like a typical school day,” she says.
“I can imagine there are a lot of people who feel like they’re not qualified when they really are, so it’s nice to be able to try something out (and) see how it works,” she said, adding that there’s no need to rent commercial space and the stakes are low.
She has already been contacted by an inspired friend.
“A neighbor told me today that she was going to apply to MEHKO and start making sandwiches and put them out the window. It would be really fun,” Weiser said. “This will be MEHKO Alley.”
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