Tactile Coffee

Hi, friends. Hello, neighbors. For the past week, I’ve struggled greatly with thinking of words I could write publicly that would matter at all or could contribute to the ongoing conversation in a positive way. I wondered if people would even care about what a small cafe has to say about this. We aren’t experts and have nothing particularly profound to share with the world, but while I’m still struggling with what words to say, I know this: we can’t opt out of this conve...rsation. We don’t get to opt out of the important task of talking about injustice and the horrific acts of violence being committed against Black Americans. We don’t get to side-step the issue of systemic racism strangling and crushing millions of Americans in a multi-generational fashion, and then call for the nation to return to normal. Whether our conversations are public or private, to be silent is to be a contributor to injustice. In cases like these, passivity is actively subverting the pursuit of equity. I’ve breathed in and out hundreds of conversations from many voices in the past week. Along with a collective lamentation and call for justice, we’re witnessing people having to explain why this seething, boiling anger exists to people who’ve been blindsided by the outcry and are calling for peace but not justice; different law enforcement officers showing both more humanity and more seditious brutality than I have ever witnessed in my life; and opportunists using the noise as a cover to steal, destroy, and ravage. Tactile Coffee is not in a position of moral authority, but the people behind the counter can urge those who hear to be compassionate, to hate injustice, to be merciful to those who need mercy, and to listen with humility. We want peace, but we need justice. #georgefloyd #blacklivesmatter See more

I can’t help but notice that so many of my conversations are about how there are so many things we miss. Big things, small things, and seemingly tiny moments. I miss the simple act of pouring coffee for our guests. It’s a tiny moment, but it is still missed. It’s also not even about the act itself but the freedom to do so. Anyway, we miss ya’ll and hope everyone is doing as well as they can. Happy Easter! Eat some chocolate or eat an egg or something! #easter #covid

Our last installment of Solo Solos is a tribute to the matchless Whitney Houston. It’s also a tribute to everyone who misses being allowed to be around other human beings. I hope y’all are doing whatever you can to stay sane and healthy. #socialdistancing

Quaran-tunes: 3 out of 4! Whether you swear allegiance to Nsync or BSB, you know you love this song. There are two types of people in this world: Those who love 90’s pop, and those who lie about not loving 90’s pop. #nsync

Quarantine Cover 2 of 4: This one goes out to those of us who feel like they’re running out of gas. You got the of the . You can do this. We can do this. Cue the training montage. #quarantine #covid_19

Introducing: The Social Distancing Song Series. This John Denver classic tends to put everyone in a good mood, so here it is. Borne out of a desperate need to get out of the house and do something productive, my roommate @johnnychay and I have recorded a handful of short clips of random old hits not only for your enjoyment, but for our sanity as well. We hope everyone’s doing well and not going too stir crazy being cooped up at home. [Note: I had no idea what to do with my face at the end so I panicked and looked into the distance.]

This decision was hard, but we are confident in our choice. We’d rather choose to be proactive than be forced to deal with more severe circumstances that could have been mitigated by decisive sacrifices. Thank you for understanding and for the messages of support. Stay tuned for updates or more info. Please consider and take time to appreciate the hardworking doctors, nurses, and specialists working in our medical community. #flattenthecurve - Eric and Mike

Hello! As a reminder, we won’t be open tomorrow, Saturday 3/14. Check our bio for what our temporary operating hours will be moving forward (and until further notice). And as good practice dictates, we’re staying hyper vigilant with cleanliness, hand-washing, and disinfecting high contact surfaces; serving beverages in single-use cups; and strongly recommending contactless payments to reduce passing items back and forth hand-to-hand. The hours reductions and upped hygienic practices are appropriate sacrifices and minor inconveniences in the face of a serious health issue that seems to continue to mount in severity. Stay safe! Take care of yourself! Get rest when you can!

Hi everyone. Eric and I (Mike) want to put this out there in efforts to be cautious and proactive. We’re trying our best to figure this out as we go and we’re trying to make the best decisions with the information we have. Bear with us things may change, so stay tuned and stay safe!

Our friends keep talking about how they they saw us in @infatuation_la and we’re always thrilled to be a part of such a vibrant neighborhood with amazing small businesses doing great things. We are in such good company and we appreciate our peers and publications like Infatuation highlighting what’s going on here in Historic Filipinotown & Rampart Village. @ Historic Filipinotown of Los Angeles

Now available in-store, our custom @fellowproducts Carter Everywhere Travel Mug. It was a joy to work with Fellow to create our mug and we believe it’s a perfect balance of beautiful minimalistic form and function. Come see it and hold it, then take it home for $40 (tax included). Online ordering and shipping will be available soon. @ Tactile Coffee