Residents in Fort Worth, Texas, are singing the praises of a new coffee shop. According to those who have visited the cafe, it boasts not only good coffee but a cozy, home-like environment.
This makes sense, given that the coffee shop is located in a man’s home.
To visit InHouse Coffee, one must contact the location on Instagram. From there, they will be given an address and days that they can come; exact address details are, understandably, not listed directly on the Instagram profile.
The owner of the quasi-coffee shop describes it in a video not as a cafe, but as a chance to “hang out” and “sip on a handcrafted latte.” The shop also sells homemade pastries.
But what is this coffee shop like on the inside? And is it even legal to run a cafe out of your home?
What’s This In-Home Coffee Shop Like?
In a video posted to Instagram, user Kevin Almaraz documented his own experience visiting InHouse Coffee.
“As we came in, it was very warm and welcoming,” Almaraz says, showing the house. “While I was here, I talked to the owner Rafael [Lopez], which, he’s very young and ambitious, so, love that for him. And he also told me he started in December, so I love the concept he’s doing.”
Almaraz and his girlfriend both ordered drinks, which they reviewed positively. Exploring them home further, Almaraz shows a vintage shop and tasteful, minimalist decoration—which he dubs “very aesthetic.”
“Definitely a place I recommend and I’ll definitely come back,” Almaraz summarizes.
While Almaraz doesn’t mention this in his video, there’s more to the location than just a coffee shop, vintage shop, and home. The location has previously hosted a jazz night and plans to host another, though the latter is already sold out.
Can You Turn Your Home Into A Coffee Shop?
The legality around serving food made in one’s home and operating the home as a cafe is a bit iffy.
For his part, Lopez, InHouse Coffee’s owner, says the operation is “not a business.”
“I love Jesus, photography, interior design, making coffee, art, and sharing love!” he writes in a highlighted Instagram story. “I’ve combined all of that in opening my door for intimate hangouts on weekends for the sole purpose of doing something that makes myself and others happy.”
Still, he is selling drinks and baked goods. There are laws dictating what is and is not allowed to be sold from one’s home.
In many cases, a restaurant of any kind operating out of a home would require not only licensure but also proper zoning. In the United States, many areas are zoned only for residences, making it near-impossible to open a business like a cafe there.
However, there are some carveouts made for what are called “cottage food laws.” This allows people to sell food items that have been made in their homes, provided that they meet certain guidelines. Texas has fairly loose cottage food laws. Given this, it’s possible that Lopez is entirely in the clear legally to run a small-time, cafe-like business in his home so long as he meets the specific requirements.
That said, there could be other issues, such as violating HOA rules and going afoul of his insurance.
Has Anyone Else Done This?
Lopez isn’t the only person making waves by running a cafe out of their home.
Earlier this year, a couple began making waves after their home-based cafe, called Granada, caught the attention of Los Angeles residents. The cafe, located in Angelino Heights, is open from 9 AM to 3 PM. This is the time when the owners’ daughter is in school.
As for how they were able to run this business, ABC7 reports that the couple was permitted to run it through L.A. County Department of Public Health’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation program, also known as MEHKO. This program allows people to turn their home kitchens into businesses, provided that certain standards are met.
BroBible reached out to Lopez via Instagram direct message and website, and Almaraz via Instagram direct message and comment.