Groovy Goose Coffee Takes Flight in San Carlos, California

Groovy Goose coffees on display at the new shop in San Carlos.

Like water’s curved course through a gooseneck kettle’s spout, Groovy Goose Coffee has wound its way into a permanent roastery and coffee shop in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

The idea for Groovy Goose was originally hatched in 2022 by the married team of Nathan and Siera Conte in Maui before they flew back north to remodel a two-story, 1,400-square-foot space in Nathan’s hometown of San Carlos, California. 

A Diedrich IR-5 roaster now hums in a cozy 120-square-foot kitchen towards the back, behind a wavy-patterned wall with the brand’s blue, pink and brown colors. 

“Our thin and narrow space inspired us to create an airy and open concept, fostering an inviting atmosphere for our community,” Nathan Conte recently told DCN, adding that the couple sought a bright color palette and rounded edges to complement the comfortable vibe established by an interior garage door. 

A spinning disco ball suspended over baristas nods to the Groovy Goose name while adding to the action at the white-tiled bar, where a La Marzocco Swift grinds beans headed to a 3-group La Marzocco Strada AV espresso machine.

A Mahlkönig EK43 grinder preps beans for automated pourovers performed by white Curtis Seraphim brewers, and a Mahlkönig Guatemala Lab grinder grinds for batches of drip made by a Curtis G4 Thermo Pro system. Scones, croissants, muffins and more are made in-house.

“Our sandwiches are made to order, and each pastry is crafted with real butter for a delightful eating experience,” said Conte, who roasts coffees when the cafe and bakery are closed. Green coffees are purchased mostly through Bay Area purveyor Royal Coffee.

Groovy Goose Co-Founder Nathan Conte at the company’s Diedrich roaster.

“Their recommendations align seamlessly with our commitment to providing the grooviest coffee blends and single origin options,” Conte said. “While we have our eyes set on competitive roasting, we are driven by excitement and passion to learn about each culture and accentuate the unique properties of every green bean.”

Looking ahead, Groovy Goose aims to migrate more sales online while continuing to serve the community in downtown San Carlos.

“We are introducing wholesale online ordering, to facilitate repeat orders and subscriptions,” said Conte. “Expanding our wholesale partnerships, we aim to connect with more coffee shops who are eager to get groovy with us.”

Groovy Goose Coffee is located at 1221 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos. Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here.