From domino · Lydia Geisel · · 1m 30s
Loto Coffee Shop in Echo Park
A Los Angeles family turns their home into a Mexican-Japanese coffee shop with MEHKO.
In brief
A Los Angeles family turns their home into a Mexican-Japanese coffee shop with MEHKO. Julian Scharman and Stephanie Hong run Loto, a Mexican-Japanese coffee shop in Echo Park, Los Angeles, using their home kitchen under L.A.'s MEHKO program. Originally reported by domino.
Loto Coffee Shop
Loto is a coffee shop inside a Los Angeles bungalow in Echo Park neighborhood.
Family Ownership
Julian Scharman and Stephanie Hong live with their two children in the bungalow.
Mexican-Japanese Coffee
Loto serves Mexican coffees with Japanese touches using Altura beans from Chiapas.
MEHKO Program
L.A.'s MEHKO program allows residents to legally prepare and sell meals from home kitchens.
Home Kitchen Setup
Scharman and Hong obtained food handler permits and coordinated inspections for their home kitchen.
Hand-Whisked Matcha
Scharman offers hand-whisked matcha menu to connect with his Japanese heritage.
Home Renovation
Alta Projects renovated the 1,000-square-foot home for Loto coffee shop.
Kitchen and Dining
They installed stainless steel surfaces and a dining banquette for the coffee shop.
Bathroom Expansion
They expanded the bathroom to twice its original size by sacrificing the kids' bedroom closet.
Backyard Design
They added a long bench for outdoor seating and native California plants in the backyard.
Coffee Training
Scharman trained as a barista in Mexico City for 15 days before opening Loto.
Family Experience
Hong and Scharman say Loto has improved their lives by meeting neighbors and playing with other children.
The big picture
Julian Scharman and Stephanie Hong run Loto, a Mexican-Japanese coffee shop in Echo Park, Los Angeles, using their home kitchen under L.A.'s MEHKO program.
