Behind The Scenes: How We Brought Fall to Alma
Summer is over, and Fall has officially arrived at Alma. This year’s theme is a special one: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). From creating the menu to choosing the decor, a lot happens behind the scenes to bring Fall to the cafe.
Our Fall menu is inspired by all of the flavors that make the season: Pumpkin Spice (the OG influencer), Apple, Brown Butter and Pecan, with special appearances from Peanut Butter and Latin-style bread pudding, Budín de Pan, or “Pan de Pan.” The process of building the menu can be lengthy. The team is brainstorming, testing, finalizing, and then eventually implementing. Implementing it includes getting the artwork together, photographing the drinks, and ordering the physical menus.
During this time, we are also thinking about how we want the cafe to look—making sure that everything comes together cohesively and respectfully for the holiday. Lilly, our Head of Marketing, had a particular vision: you walk in, and there’s a beautiful marigold garden above you. Little did we know how much effort it would take to make that vision come to life! By the time the garden was put up, the flowers were hung, and the menus were placed, I felt like I was Tim Allen from Home Improvement. It was worth it, though, and we think you will think so, too. :)
Now, let’s talk about why we chose Día de los Muertos for this year’s theme. You may be aware that we are Latin-owned and that our coffee is sourced from our family farm in Honduras. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is observed in Honduras as a time to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. We wanted to showcase the colors, flavors, family, and love that surround this tradition while also being respectful of the holiday.
In Honduras, the day is observed on November 2, following the Catholic holiday All Saints’ Day on November 1. Families visit cemeteries to honor loved ones who have passed, cleaning and decorating their graves with flowers, floral crowns, wreaths, and other arrangements. They may spend the day together, sharing food, prayer, stories, and memories. While traditions vary throughout the country and from community to community, flowers, family, remembrance, and togetherness are important parts of the observance.
At the end of the day, all of the brainstorming, decorating, rearranging, testing, and occasional chaos is what makes Alma, Alma. We like to call it “beautiful chaos.”
We hope you enjoy this new era of Alma as much as we have enjoyed creating it. Whether you’re stopping in for your new favorite Fall coffee drink, taking in the marigold garden above you, or simply spending a little time with us, we are so grateful to have you here. See you soon!
