Compelling Coffee - Specialty Coffee Roaster | Unpacking Coffee [Skip to content](#main-content) [ ![Unpacking Coffee Logo](/images/cuppin-logo.svg) Unpacking Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee) [ Coffees ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees) [ Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters) [ Cuppings ](https://unpacking.coffee/cuppings) [ Recipes ](https://unpacking.coffee/recipes) [ Origins ](https://unpacking.coffee/origins) [ Log in ](https://unpacking.coffee/login) [ ](https://unpacking.coffee/login "Log in") [ Register ](https://unpacking.coffee/register) [ ](https://unpacking.coffee/register "Register") [ Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters) Compelling Coffee Compelling Coffee ================= Compelling Coffee is a Los Angeles specialty roaster founded in 2011 by Kian Abedini, with cafés across the LA area and a roastery in North Hollywood. Compelling focuses on sourcing single-origin beans and runs subscription programs including Roaster's Choice, Copperhead, and Brown Betty. Watch Episode Read Transcript - [ Compelling and Rich Coffee ](http://compellingandrichcoffee.com/) - [ Compelling and Rich on Facebook ](https://facebook.com/CompellingRich/) - [ Compelling and Rich on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/CompellingRich?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) - [ ompelling and Rich on Instagram ](https://instagram.com/compelling.coffee) ![Compelling Coffee](/storage/roaster-profiles/82/featured.jpg) THE CONVERSATION Ray: I’m Ray. Kandace: I’m Kandace. Ray: Today we’re talking about Compelling and Rich out of LA. They actually reached out to us. Kian Abidini, who runs the place, reached out to us and… Kandace: Sent us this awesome coffee. Ray: Yeah. He wanted us to give it a shot so we are giving it a shot. I had not heard of them before, but I spoke with them briefly about what’s different about being in LA and in particular we talked a little about green coffee freshness actually. Kandace: What’s fresh about green coffee? Ray: Well what we were actually talking about is that it can be easy to let green coffee sit for a long time because it doesn’t go bad nearly as fast as coffee does once it’s roasted. Kian: We definitely try to do stuff that is a little bit fresher. We try and store stuff so it maintains that nice level of acidity and vibrancy, but, is still fair flavored, I guess. I feel like a lot of roasters try and put out like, not necessarily past crop Ethiopias all year-round, but stuff that’s maybe two or three months away from being past-crop and just the sweetness is there but it’s not super interesting. We try and have stuff that is just the peak representation of what the coffee can do. Kandace: Speaking of green coffee… Ray: Yeah? Kandace: Did you know that for a while they were making a coffee that was hot-boxed with marijuana? I would have no idea. Ray: No I didn’t know that. I didn’t even bring that up in our chat. Kandace: How could you not have asked about the hot-boxed green coffee? Ray: I don’t know. Are you saying that drinking this coffee gets you high? Kandace: I think it’s just a suggestion the aromatics might ah… Ray: Another interesting thing on the topic of freshness is that he is very specific when you look at an individual coffee page about when it’s gonna be roasted and therefore when you’re gonna have it delivered. I thought it was also interesting to have coffee out of LA. I think this is the first time we’ve gotten coffee out of LA. There’s a lot of things that LA is ahead of us at but probably coffee roasting is probably one of the few that Portland actually has the edge, so…you know. Kandace: Maybe. I don’t know. These guys. Ray: It’s true. This is true. Kandace: And the bag. This is ombre. Yes? Ray: Pardon? Kandace: Yeah. Ray: What is? Kandace: The bag! The design! Hombre. Ombre. Ray: What on earth are you talking about? Kandace: Like when colors go from one to another in this fashion… Ray: Uh huh. Kandace: It’s called ombre. Ray: I thought it was called a gradient. Kandace: Oh my god! Ray: Spell that. Kandace: Don’t you remember when we were in San Francisco and I wanted to get the ombre tights? It would’ve been like this. Ombre is like a thing right now. You gotta know that word. Gritchelle: I think it was more last year… Kandace: Oh! Also I love the description: “nougat chocolate comforting”. That’s nice. Do you know what nougat is? Ray: Well I thought it was just the stuff in the middle of the candy bar. Right? Kandace: Yeah. It’s like, the best stuff. It’s basically saying this coffee… Ray: Just the nougat. Only the nougat. Kandace: So I think of LA, I think about…blue skies and sunsets and I really like the color of this packaging. I love the ombre. Ray: Yeah. You felt like the design actually reflected LA. Kandace: Yeah. Ray: Yeah. Which is good. Kandace: Yeah! Palm trees! Ray: Yeah. Palm trees. Kandace: So I think of LA I think of blue skies, and, sunsets and palm trees. Ray: Can I tell you? I think of David Lee Roth. I don’t know why. Kandace: Really? Ray: Yeah. Kandace: Well, we can’t all be as cool as The Beach Boys right? Ray: David Lee Roth? Yeah. Kandace: So, this is a relatively new coffee brand. Ray: Uh huh. Kandace: Three or four years old? Ray: Yeah. Kandace: And, they’re already doing some pretty cool things. So they tested out the funky, funny, wacky coffee. They’ve done some pop-ups with Life and Time. I think we’r probably going to see them. Ray: They’ve won six coffee review awards already. Kandace: Yeah. It seems like it’s kind of a new coffee brand, but they have a lot of energy and enthusiasm and excitement. Ray: So, Compelling and Rich? Thumbity thumb. Watch the Show https://vimeo.com/151327179 THE CONVERSATION Ray: I’m Ray. Kandace: I’m Kandace. Ray: Today we’re talking about Compelling and Rich out of LA. They actually reached out to us. Kian Abidini, who runs the place, reached out to us and… Kandace: Sent us this awesome coffee. Ray: Yeah. He wanted us to give it a shot so we are giving it a shot. I had not heard of them before, but I spoke with them briefly about what’s different about being in LA and in particular we talked a little about green coffee freshness actually. Kandace: What’s fresh about green coffee? Ray: Well what we were actually talking about is that it can be easy to let green coffee sit for a long time because it doesn’t go bad nearly as fast as coffee does once it’s roasted. Kian: We definitely try to do stuff that is a little bit fresher. We try and store stuff so it maintains that nice level of acidity and vibrancy, but, is still fair flavored, I guess. I feel like a lot of roasters try and put out like, not necessarily past crop Ethiopias all year-round, but stuff that’s maybe two or three months away from being past-crop and just the sweetness is there but it’s not super interesting. We try and have stuff that is just the peak representation of what the coffee can do. Kandace: Speaking of green coffee… Ray: Yeah? Kandace: Did you know that for a while they were making a coffee that was hot-boxed with marijuana? I would have no idea. Ray: No I didn’t know that. I didn’t even bring that up in our chat. Kandace: How could you not have asked about the hot-boxed green coffee? Ray: I don’t know. Are you saying that drinking this coffee gets you high? Kandace: I think it’s just a suggestion the aromatics might ah… Ray: Another interesting thing on the topic of freshness is that he is very specific when you look at an individual coffee page about when it’s gonna be roasted and therefore when you’re gonna have it delivered. I thought it was also interesting to have coffee out of LA. I think this is the first time we’ve gotten coffee out of LA. There’s a lot of things that LA is ahead of us at but probably coffee roasting is probably one of the few that Portland actually has the edge, so…you know. Kandace: Maybe. I don’t know. These guys. Ray: It’s true. This is true. Kandace: And the bag. This is ombre. Yes? Ray: Pardon? Kandace: Yeah. Ray: What is? Kandace: The bag! The design! Hombre. Ombre. Ray: What on earth are you talking about? Kandace: Like when colors go from one to another in this fashion… Ray: Uh huh. Kandace: It’s called ombre. Ray: I thought it was called a gradient. Kandace: Oh my god! Ray: Spell that. Kandace: Don’t you remember when we were in San Francisco and I wanted to get the ombre tights? It would’ve been like this. Ombre is like a thing right now. You gotta know that word. Gritchelle: I think it was more last year… Kandace: Oh! Also I love the description: “nougat chocolate comforting”. That’s nice. Do you know what nougat is? Ray: Well I thought it was just the stuff in the middle of the candy bar. Right? Kandace: Yeah. It’s like, the best stuff. It’s basically saying this coffee… Ray: Just the nougat. Only the nougat. Kandace: So I think of LA, I think about…blue skies and sunsets and I really like the color of this packaging. I love the ombre. Ray: Yeah. You felt like the design actually reflected LA. Kandace: Yeah. Ray: Yeah. Which is good. Kandace: Yeah! Palm trees! Ray: Yeah. Palm trees. Kandace: So I think of LA I think of blue skies, and, sunsets and palm trees. Ray: Can I tell you? I think of David Lee Roth. I don’t know why. Kandace: Really? Ray: Yeah. Kandace: Well, we can’t all be as cool as The Beach Boys right? Ray: David Lee Roth? Yeah. Kandace: So, this is a relatively new coffee brand. Ray: Uh huh. Kandace: Three or four years old? Ray: Yeah. Kandace: And, they’re already doing some pretty cool things. So they tested out the funky, funny, wacky coffee. They’ve done some pop-ups with Life and Time. I think we’r probably going to see them. Ray: They’ve won six coffee review awards already. Kandace: Yeah. It seems like it’s kind of a new coffee brand, but they have a lot of energy and enthusiasm and excitement. Ray: So, Compelling and Rich? Thumbity thumb. Watch the Show https://vimeo.com/151327179 No coffee offerings have been added for this roaster yet. Log In to Cup Log in to your account Enter your email and password to continue Email address Password Remember me Cancel Log in Need an account? [Sign up](https://unpacking.coffee/register?intended=https%3A%2F%2Funpacking.coffee%2Fcupping%2Fnew%3Froaster_id%3D82) Log In to Cup Log in to your account Enter your email and password to continue Email address Password Remember me Cancel Log in Need an account? [Sign up](https://unpacking.coffee/register?intended=https%3A%2F%2Funpacking.coffee%2Fcupping%2Fnew%3Froaster_id%3D82) 0 Coffee Offerings 0 Total Cuppings Added 1 year ago Roaster Details Website [ www.drinkcompelling.com ](https://www.drinkcompelling.com) Established 2011 Location City Los Angeles State/Province California Country United States Use filters or recent searches to refine your results. Press Esc to close. Filters 12 showing Users 0 Coffees 0 Roasters 0 Recipes 0 Explore featured coffees Start typing to search across the entire database. [ ### [ Mexico Maria Méndez ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/187-mexico-maria-mendez) by [ Heart Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/47-heart-coffee-roasters) Process Washed Varieties [Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/9-bourbon) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Elevation 1400m First noted Aug 19, 2026 Last tasted Aug 19, 2026 1 cupping [ plum](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/10 "plum") [ almond](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/37 "almond") [ cola](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/98 "cola") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/187-mexico-maria-mendez) [ ### [ The Answer ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/186-the-answer) by [ Cat & Cloud Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/44-cat-cloud-coffee) Process Washed, Natural Elevation 1,100-1,900m Source Various First noted Aug 17, 2026 Last tasted Aug 19, 2026 2 cuppings [ chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/108 "chocolate") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ fruit](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/250 "fruit") [ butterscotch](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/32 "butterscotch") [ berries](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/199 "berries") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/186-the-answer) [ ### [ Nelson Flores ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/185-nelson-flores) by [ Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/201-sweet-bloom-coffee-roasters) Process Washed Species Arabica Varieties [Pacamara](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/27-pacamara) Country [El Salvador](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/el-salvador) Region Chalatenango Elevation 1632m First noted Aug 16, 2026 0 cuppings ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/185-nelson-flores) [ ### [ Takele Mammo ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/184-takele-mammo) by [ Cat & Cloud Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/44-cat-cloud-coffee) Process Washed Varieties [Wild Heirloom Ethiopia Arabica Cultivars](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/93-wild-heirloom-ethiopia-arabica-cultivars) Country [Ethiopia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/ethiopia) Region Yirgacheffe Elevation 1800 - 2100m Source Takele Mammo Denbi First noted Aug 14, 2026 Last tasted Aug 14, 2026 2 cuppings [ rooibos](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/249 "rooibos") [ apricot](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/4 "apricot") [ dried strawberry](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/248 "dried strawberry") [ black tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/65 "black tea") [ watermelon](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/111 "watermelon") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/184-takele-mammo) [ ### [ Juan Puerta Mango ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/183-juan-puerta-mango) by [ Resident Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/296-resident-coffee-roasters) Process Co-fermented and experimental (Mango) Varieties [Castillo](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/13-castillo) Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Region Quindío Elevation 1386m Source La Sirena First noted Aug 11, 2026 Last tasted Aug 11, 2026 3 cuppings [ mango](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/15 "mango") [ mango lollipop](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/246 "mango lollipop") [ fruit rollup](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/245 "fruit rollup") [ jumex mango nectar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/247 "jumex mango nectar") [ cream](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/86 "cream") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/183-juan-puerta-mango) [ ### [ Fondo Paez ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/182-fondo-paez) by [ Amavida Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/294-amavida-coffee-roasters) Certifications Organic Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Source Fondo Paez Cooperative First noted Aug 09, 2026 Last tasted Aug 23, 2026 2 cuppings [ brown sugar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/28 "brown sugar") [ apricot](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/4 "apricot") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ black tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/65 "black tea") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/182-fondo-paez) [ ### [ Santa Maria ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/181-santa-maria) by [ The Boy & The Bear ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/292-the-boy-the-bear) Process Anaerobic Natural Varieties [Tabi](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/70-tabi) Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Region Santander Source Hacienda Cafetera La Pradera First noted Aug 09, 2026 Last tasted Aug 09, 2026 1 cupping [ black tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/65 "black tea") [ dried fig](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/138 "dried fig") [ dark chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/34 "dark chocolate") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/181-santa-maria) [ ### [ San Antonio La Paz ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/180-san-antonio-la-paz) by [ Water Avenue Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/291-water-avenue-coffee) Process Washed Varieties [Caturra](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/12-caturra), [Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/9-bourbon), [Castillo San Ramon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/100-castillo-san-ramon) Country [Guatemala](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/guatemala) Region Sierra de Las Minas Elevation 1200-1400m First noted Aug 05, 2026 Last tasted Aug 05, 2026 1 cupping [ orange](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/17 "orange") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ black walnut syrup](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/244 "black walnut syrup") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/180-san-antonio-la-paz) [ ### [ Ethiopian Kercha ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/179-ethiopian-kercha) by [ Cat & Cloud Coffee ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/44-cat-cloud-coffee) Country [Ethiopia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/ethiopia) Region Guji First noted Aug 03, 2026 Last tasted Aug 03, 2026 1 cupping [ milk chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/33 "milk chocolate") [ cane sugar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/29 "cane sugar") [ vanilla](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/27 "vanilla") [ strawberry ice cream](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/243 "strawberry ice cream") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/179-ethiopian-kercha) [ ### [ Finca Santa Cruz Washed ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/178-finca-santa-cruz-washed) by [ Ritual Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/180-ritual-coffee-roasters) Process Washed Varieties [Typica](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/34-typica), [Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/9-bourbon) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Harvest 2026 Source José And Karina Argüello First noted Jul 28, 2026 Last tasted Aug 04, 2026 3 cuppings [ chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/108 "chocolate") [ earl grey tea](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/242 "earl grey tea") [ citrus](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/110 "citrus") [ grapefruit](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/20 "grapefruit") [ lime](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/19 "lime") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/178-finca-santa-cruz-washed) [ ### [ Gamaliel Ríos Ortíz ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/177-gamaliel-rios-ortiz) by [ Ritual Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/180-ritual-coffee-roasters) Process Honey Varieties [Peñasco](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/99-penasco), [Typica](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/34-typica) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Harvest 2025 Source La Concordia First noted Jul 21, 2026 Last tasted Jul 21, 2026 1 cupping [ peach](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/3 "peach") [ citrus](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/110 "citrus") [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ butterscotch](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/32 "butterscotch") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/177-gamaliel-rios-ortiz) [ ### [ Finca Santa Cruz Natural ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/176-finca-santa-cruz-natural) by [ Ritual Coffee Roasters ](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/180-ritual-coffee-roasters) Varieties [Geisha](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/16-geisha) Country [Mexico](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/mexico) Region Chiapas Source Finca Santa Cruz First noted Jul 19, 2026 Last tasted Jul 19, 2026 1 cupping [ chilled red wine](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/240 "chilled red wine") [ lime](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/19 "lime") [ cacao nibs](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/241 "cacao nibs") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/176-finca-santa-cruz-natural)