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 ================= Los Angeles, California, United States · Roasting since 2011 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. 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) On the record --------------- Coffees 0 Cuppings 0 The roaster ------------- Based in Los Angeles, California, United States Since 2011 Website [drinkcompelling.com](https://www.drinkcompelling.com) Added May 2025 The interview ------------- From the Unpacking Coffee video series, 2015–2019. ![](/storage/roaster-profiles/82/featured-1200.webp) Watch the interview Episode 007 · January 11, 2016 Los Angeles, CA, United States ### From the episode - [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) Read the transcript 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 Coffees ------- No coffees from Compelling Coffee yet. Cup one and it goes on the record here. 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. [ ### [ Arturo Paz, Dark Room Dried: Natural Geisha, Honduras ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/206-arturo-paz-dark-room-dried-natural-geisha-honduras) by [Ritual Coffee Roasters](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/180-ritual-coffee-roasters) Process Natural Varieties [Geisha](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/16-geisha) Country [Honduras](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/honduras) Harvest June 2026 Source El Itacayo First noted Oct 20, 2026 Last tasted Oct 20, 2026 1 cupping [ elderflower syrup](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/264 "elderflower syrup") [ honey](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/22 "honey") [ stonefruit](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/102 "stonefruit") [ citrus](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/110 "citrus") [ candied tropical fruit](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/265 "candied tropical fruit") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/206-arturo-paz-dark-room-dried-natural-geisha-honduras) [ ### [ Indian coffee beans from Coorg, Karnataka, India ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/205-indian-coffee-beans-from-coorg-karnataka-india) by [Paul John Caffeine](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/307-paul-john-caffeine) Country [India](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/india) Region Karnataka Source Indian Coffee Beans From Coorg, Karnataka, India First noted Oct 14, 2026 Last tasted Oct 14, 2026 1 cupping ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/205-indian-coffee-beans-from-coorg-karnataka-india) [ ### [ Jhoan Vergara Las Flores Pink Bourbon ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/204-jhoan-vergara-las-flores-pink-bourbon) by [Kafiex Roasters](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/249-kafiex-roasters) Process Thermal Shock Washed Varieties [Pink Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/1-pink-bourbon) Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Region Huila Source Jhoan Vergara First noted Oct 13, 2026 Last tasted Oct 13, 2026 1 cupping [ froot loops](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/262 "froot loops") [ candied lemon drop](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/263 "candied lemon drop") [ green apple](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/116 "green apple") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/204-jhoan-vergara-las-flores-pink-bourbon) [ ### [ Mama Cherri ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/203-mama-cherri) by [Creature Coffee](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/84-creature-coffee) Process Washed Varieties [Caturra](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/12-caturra), [Catuaí](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/11-catuai) Country [Costa Rica](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/costa-rica) Region Coto Brus Source Doña Isa First noted Oct 09, 2026 Last tasted Oct 09, 2026 1 cupping [ cherry pie](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/141 "cherry pie") [ caramel corn](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/261 "caramel corn") [ butterscotch](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/32 "butterscotch") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/203-mama-cherri) [ ### [ Uganda 96 Hour Natural ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/202-uganda-96-hour-natural) by [DOMA Coffee Roasting Company](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/268-doma-coffee-roasting-company) Process Natural Varieties [SL14](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/102-sl14), [SL28](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/30-sl28), [Nyasaland](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/103-nyasaland) Country [Uganda](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/uganda) Region Mt. Elgon Elevation 1400 - 2000 maslm Harvest 2026 Source The Coffee Yards/norman Mukuru First noted Oct 05, 2026 Last tasted Oct 05, 2026 1 cupping [ cherry](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/5 "cherry") [ lime](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/19 "lime") [ fudge](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/128 "fudge") [ dark chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/34 "dark chocolate") [ lemon candy](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/251 "lemon candy") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/202-uganda-96-hour-natural) [ ### [ Mustefa Abakeno ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/201-mustefa-abakeno) by [Marigold Coffee](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/252-marigold-coffee) Country [Ethiopia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/ethiopia) Region Oromia First noted Oct 05, 2026 Last tasted Oct 05, 2026 1 cupping [ orange peel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/132 "orange peel") [ honeysuckle](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/62 "honeysuckle") [ cacao nibs](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/241 "cacao nibs") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/201-mustefa-abakeno) [ ### [ Dark Star ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/200-dark-star) by [Little Amps Coffee Roasters](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/306-little-amps-coffee-roasters) Process Natural Varieties [74110](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/85-74110) Country [Ethiopia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/ethiopia) Region Jimma Elevation 1950-2150m First noted Sep 29, 2026 Last tasted Oct 21, 2026 1 cupping [ dark chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/34 "dark chocolate") [ berries](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/199 "berries") [ jammy](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/169 "jammy") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/200-dark-star) [ ### [ Friend Blend ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/199-friend-blend) by [Little Amps Coffee Roasters](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/306-little-amps-coffee-roasters) Process Washed Varieties [Caturra](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/12-caturra), [Landrace](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/40-landrace) Country [Ethiopia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/ethiopia) Elevation 1600 (Colombia)m First noted Sep 29, 2026 Last tasted Oct 16, 2026 1 cupping [ caramel](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/23 "caramel") [ citrus](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/110 "citrus") [ milk chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/33 "milk chocolate") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/199-friend-blend) [ ### [ Kajere Honey ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/198-kajere-honey) by [Counter Culture Coffee](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/46-counter-culture-coffee) Process Honey Country [Uganda](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/uganda) Region Bulambuli First noted Sep 26, 2026 Last tasted Sep 28, 2026 2 cuppings [ black cherry](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/176 "black cherry") [ raw sugar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/160 "raw sugar") [ grape](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/11 "grape") [ butterscotch](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/32 "butterscotch") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/198-kajere-honey) [ ### [ Headliner Seasonal Blend ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/197-headliner-seasonal-blend) by [Broadsheet Coffee Roasters](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/300-broadsheet-coffee-roasters) First noted Sep 17, 2026 Last tasted Sep 24, 2026 2 cuppings [ cherry](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/5 "cherry") [ fudge](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/128 "fudge") [ plum](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/10 "plum") [ milk chocolate](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/33 "milk chocolate") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/197-headliner-seasonal-blend) [ ### [ Strawberry Shake ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/196-strawberry-shake) by [KOS Coffee Roasters](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/304-kos-coffee-roasters) Process Co-fermented and experimental (Strawberry) Varieties [Pink Bourbon](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/1-pink-bourbon), [Castillo](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/13-castillo) Country [Colombia](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/colombia) Region Quindío Elevation 1400m Source Viviana Martinez First noted Sep 16, 2026 Last tasted Sep 16, 2026 2 cuppings [ strawberries](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/259 "strawberries") [ peach](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/3 "peach") [ creamy](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/260 "creamy") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/196-strawberry-shake) [ ### [ Peru Guardian del Bosque ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/195-peru-guardian-del-bosque) by [Northbound Coffee Roasters](https://unpacking.coffee/roasters/301-northbound-coffee-roasters) Certifications Organic Process Natural Varieties [Geisha](https://unpacking.coffee/varieties/16-geisha) Country [Peru](https://unpacking.coffee/origins/peru) Region Amazonas Harvest 2025 Source Ronal Carranza Montenegro First noted Sep 10, 2026 Last tasted Sep 10, 2026 1 cupping [ dried strawberry](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/248 "dried strawberry") [ floral tropical fruit](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/257 "floral tropical fruit") [ fruit loops cereal](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/258 "fruit loops cereal") [ raw sugar](https://unpacking.coffee/flavors/160 "raw sugar") ](https://unpacking.coffee/coffees/195-peru-guardian-del-bosque)