Monsoon Coffee Co., the beloved mobile café run by a father-son team, officially ceased operations as of last month, marking an end to five years of community staple in Maricopa.

Dave and Gunnar Verlennich took a risk when they launched the coffee trailer in 2020, setting up shop at locations like the Maricopa Community Center and Central Arizona College’s Maricopa campus.

Their venture began after the passing of Dave’s wife and Gunnar’s mother from cancer, when the pair sought a way to honor her memory and pursue something meaningful together, InMaricopa magazine reported in our August 2023 edition.

“After a lot of thought and discussion, we’ve decided to close down Monsoon Coffee and sell the trailer,” the Verlennichs said in a joint announcement. “It’s been a pleasure serving you all for the last five years, but it’s time for a new chapter of life.”

During its run, Monsoon Coffee carved out a loyal following. It offered a variety of artisanal espresso-based drinks and became a fixture of morning routines around Maricopa.

The shop was also profiled in the May 2024 edition of InMaricopa magazine when we highlighted residents with “dream jobs” in the age of AI. Gunnar described the operation as his dream job, with Dave serving as chief barista.

Their success was emblematic of a broader trend: Maricopans leaning into local, human-centered entrepreneurship in the face of automation and corporate competition.

Customers and fans left messages of gratitude and farewell on social media.