In a cozy converted home on D Street in Livingston, Sueño Coffee Co. is reimagining the flavors of a traditional café for a new generation. With horchata croissants, mazapán-infused lattes, and a menu steeped in Mexican heritage, Ariel and Erica Hernandez have created more than just a café—they’ve built a space where coffee, baked goods and community dreams rise together.
Livingston has a strong sense of community, with people bonding over high school sports and the annual Sweet Potato Festival. But it’s no secret that most people leave town for shopping and entertainment.
“Livingston is a place with a lot of history, and it’s a place with so much potential,” said Ariel Hernandez.
Ariel and Erica Hernandez saw that potential early on and embraced their love of coffee and baked goods. At 1744 D Street, just off Main, sits a building that looks like any other home. But inside, Sueño Coffee Co. came to life in the summer of 2024.
“This was an actual house, and it still looks like one from the outside,” Ariel said with a laugh. “It was a lot of work to turn this into what it is today.”
Inside is a minimalist space with colorful chairs and a neon sign bearing the café’s name and a kitten styled like a Day of the Dead sugar skull. Out front are more seating areas, and half the backyard is a trendy space for lounging with food and drinks.
“We took inspiration from a lot of places we’ve visited,” said Erica. “It took a while to build the space we dreamed of, and here it is.”
Sueño is Spanish for “dream,” which became the perfect fit.
“We floated so many names, but they didn’t sound right,” Ariel said. “I randomly thought of Sueño. You drink coffee because you don’t want sueño (sleepiness)… but we’re also working on sueños, our dreams. Opening a coffee shop was always our dream.”
The design draws people in, but the Mexican-inspired menu keeps them coming back. Drinks include the Mexican Mocha, Dulce de Leche Latte, Horchata Latte, Café de Olla Latte, Choco Mazapán Latte, and Shakerato. Each celebrates cultural nostalgia with bold flavors—cinnamon-spiced café de olla, creamy dulce de leche, and horchata reimagined as a warm espresso.
Ariel always dreamed of owning a business. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the couple bought an espresso machine, taught themselves to brew, and experimented with flavors. By 2022, they were serving friends and selling at pop-ups. After exploring other cities, they decided Livingston was where their business belonged.
Some flavors surprise even locals in the mostly Hispanic town of 14,000. “With all the syrups being homemade, it just makes the flavors different,” Erica said.
The Horchata Latte is a standout. Traditionally made from rice, cinnamon, and sugar and served iced, Sueño reimagines it hot with espresso. The Café de Olla Latte features cinnamon and piloncillo, unrefined cane sugar. Dulce de Leche, sweeter than caramel, has a milky, toffee-like taste. The Choco Mazapán Latte combines espresso with syrup inspired by the peanut-sugar candy.
“Drinks like the Horchata Latte blow people’s minds,” Ariel said. “Even Mexicans can’t believe it’s possible. All the drinks bring smiles because they’re flavors people haven’t had in so long.”
For pastries, the café partners with Sweet Flakes and Dough of Modesto, offering small-batch croissants in horchata, jalapeño bacon, and guava spiral. Bagels come from Rise and Grain Bagels of Livingston, known at The Market in Turlock. Sueño serves plain, spicy cheddar, jalapeño and asiago bagels, with cream cheese or as hearty sandwiches. Options include:
Chicken Chipotle Bagel: chicken, chipotle mayo, greens, cheese, avocado and tomatoes
Lox: smoked salmon, cucumber, onion, tomato, dill and cream cheese
Turkey Pesto: turkey, pesto, onion, tomato and mozzarella
Harvest Bagel: greens, cream cheese, cucumber, tomato, onion, avocado, salt and pepper
“There’s nowhere in town, and not many places nearby, to get drinks, bagels or croissants of this quality,” Ariel said. “We don’t want people to travel far. It’s possible to do this in Livingston.”
Branding adds to the café’s appeal. Drinks and food come in brown deli wrap and cups stamped with stickers of the kitten logo, created by Hector Ramirez of Creative West. Inspired by neighborhood cats, the logo gained more meaning when a kitten camped at the building during renovations—and stayed.
“Yes, the kitten has some significance,” Erica said, laughing.
Sueño Coffee Co. is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays–Fridays, and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.
