The Pour Over #01 - Cloud & Halo Origins
Cloud & Halo was born at a dinner table, from a slip of the tongue and a shared dream.
ISSUE 01 – Written by Angel Quintas
Emily spent three years at Dunkin’, baking pastries, filling donuts, and pulling trays of bagels out of the oven. It was there she discovered her love for tea and for creating baked goods that brought people comfort. I spent three years at Starbucks, running both the hot and cold bars. That’s where I fell in love with the craft of lattes, cappuccinos, and the little details that make a drink feel personal.
Even though we both enjoyed moments in those jobs, the larger environment was exhausting. Numbers and performance came first, while people and connection came last. The one thing we carried forward was the desire to build something different — a place where employees are treated like people, not cogs in a machine.
We dreamed of a space rooted in community, where coffee, tea and baked goods could also fuel causes we care about: strengthening communities, mental health awareness, supporting local schools, and LGBTQIA+ rights. So far, we’ve begun planting those seeds; donating coffee to schools and giving a portion of our proceeds to mental health organizations. These are small steps toward a much bigger vision.
Emily and I met in 2023, and it really was love at first sight. As we shared more of our lives, we realized we also shared this dream. At the time, I was studying UX Design, and one of my projects was a café app for a fictional “Halo Coffee & Bakery.” The name stuck with me as my coffee knowledge grew — just as Emily’s passion for baking deepened.
One night at dinner, Emily accidentally called it the “Cloud” café instead of “Halo.” That slip of the tongue sparked something. Within days, I was researching how to start a coffee business. After talking it over with Emily, we made it official: we would jump-start Cloud & Halo Coffee Company.
Cloud and Halo represent so many things:
☁️ the clouds of milk swirling in a fresh cup of coffee
☁️ the soft fluff of a pastry pulled from the oven
☀️ the golden halo of crema on an espresso
☀️ the glowing edge around a latte’s foam design
Cloud means texture, softness, and transformation. Halo means warmth, glow, and perfection. And since my name is Angel — it fits more than we could have planned.
After tackling the legal paperwork, connecting with our roaster, and setting up our e-commerce site, Cloud & Halo officially opened as an online coffee retailer. Our long-term dream is to open a brick-and-mortar café, but for now, we’re building one step at a time — with you as part of the journey.
Since our name is Cloud & Halo, it makes sense to name our first offerings after atmospheric phenomena and transitional light/natural cycles of the day and night. Our first release, Golden Hour, quickly became a favorite. With notes of dark chocolate, toffee, and citrus, it’s an all-day kind of coffee — smooth, balanced, and endlessly drinkable. We wanted to distill that feeling of warmth and softness, the same way the sun creates a soft, warm and diffused light across the sky during actual Golden Hour.
The next product we’re preparing to launch is Afterglow, a masala chai with Ceylon tea, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. It’s cozy, spiced, and warming — the perfect companion to Golden Hour. Together, they form our 2025 Fall Collection. Afterglow releases September 26th, 2025.
This is only the beginning. We’re so thankful for everyone who’s supported our dream so far, and we can’t wait to share what’s next. Whether you’re here for the coffee, the tea, or simply the community, we hope Cloud & Halo brings a little light to your daily ritual.
✨ Join us on the journey. Grab a bag of Golden Hour, or subscribe to The Pour Over to stay connected.