Written by Jordan Michelman.
MEHKO stands for “Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation”, and it’s a new opportunity for California small-scale start-up businesses in the food and beverage sector to get started in their own homes. The statute known as MEHKO first became part of the California Health and Safety Code in 2019, and now 18 different cities and counties across the state have authorized MEHKO permits in their jurisdictions.
In 2024 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors officially authorized MEHKO. This allowed businesses in Los Angeles County (excluding the cities of Pasadena, Vernon, and Long Beach) to obtain MEHKO permits to operate food or beverage businesses from their homes. You can view the official MEHKO ordinance from 2024 here via the County of Los Angeles Board of Health.
Why is there so much buzz about MEHKO right now?
In early 2026, a MEHKO permit cafe in Los Angeles called Granada went absolutely viral. It’s a gorgeous space—follow them on social media and read our interview with co-founder Isaac Watters—that has attracted significant media attention from the likes of LA Times, Eater, and local TV media affiliates. Sometimes media buzz has a way of putting things into the spotlight, and with MEHKO, the success and popularity of Granada has led to significant interest in the program, especially among coffee enthusiasts.
What kind of businesses are allowed under MEHKO?
All sorts of businesses, including coffee shops! There are presently more than 200 permitted MEHKOs operating in LA County, including BBQ joints, tamale shops, vegan soul food kitchens, pastry bakeries, and coffee bars. Information for all current MEHKO businesses in Los Angeles County (and their inspection results) can be viewed via the official LA County MEHKO hub.
How do I apply for MEHKO? How much does it cost?
LA County has a helpful roadmap and organized document center for prospective MEHKO applicants. The initial application review for a MEHKO permit costs $597, but a limited-time subsidy is available for qualified applicants. If you have questions about any step of the process, LA County has a help line and direct email contact information listed at the bottom of their info hub.
What are the advantages and limitations of running a MEHKO cafe?
Our interview with Isaac from Granada goes into all of this in detail, and we highly recommend giving it a read.
The advantages of operating a MEHKO cafe are numerous. Running a cafe from your home allows you to forgo the high cost of a commercial lease, which is huge for prospective cafe owners. For a first-time cafe owner, opening under an MEHKO permit makes it possible to get started with a cafe project for comparatively limited capital outlay. This allows you to concentrate on offering a delicious product, and to focus available funds on the ingredients and equipment necessary to run a successful business. If your MEHKO is successful, you can then choose to expand your established brand into a commercial setting if and when the opportunity arises.
There are also many limitations to operating a MEHKO. The biggest is that you are capped by MEHKO permits on the total gross amount of income your business can make in one year, which is limited to $100,000 total. MEHKOs must operate from your primary residence as defined by the state, and they are limited in how many hours per week they’re allowed to be open for business, and how many hours per week they’re allowed to have employees.
Cook Alliance, “the leading voice for home food entrepreneurs in the United States”, helped spearhead California’s MEHKO legislation, and today they offer tremendously detailed resources for anyone looking to get started with MEHKO permitting. Their excellent FAQ goes into extensive detail on the do’s and don’ts of MEHKO operations.
I want to run a MEHKO coffee shop—what gear do I need?
This will absolutely depend on your overall goals for the project and the amount of business your home cafe does in a given day. Everyone’s experience is different. For some home cafes, a coffee set-up that includes gear that’s intended for home or light commercial use, such as a La Marzocco Linea Mini or Linea Micra, will be enough to get the job done. For others, the dependability of a commercial espresso machine will make all the difference in satisfying customer demand. The team at Granada told us they started by using the first one, then two small home espresso machines, and simply could not keep up with the volume of business that came through their doors. They’ve since begun using a La Marzocco Strada espresso machine and are happy with the results—plus, they get to enjoy that level of espresso bar set-up at home during off hours, which sounds pretty great. Granada has also taken care to consider water quality, grinders, and high-quality roasted coffee as part of their program, no different from any quality-focused coffee bar.
The team at La Marzocco can help answer any questions you may have about setting up the MEHKO home cafe that’s right for you.
I want to open a MEHKO cafe but I’m not in California. What can I do?
Cook Alliance notes that while MEHKO is currently available only in certain jurisdictions in California, nationwide interest in similar programs is growing. Utah passed legislation allowing for MEHKO permits in 2021, and states including Hawaii, Minnesota, and Washington have considered similar laws, per Cook Alliance. Their website offers more ways to get involved in your own community.
