Coffee is for conversation


At Sanctuary Roasting, our name isn’t about politics—it’s about people. For us, ‘sanctuary’ means a refuge: a place of peace, connection, and community, built around the simple joy of coffee. Coffee is for conversation, and our mission is to create a timeless coffee experience honoring our cultural heritage while showcasing the culinary expertise of Chef Vatche. Each cup has the power to bring people together, spark meaningful conversations, and create lasting memories. Sparked by curiosity and a desire to build something new, we began roasting our own coffee to chase the highest quality—from bean to cup.


Measured in Points, Perfected in Flavor

Every great coffee begins with a story—ours starts long before the first sip. It begins on the farm, in the soil, and under the care of growers who treat each coffee cherry like it’s the most important one they’ll ever pick. But the real proof of quality comes when that coffee is put to the test.

All of our coffees score 82 points or higher on the Specialty Coffee Association’s cupping scale—placing them firmly in the “specialty grade” category. To earn that number, each roast is evaluated by certified Q-graders, trained to notice everything from a coffee’s fragrance before brewing, to the balance, sweetness, and clarity in the cup.

This isn’t just about passing a test. The cupping process measures ten key elements—aroma, flavor, acidity, body, balance, aftertaste, uniformity, cleanliness, sweetness, and overall impression. Every point above 80 reflects a level of craftsmanship that’s harder to achieve with each step up the scale.

So whether it’s a bright, fruit-forward light roast or a rich, chocolate-heavy espresso scoring 84, “82+ Points” is more than a number—it’s our promise. A promise that every coffee you brew from us meets the global standard for excellence, and that every sip carries the work, care, and passion of the people who brought it to life.

Chef Vatche Moukhtarian, owner of Sanctuary Coffee Roasting, standing with coffee beans and roasting equipment.

Meet Chef Vatche

Sanctuary is chef inspired

Chef Vatche Moukhtarian opened Cracked Pepper Bistro 17 years ago in Fresno, California. While emigrating to North America, he originally caught the cooking bug as a teenager. Years later passion drew him to the San Francisco Culinary Academy, followed by an externship and full-time employment at the Peppermill Casino in Reno under the guidance of Chef de Cuisine, Roger Morris.

After two years, Chef Vatche was invited to help open the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, where he would eventually become Sous Chef at the flagship steakhouse, Vintage, followed by several years as Sous Chef at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite.

Ready to return to his hometown of Fresno, Chef Vatche opened the Cracked Pepper Bistro in 2006, focusing on regional cuisine using natural, close-to-the-source ingredients and California-grown wines. This ethos of meticulous sourcing and ‘menu from scratch’ sparked a curiosity to pursue the art of roasting coffee. Celebrating nearly two decades of fine dining, Vatche was even more inspired to experiment and create- and from that spark, Sanctuary Coffee was born. 

Traditional Armenian coffee pot (jazve) surrounded by roasted coffee beans.

Our Heritage

About Armenian Coffee

Chef Vatche’s Armenian Heritage drew him to coffee as a hobby. Armenian coffee is a tradition of it’s own- shared amongst friends, family and centralizing the community. Great coffee culture passes down through generations, symbolizing hospitality, and conversation. In contrast- American coffee shops instead focus everything into speed, neglecting the personality and craft aspects for big box and fast food analogue overstimulation.  

Crafted with meticulous care, Armenian coffee is made using finely ground beans brewed in a special pot called a "jazve" or "cezve." Slow and calm heat creates a rich, thick brew served unfiltered, allowing the grounds to settle at the bottom of the cup. This method results in an intensely aromatic and flavorful coffee experience that is both robust and smooth.