The Reverse Orangutan

Way out in Claremont and Glendora, the Reverse Orangutan is a local roaster and coffee counter bringing exceptionally good specialty coffee to the far reaches of the 626. Founded in 2018 by Jamil Radney and Geoffrey Clark, both stands offer simple, straightforward menus of coffee, tea and pastries—not always an easy thing to consistently provide so far from the city center. The unusual name is inspired by a famous chess game’s “orangutan opening” move, whereupon the player on white’s intentions are made known before the player on black. The coffee shop’s name runs counter to that play: “Life has already made its move, it’s all about how we respond.”