Guam Sweet Spot brings mochi magic to the island

Penalyn Deseo

By Ron Rocky Coloma

The aroma of freshly baked mochi donuts fills the air as customers step into Guam Sweet Spot, a dessert café that has quickly carved out a loyal following on the island.

For owner Penalyn Deseo, the journey to opening her dream shop wasn’t something that happened overnight; it was years in the making, fueled by a deep passion for baking and a pandemic-induced push to turn a hobby into a business.

“What inspired me to open Guam Sweet Spot is my passion for baking and my love for sweets,” she said. “In 2013, I studied Culinary Arts at GCC. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and everyone had to stay indoors, my journey with baking at home started.”

That journey led her to the GUMA program, an initiative that helps local entrepreneurs launch businesses. Through GUMA, she learned the ins and outs of running a food business, from securing permits to understanding operational logistics.

“GUMA educated me on how to open up my business. From obtaining licenses to sanitary permits and all necessary documentation, I learned so much from taking that class,” Deseo said. “It made me realize that I could actually open my own café dessert shop.”

Guam Sweet Spot quickly set itself apart with its focus on mochi-based treats. While mochi donuts are the star attraction, the shop also offers mochi waffles, mochi cream puffs and mochi brownies, constantly introducing new flavors every weekend.

“What makes Guam Sweet Spot unique is our Mochi Donut flavors,” she explained. “We change our flavors daily and come up with new ones every weekend. We also do customized and themed cakes.”

But bringing these unique desserts to life hasn’t come without challenges.

“Challenges are when you have to source supplies off-island, like our custom donut boxes,” she said. “There’s no one on the island who can make these, so we had to source them elsewhere.”

Despite supply chain hurdles, the shop had a successful soft opening in September. But the team knew there was still room to refine their operations before officially cutting the ribbon.

“We took our time adjusting and improving to make our grand opening successful. It took three months, but we added savory items, hot and ready options and grab-and-go snacks.”

Since then, customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Reading customer reviews, comments and feedback humbles me,” she said. “I’m grateful to share my work and talent with the community. That’s what keeps me inspired.”

For her, the proudest moment wasn’t just about launching a business—it was seeing her family beam with pride.

“During our ribbon-cutting for the grand opening, I saw my mom tearing up with joy. Being able to make my family proud is such a blessing,” Deseo said.

Beyond mochi, Guam Sweet Spot incorporates local ingredients into its menu.

“We locally source bananas for our banana muffins and banana loaves. We also incorporate local flavors like our Sweet Potato Haupia Pie,” she said.

With a strong foundation established, the future of Guam Sweet Spot looks bright.

“We have an exciting new project coming up! Guam Sweet Spot is going mobile,” she revealed. “We’re in the process of launching our GSS food truck.”

As for long-term expansion, she has her eyes on growth but remains patient.

“Expansion, yes, for sure in the future—maybe in a year or two,” Deseo said.

New offerings are also in the works, with castella cakes and soufflé-style cheesecakes on the horizon.

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