Meet Your Barista
In Blog, Meet Your Barista // on May 24th, 2017 // by Clare White // No comment
Our baristas answer the question, “Where’s the best local mural?” for Hometown Tourism Month!
Colin: “This one is by Dexter the Weird – he’s dope (@dxtrtheweird on Instagram)!”
Jonathan: “I like the one of the pigs escaping, on the I-64 underpass in Butchertown.”
Alison: “I love the abnormal animals on the side of Hilltop Tavern It seems like they add a new one every time I drive past. My favorite is the dolphin with the mechanical fins!”
Kimmi: “I really like the mural at St. Catherine and Logan, by the Art Cartel.”
Chuck: “There’s an awesome new mural on Story Avenue just before it turns into Main St.” (by REMI)
In Blog, Meet Your Barista, News // on May 2nd, 2017 // by Clare White // No comment
If your go-to Heine Brothers’ is on Blankenbaker Parkway, you may know this month’s featured barista, Perri. When she’s not at Heine Brothers’, Perri is a freelance photographer!
Kate, the store manager at Blankenbaker, says Perri, “is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met and she’s an excellent barista! She is a really terrific photographer and much of her work is based off of certain song lyrics as a way of expressing emotion.”
In Blog, Meet Your Barista // on April 3rd, 2017 // by Clare White // No comment
When you walk into Veterans Parkway and you see Eliza behind the bar, you know you’re going to be getting a great drink!
Not only is she a talented barista, Eliza is a gifted dancer will be touring with the renowned performer Todrick Hall in the coming months.
“She’s an incredibly skilled barista and it’s always an incredibly fun shift when she’s there! She’ll soon be joining the international tour for Straight Outta Oz,” Georgia, the Assistant Manager at our Jeffersonville store says.
In Blog, Meet Your Barista // on March 24th, 2017 // by Clare White // No comment
Tell me a little bit about your job – for those who don’t know, what does a head roaster’s job at Heine Brothers’ entail?
I’m the Head Roaster and green coffee buyer for HB. Most of my day is spent in production, or overseeing production (i.e. quality control, inventory management, and facilitating communication among my staff or with cafe managers). I’m also the liaison between HB and our importing co-op, Cooperative Coffees. Specifically, I am on the Sourcing and Quality, and Cooperative Impact committees. Depending on the projects we’re working on it takes only 5-10% of my time, but that work drives how we maintain relationships with our farming partners, and how we impact their lives beyond simply cutting a check for green coffee once a year.
In Blog, Meet Your Barista, News // on February 20th, 2017 // by Clare White // 4 Comments
If you’ve ever been to HB-Longest Avenue when Jenny’s working, you know you’ll be immediately greeted by a huge, contagious smile.
As her one of her fellow Assistant managers says, “Jenny is a beacon at our store. It doesn’t matter what mood she’s in, when she comes into work she is full of good energy. The customers and baristas both adore her. She’s picked up shifts at other stores and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t feel better after having met her.”
In Blog, Meet Your Barista, News // on December 30th, 2016 // by Clare White // 2 Comments
In Blog, Meet Your Barista // on December 21st, 2016 // by Clare White // No comment
Our baristas answer the question: What was the best (or worst) holiday gift you ever got as a kid?
Kody: “A new belt from my distant aunt that I later got spanked with for not appreciating my new belt.”
André: “Best: Having your birthday on Christmas . Worst: Having your birthday on Christmas.”
Josh: “A re-gift of cheap cologne”
Kalee: “Worst – a furby”
Ashley: “Worst: my family used to have one of those “steal a gift” game things where everyone brings something for like $10. I took home outdated computer software.”
Marina: “Worst: $1 check from Grandma. Best: Harry Potter Lego set of Hogwarts Express.”
Patrick: “Worst: A set of scrapbooking supplies with a complimentary scent of cigarette smoke.”
Alison: “Worst: A goldfish that died the next morning.”
America: “PS2 with all PS1 games. Best and worst.”
In Blog, Coffee 101, Community, Meet Your Barista, Travel // on December 20th, 2016 // by Clare White // One comment
Thanks to the generosity of our customers and baristas, we were able to reach our match goal of $500 and raised over $1350 with the help of your donations! The money you helped us raise will go to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which we chose for a number of reasons.
The Community Foundation has created the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Emergency Response Fund that gives grants to victims and nonprofits who are providing on-the-ground immediate assistance AND long term services. The unfortunate reality of wildfires is that the effects are long lasting; people are displaced from their homes and some have to essentially start from scratch. Being able to give the money as directly as possible to the residents and people affected was important.
You can find out more about The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s wildfire relief efforts and donate with them here: http://www.cfmt.org/
One of our barista’s, John Mike, was moved to go volunteer to help distribute donated goods to those affected. You can read about his experience and look at his photos taken in the area in his blog post below:
In Blog, Meet Your Barista // on December 2nd, 2016 // by Clare White // No comment
Have you met April from Main Street, yet? April is new to our downtown Louisville store, and also the co-owner of SnoWhat Snoballs!
Erica, a fellow barista who nominated April, said, “April is amazing. She is a business owner, always takes care of other people and has THE BEST customer service in all of downtown. I love working with her and today she bought me lunch!”
Which location is your home store?
Main Street.
How long have you been working at HB?
Just a few months.
Louisville Native or Transplant?
Transplant. I grew up in Eastern Kentucky, and moved to Elizabethtown when I was 11. I moved to Louisville in 2000 for college and never left! There’s a bumper sticker that says “I’m not from Louisville but I got here as quick as I could!” – I couldn’t agree more.
You also founded SnoWhat Snoballs – which look awesome! Tell us about your business.
Awe, thank you! We’re a mobile food truck serving gourmet shaved ice. We have signature flavors that are homemade using real fruit, cane sugar, and no high fructose corn syrup or artificial coloring. We also offer classic flavors such as Cherry and Blue Raspberry for the kid at heart and those who really can’t live without a blue tongue! Right now, we’re still pretty small, operating mostly on the weekends at fairs, festivals, and local events, such as the Buy Local First Fair, and Forecastle. We’re also available for private events, corporate parties, weddings, and birthdays! We create custom flavor profiles, even alcoholic “boozy” balls.
So what exactly is a snoball?
I’m glad you asked! The reason we call our icy treats snoballs is simple — our ice is fluffy just like snow! It’s not your typical snow cone. Our ice practically melts in your mouth and absorbs the real fruit syrups we drizzle on top. As an added bonus, we use toppings like sweetened condensed milk, caramel, and sprinkles.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I have always wanted to own my own business! I’ve worked as a manager for a few companies, and while I’ve loved the jobs, there are certain things that are just out of my control. Being able to make decisions in your business and having the ability to be creative in ways that a corporate job just won’t allow. I love all the little details of ordering products, and building relationships with customers and vendors. If I see a friend and want to step out of the truck and give them a hug, I can! My friend and business partner, Jessica Bledsoe, moved just outside of New Orleans for a short period in 2010. Snoball stands are everywhere in NOLA, and after trying one, we both knew, we just had to bring snoballs to Louisville. After a few years of planning and saving, and the invaluable Kayla Allinger joining the team, SnoWhat served its first snoball in April 2015.
Do you have a personal favorite snoball flavor?
Green Apple will always hold a special place in my heart, but our homemade caramel apple made with granny smith apples, cinnamon and other spices, and drizzled with creamy caramel is my new favorite.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs starting out?
Get up and start! I have the tendency to over-plan and overthink. After Jessica and I purchased the block ice shaver, her husband Adam said, “Well, go make some snoballs!” We jumped in with an event that weekend and haven’t looked back. It’s definitely been a learning experience. Find mentors! I talk to everyone that is willing to have a conversation with me. Their advice is golden. Always take more than you think you’ll need. Lastly, it may sound cliche’, but be prepared for failure. My first test batch of our Watermelon Basil was probably one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever tasted. I kept trying and now have a recipe that our customers love.
Do you have any exciting holiday flavors or events planned?
We have recently started experimenting with snow cream! I use to make it when I was a kid, and it dawned on me that I have an endless supply of snow at my fingertips. We tested it out at Yelp’s Art in Action event and the crowd consensus is that we must add it to our menu. We’re also preparing winter flavors such as eggnog, sugar cookie, and cranberry for private parties and corporate holiday events during our off season.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not working at HBC or SnoWhat?
Cooking, creating, and cuddling with my animals.
And finally, what’s your favorite HB drink?
That’s probably the hardest question of this interview! I’m going to have to say the Fair Trade Mayan Mocha, but followed very VERY closely by the Beekeeper and the Banana Chiaberg.
Interested in booking SnoWhat Snoballs for an event this season? Contact them at hello@snowhatlouisville.com, and find our more on their website: www.snowhatlouisville.com or through social media: @SnoWhatLOU.
In Blog, Community, Louisville, Meet Your Barista, News // on December 1st, 2016 // by Clare White // No comment
Reading and coffee are better together! That’s why we’re getting lit – literature from the library, that is.
We’re kicking off Get Lit Louisville with the Louisville Free Public Library by including a reading list of our Baristas’ favorite books that you can check out from the library and enjoy all winter:
